Metaphor. | Parallel.
A Son is the Off-spring of the Father. | Angels are the Off-spring of God: Adam was called the Son of God by Creation; so may the Angels, because created by God.
II. A Son is greatly beloved by the Father. | II. Angels are greatly beloved of the Almighty.
III. Sons attend, honour, and wait upon their Father; they are about his Table, and at his Command. | III. Angels wait upon God, they stand about his Throne, and are always ready to obey his Command, and seek his Glory.
IV. Sons are greatly dignified; they are near to their Father, and have great Power and Authority in the Family. | IV. Angels are greatly dignified; they are very near to God,1 always beholding his Face, and are mighty in power. Mr. Caryl saith, They are called Sons of God because of Power, being called Principalities, and Powers, &c.
⟨p. 54⟩V. Sons serve their Father cheerfully, willingly, and readily; they obey not as Slaves or Servants. | V. Angels serve God with abundance of Cheerfulness and Willingness; they go about their Work with a Filial or Son-like Cheerfulness and Delight.
VI. Sons are like their Father; they have some Resemblance of him in Nature and Qualifications. | VI. Angels have some essential Likeness to God. God is a Spirit, and incorporeal; the Angels are Spirits in their Nature, and incorporeal. Tho the difference between God and them is as great as can be conceived in this respect; God is the creating Spirit, and they are created Spirits; God is an infinite Spirit, they finite Spirits: Yet the Angels bear (as the Learned observe) some resemblance to God in their Essence, as well as in their Qualification, and may in this respect be called the Sons of God likewise.
VII. And lastly, Sons imitate their Father. Do good to them that hate you, (saith Christ) that you may be the Children of your Father which is in Heaven: That is, Imitate God, as some Children do their Fathers; carry it towards evil Men, as God doth; and this will be an Evidence that you are the Sons of God, and he will honour you with the Title of his Sons. | VII. Angels imitate God in Mercy, in Love and Compassion, as also in their good Works; their Ways being all holy, just and good, pure and righteous; and showing much Kindness and Tenderness to the Children of Men. They doubtless are patient towards the froward and undeserving Mortals; they are of most excellent Natures and Dispositions.
Metaphor. | Parallel.
A Son is the Off-spring of the Father. | ANgels are the Off-spring of God: Adam was called the Son of God by Creation; so may the Angels, because created by God.
II. A Son is greatly beloved by the Father. | II. Angels are greatly beloved of the Almighty.
III. Sons attend, honour, and wait upon their Father; they are about his Table, and at his Command. | III. Angels wait upon God, they stand about his Throne, and are always ready to obey his Command, and seek his Glory.
IV. Sons are greatly dignified; they are near to their Father, and have great Power and Authority in the Family. | IV. Angels are greatly dignified; they are very near to God,1 always beholding his Face, and are mighty in power. Mr. Caryl saith, They are called Sons of God because of Power, being called Principalities, and Powers, &c.
⟨p. 54⟩V. Sons serve their Father cheerfully, willingly, and readily; they obey not as Slaves or Servants. | V. Angels serve God with abundance of Cheerfulness and Willingness; they go about their Work with a Filial or Son-like Cheerfulness and Delight.
VI. Sons are like their Father; they have some Resemblance of him in Nature and Qualifications. | VI. Angels have some essential Likeness to God. God is a Spirit, and incorporeal; the Angels are Spirits in their Nature, and incorporeal. Tho the difference between God and them is as great as can be conceived in this respect; God is the creating Spirit, and they are created Spirits; God is an infinite Spirit, they finite Spirits: Yet the Angels bear (as the Learned observe) some resemblance to God in their Essence, as well as in their Qualification, and may in this respect be called the Sons of God likewise.
VII. And lastly, Sons imitate their Father. Do good to them that hate you, (saith Christ) that you may be the Children of your Father which is in Heaven: That is, Imitate God, as some Children do their Fathers; carry it towards evil Men, as God doth; and this will be an Evidence that you are the Sons of God, and he will honour you with the Title of his Sons. | VII. Angels imitate God in Mercy, in Love and Compassion, as also in their good Works; their Ways being all holy, just and good, pure and righteous; and shewing much Kindness and Tenderness to the Children of Men. They doubtless are patient towards the froward and undeserving Mortals; they are of most excellent Natures and Dispositions.
- 1Mat. 18.10
