When man by sin had broken the first link of this Chain of Love, when thereby we lost the Love of God to us, and renounced our own Love unto him, all things fell into disorder and confusion in the whole Creation; all things were filled with mutual Enmity and Hatred. The first Instance of mutual Love among the Creatures was that between Angels and Men, as those which were in the nearest Alliance, and made for the same End of the Glory of God. For as the Angels rejoiced in the whole Creation of God, when those morning Stars sang together, and all the Sons of God shouted for joy, Job 38. 7. so man being the most capable object of their Love, was their especial Delight. And man being made to love God above all, and all other things in him and for him, his principal Love must be fixed on those who had the most of the Image, and made the most glorious Representation of God. But the Bond of Love being dissolved, mutual Enmity succeeded in the room thereof. And the first Act of Angelical Obedience we read of, was their keeping man from a return into Eden, and eating of the Tree of Life, Gen. 3. 24. and men could look on them only as flaming Swords, ready to execute the wrath of God and the Curse upon him. And this state would have continued unto Eternity, had not God gathered all things again into one, both which are in Heaven and which are in Earth, even in Christ ⟨p. 101⟩Jesus, Ephes. 1. to. There could never more have been any Love, nor any Duties of Love between Angels and Men, had not God restored all things by Jesus Christ. This is the only foundation of the whole Ministry of Angels in Love, Heb. 1. 14. For men themselves, mutual Enmity and hatred possessed them. And he who first acted in that frame and spirit which came upon them was a murderer, and slew his Brother. And this the Apostle proposeth as the Instance and Example of that Hatred and Enmity which is among men under the Curse, 1 Joh. 3. 11, 12. And there is no greater Evidence of any persons being uninterested in the Restoration of all things by Christ, than the want of that Love which was again introduced thereby. So the Apostle describing the condition of men in their unregenerate condition, affirms that they live in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another, Tit. 3. 3. There ensued also an Enmity between man and all the Creation here below.
When man by sin had broken the first link of this Chain of Love, when thereby we lost the Love of God to us, and renounced our own Love unto him, all things fell into disorder and confusion in the whole Creation; all things were filled with mutual Enmity and Hatred. The first Instance of mutual Love among the Creatures was that between Angels and Men, as those which were in the nearest Alliance, and made for the same End of the Glory of God. For as the Angels rejoiced in the whole Creation of God, when those morning Stars sang together, and all the Sons of God shouted for joy, Job 38. 7. so man being the most capable object of their Love, was their especial Delight. And man being made to love God above all, and all other things in him and for him, his principal Love must be fixed on those who had the most of the Image, and made the most glorious Representation of God. But the Bond of Love being dissolved, mutual Enmity succeeded in the room thereof. And the first Act of Angelical Obedience we read of, was their keeping man from a return into Eden, and eating of the Tree of Life, Gen. 3. 24. and men could look on them only as flaming Swords, ready to execute the wrath of God and the Curse upon him. And this state would have continued unto Eternity, had not God gathered all things again into one, both which are in Heaven and which are in Earth, even in Christ ⟨p. 101⟩Jesus, Ephes. 1. to. There could never more have been any Love, nor any Duties of Love between Angels and Men, had not God restored all things by Jesus Christ. This is the only foundation of the whole Ministry of Angels in Love, Heb. 1. 14. For men themselves, mutual Enmity and hatred possessed them. And he who first acted in that frame and spirit which came upon them was a murderer, and slew his Brother. And this the Apostle proposeth as the Instance and Example of that Hatred and Enmity which is among men under the Curse, 1 Joh. 3. 11, 12. And there is no greater Evidence of any persons being uninterested in the Restauration of all things by Christ, than the want of that Love which was again introduced thereby. So the Apostle describing the condition of men in their unregenerate condition, affirms that they live in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another, Tit. 3. 3. There ensued also an Enmity between man and all the Creation here below.
