A commentary vpon the Epistles of Saint Paul to Philemon, and to the Hebrewes together with a compendious explication of the second and third Epistles of Saint Iohn. By VVilliam Iones of East Bergholt in Suffolke, Dr. in Divinity, and sometimes one of the fellowes of the foundation of Emmanuel Colledge in Cambridge.

VERSE 14.

YEe have heard what CHRIST is: Will yee know what the Angels be? for their nature, they be spirits, yet created and finite: for their office, Ministers, Officers, Apparitours, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, publike ministers, for the publike good and benefite. Ser∣vants, not Lord, as CHRIST is: sent forth, at the will and com∣mandement of an other. CHRIT is sent into the world, yet as a Sonne, not as a servant: of his owne free will, not by the simple authoritie of an other, as the Angels be. All Angels are Ministers. Some are not ministrantes; some assidentes, as Dionysius collecteth, Dan. 7.10. They all stand about GOD expecting his pleasure to be sent by him.

They are principally for the elect: they are occupied about the wicked, as an Angell destroyed the hoast of Senacherib, and slew Herod, but it is for the godly their sake, Psal. 34.7. Psal. 91.11.12. They minister to God, as their Lord and Master: to us, as their fel∣low servants at the appointment of the Lord.

Sometimes they are sent to instruct the godly in the will of God: as Isaiah 6. to the Prophet in the Apocalyps, to Iohn, to Cor∣nelius, to the Shepheards, &c. Sometimes to deliver them out of danger, as Lot out of Sodom: Peter out of prison: to carry Lazarus soule into Abrahams bosome.

1. Here wee may see, that the name of a Minister is an honou∣rable name:* 1.1 the Magistrate is a Minister, the Angels are Ministers, CHRIST himselfe was a Minister,* 1.2 even the Minister of circum∣cision, when hee lived on the earth. Some prophane fellowes there be, that thinke basely in their hearts, and speake irreverently of the Ministers. I tell you, it is an Angelicall name, an high and magnificent title. Is it not an honourable office to serve the King or the Queene? We that be the Ministers, are servants to Christ the King of Kings, and to his Church the Lambes Wife: therefore thinke highly of us, because of our office. Is it a grace to the An∣gels to be called Ministers, and shall it be a disgrace to us? Nay, we will glory in it, and shame shall light on them that contemne the Ministers of CHRIST.

2. Whose Ministers are the Angels? They be our Ministers, they Minister for our sakes: and what be we in comparison of the Angels? They are spirits, we flesh and bloud: they holy, wee un∣holy: they immortall, we mortall: they in heaven, we on earth; yet they be our Ministers: they Minister to CHRIST, as to their Lord and Master: to us, as to their fellow servants. But what an honour is this to wretched and sinfull man, that the Angels should be his Ministers? As if the King should command an honourable Lord of his privy Counsel to waite on a poore man in the Country, to conduct him from the Court to his owne house: the Angels are of Gods Court in heaven, and see his face continually. Wee are sillie wormes on earth: yet the Lord hath appointed them to attend on us, to be our nurses, to carry us in their armes, that wee dash not our foot against a stone. Let us praise and magnifie God, that hath pro∣vided such keepers for us: What is man, O Lord, that thou regardest him? thou hast made him a little lower, nay, a little higher than the Angels. The Angels are our Ministers: but we are not the Angels Ministers. This is thy gracious goodnesse towards us, thy name be blessed for it for ever and ever.

Whether he have appointed to every one of us a particular An∣gell or not, let us not be too curious in the discussing of it: this is comfortable for us, that wee have many Angels to Minister to us: Their Angels,* 1.3 saies CHRIST of those that believe in him, not their Angell: not one Angell, but many carryed Lazarus his soule into Abrahams bosome.

3. What an unspeakable comfort is this for us? What a Tow∣er of defence against Satan and his Angels? The Devill compas∣seth the earth to and fro, hee walkes up and downe like a roaring Lion, seeking whom he may devoure: and there be many 1000s of devils: there were a legion in one man. These by Gods permis∣sion raise up tempests, stirre up extraordinary windes, blow downe houses, Nay, if God did not bridle them, they would quickly teare us all in pieces: but let this be our castle to flye unto: as there be bad Angels to hurt us; so there be good Angels to defend us. There were Charrets and horse-men of fire round about Elisha: and

the Angels of God, though we cannot see them with our eyes, pitch their Tents round about us: these be stronger than the Devill and his angels, because they never sinned, and have God on their side. In the time of Popery the people were much deluded with the walk∣ing of spirits, they durst not go through a Church-yard in the night for feare of them. Sundry are afraid of Fairies and of ill spirits, that haunt their houses: no doubt but the evill angels are busie in all places, yet let us feare none of them all: we are guarded with the celestiall guard of holy Angels, that are able to protect us from them all; especially, Christ Iesus is on our side, which is above all Angels; he sits at Gods right-hand, hath all power in heaven and earth, he will preserve us from all dangers in this life, and bring us to his everlasting Kingdome in the life to come.

4 Seeing that God hath ordained the Angels to be ministring-spirits, for our sakes, which undoubtedly looke carefully to their charge, seldome or never are they absent from us, some or other are present with us continually: Let us do nothing that may grieve these Heavenly Spirits:* 1.4 let the Women be covered because of the Angels. So let not us sweare and blaspheme the Name of God, &c. because of the Angels. Men would blush to commit filthinesse in the presence of an honourable Personage; the Angels are alwayes present with us; therefore, even in respect of them, let us absteine from sin.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Rom. 13.4.
• * 1.2

  Rom. 15.8.
• * 1.3

  Matth. 18.10.
• * 1.4

  1 Cor. 11.10.