As they are Collectively Expressed, it teaches us that grace is revealed and offered in the most comprehensive expressions that none may be excluded or have just cause to exclude themselves. As it is distributively expressed, the latter clause is of a dubious Interpretation; some, by things on earth, understand Men; but by things in heaven, the Angels: Surely not the fallen Angels, for they are not in Heaven, neither was Christ sent to reconcile them, nor relieve them in their Misery, and reduce them to God, Heb. 2.16. [Greek or Hebrew], what then shall we understand by ⟨p. 222⟩things in heaven? Some think the holy Angels; others the glorified Saints. 1. Those that assert the first, argue thus; that the Angels are properly inhabitants of Heaven, and so fitly called things in Heaven; and they are Enemies to Men whilst they are ungodly, Idolatrous and Rebels to God (as good Subjects hold with their Prince, and have common Friends and Enemies with him) but are reconciled to them as soon as they partake of the Benefits of Christs Death; as we are told of joy in heaven among the angels of God, at the conversion of one sinner, Luk. •5.10. Now if there be so much joy over one Sinner repenting, how much more when many sinners are snatched out of the Jaws of Hell. They make the sense to be thus; before, for the sins of men they we•• alienated from them, but then reconciled: but this Scripture speaks not of the Reconciliation of Angels and Men, but the Reconciliation of all things to God; for so it is expressly in the Text to reconcile all things to himself. Now the good Angels cannot be said to be reconciled to God, for there was never a breach between them; s• nunquam cum matre in gratiam rediisse. 2. Therefore I interpret it of the glorified Saints: See the like expression, Eph. 1.10 To gather together in one all things to Christ ⟨p. 223⟩which are in heaven, and in earth: And more clearly Eph. 3.15. Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named. Meaning thereby, the Faithful, who are already in Heaven, and those who are now remaining upon Earth. This is a comfortable note, and teaches •s,
As they are Collectively Expressed, it teaches us that grace is revealed and offered in the most comprehensive expressions that none may be excluded or have just cause to exclude themselves. As it is distributively expressed, the latter clause is of a dubious Interpretation; some, by things on earth, understand Men; but by things in heaven, the Angels: Surely not the fallen Angels, for they are not in Heaven, neither was Christ sent to reconcile them, nor relieve them in their Misery, and reduce them to God, Heb. 2.16. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, what then shall we understand by ⟨p. 222⟩things in heaven? Some think the holy Angels; others the glorified Saints. 1. Those that assert the first, argue thus; that the Angels are properly inhabitants of Heaven, and so fitly called things in Heaven; and they are Enemies to Men whilst they are ungodly, Idolatrous and Rebels to God (as good Subjects hold with their Prince, and have common Friends and Enemies with him) but are reconciled to them as soon as they partake of the Benefits of Christs Death; as we are told of joy in heaven among the angels of God, at the conversion of one sinner, Luk. •5.10. Now if there be so much joy over one Sinner repenting, how much more when many sinners are snatched out of the Jawes of Hell. They make the sense to be thus; before, for the sins of men they we•• ali•nated from them, but then reconciled: but this Scripture speaks not of the Reconciliation of Angels and Men, but the Reconciliation of all things to God; for so it is expresly in the Text to reconcile all things to himself. Now the good Angels cannot be said to be reconciled to God, for there was never a breach between them; s• nunquam cum matre in gratiam rediisse. 2. Therefore I interpret it of the glorified Saints: See the like expression, Eph. 1.10 To gather together in one all things to Christ ⟨p. 223⟩which are in heaven, and in earth: And more clearly Eph. 3.15. Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named. Meaning thereby, the Faithful, who are already in Heaven, and those who are now remaining upon Earth. This is a comfortable note, and tea•hs s,
