The next use is for the hearers, and they are here taught, that if their Ministers be 1Angels sent them from God, then are they to hear them, gladly, willingly, reverently, 2and obediently: gladly and willingly, because they are Ambassadors, reverently and obediently, because they are sent from the high God the King of Kings, and do deliver his embassage. God saith, the people must seek the Law at his mouth: 3and good reason, for if the law be the revealed will of God, and the Minister the Angel of God, then where should they seek the will of God, but at the mouth of his Angel? The reason therefore followeth well in that place: they should seek the Law at his mouth, for he is the messenger of the lord of hosts: and this must all Christians do, not only if their Doctrine be pleasing unto them, but though ⟨p. 9⟩it cross their corruptions, and be quite contrary to their dispositions, yea though 4it be never so unsavoury and hard unto nature, yet in as much as it is a message from thy God and King, and the teacher the Angel or messenger of that God: therefore both he and it must be received with all reverence, and with the very obedience of the heart and soul. And this is the cause why a convenient reverence and honour is to be given of all good Christians, even to the persons of Gods Ministers (especially when they adorn their high calling with a holy life:) even because they are Angels of God. Saint Paul teacheth, that women ought to be modestly attired in the congregation 5because of the Angels: it is not only, because the holy Angels are present, and always beholders of our service of God, but even because the Ministers, which are Angels and messengers sent from God, are there, delivering their message and Embassage received from God: And thus we have the first title given to the Minister: he is an Angel.
The next vse is for the hearers, and they are here taught, that if their Ministers bee 1Angels sent them from God, then are they to heare them, gladly, willingly, reuerently, 2and obediently: gladly and willingly, because they are Ambassadors, reuerently and obediently, because they are sent from the high God the King of Kings, and doe deliuer his embaslage. God saith, the people must seeke the Lawe at his mouth: 3and good reason, for if the lawe be the reuealed will of God, and the Minister the Angell of God, then where should they seeke the will of God, but at the mouth of his Angell? The reason therefore followeth well in that place: they should seeke the Lawe at his mouth, for hee is the messenger of the lord of hosts: and this must all Christians doe, not onely if their Doctrine be pleasing vnto them, but though ⟨p. 9⟩it crosse their corruptions, and bee quite contrary to their dispositions, yea though 4it bee neuer so vnsauory and harde vnto nature, yet in as much as it is a message from thy God and King, and the teacher the Angellor messenger of that God: therefore both hee and it must be receiued with all reuerence, and with the very obedience of the heart and soule. And this is the cause why a conuenient reuerence and honour is to be giuen of all good Christians, euen to the persons of Gods Ministers (especially when they adorne their high calling with a holy life:) euen because they are Angels of God. Saint Paule teacheth, that women ought to be modestly altired in the congregation 5because of the Angels: it is not onely, because the holy Angels are present, and alwaies beholders of our seruice of God, but euen because the Ministers, which are Angels and messengers sent from God, are there, delinering their message and Embassage receiued from God: And thus we haue the first title giuen to the Minister: he is an Angell.
- 1The 2. use for hearers.The 2. vse for hearers.
- 2They are to receive thē and their doctrine willingly and reverenly.They are to receiue thē and their doctrine willingly and reuerenly.
- 3Malach. 2. 7.
- 4For it is Gods message, though they be men that bring it.
- 51 Corinth. 11. 11.
