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HEBREWS, II.
eels themselves ; and therefore he must needs be in- nnitelv superior to them.
2. tn changing the world that he has made ; and here the mutability of this world is brought in to illustrate the immutability of Christ.
(1.) This world is mutable, all created nature is so ; this world has passed through many changes, and shall pass through more ; all these changes are by the permission and under the direction of Christ, who made the world ; {v. 11, 12.) They shall fierish, they shall all nvax old as doth a garment; as a ves- ture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed. This our visible world (both the earth and visible heavens) is growing old. Not only men and beasts and trees grow old, but this world itself grows old, and is hastening to its dissolution; it changes like a garment, has lost much of its beauty and strength ; it grew old betimes on the first apos- tasy, and it has been waxing older and growing weaker ever since ; it bears the symptoms of a dying world. But then its dissolution shall not be its utter destruction, but its change. Christ will fold up this world as a garment not to be abused any longer, not to be any longer used so as it has been. Let us not then set our hearts upon that which is not what we take it to be, and will not be what it now is. Sin has made a great change in the world for the worse, and Christ will make a great change in it for the better. IVe look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Let the consideration of this wean us from the present world, and make us watch- ful, diligent, and desirous of that better world, and let us wait on Christ to change us into a meetness for that new world that is approaching; we cannot enter into it till we be new creatures.
(2. ) Christ is immutable. Thus the Father testi- fies of him. Thou remainest, thy years shall not fail. Christ is the same in himself, the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever, and the same to his fieople in all the changes of time. This may well support all who have an interest in Christ under all the changes they meet with in the world, and under all they feel in themselves. Christ is immutable and immortal, his years shall not fail. This may com- fort us under all decays of nature that we may ob- serve in ourselves or in our friends, though our flesh and heart fail, and our days are hastening to an end. Christ lives to take care o/ us while we live, and of our's when we are gone, and this should quicken us all to make our interest in him clear and sure, that our spiritual and eternal life may be hid with Christ in God.
13. But to which of the ansjels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool ? 14. i Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
This concludes the comparison between Christ and the angels, and the preference of Christ to them ; God never said to the angels what he has said to Christ.
1. What has God said to Christ ? He has said, " Sit thou at my right hand, till I make thine ene- mies thy footstool ; (Ps. 110. 1.) Receive thou glory, dominion, and rest ; and remain in the administra- tion of thy mediatorial kingdom until all thine ene- mies shall either be made thy friends bv conversion, or thy footstool." Note, (1.) Christ Jesus has his enemies, (Would one think it?) enemies even among men ; enemies to his sovereignty, to his cause, to his people ; such as will not have him to reign over them. Let us not think it strange then if we have Mur enemies. Christ never did any thing to make
men his enemies ; he has done a great deal to make them all his friends and his Father's friends, and yet he has his enemies. (2.) All the enemies of Christ shall be made his footstool, either by humble submission and eiitire subjection to his will, casting themselves down at his feet, or by utter destruction; he shall trample upon those who continue obstinate, and shall triumph over them. (3.) God the Father has undertaken for this, and he will see it done, yea he will himself do it ; and though it be not done pre- sently, it shall certainly be done, and Christ waits for it; and so must Christians wait till God has wrought all their works in them, for them, and by them. (4.) Christ shall go on to rule and reign till this is done ; he shall not leave any of his great de- signs unfinished, he shall go on conquering aiid to conquer. And it becomes his people to go on in their duty, being what he would have them to be, doing what he would have them to do, avoiding what he would have them to avoid, bearing what he would have them to bear, till he makes them conquerors and more than conquerors over all their spiritual enemies.
2. What has God said of the angels ? He never said to them as he said to Christ, Sit ye at my right hand ; but he has said of them here, that they are ministering spirits, sent forth to ?ninister for them who shall be the heirs of salvation. Note, ( 1 .) What the angels are as to their nature ; they are spirits, without bodies or inclination to bodies, and yet they can assume bodies, and appear in them, when God pleases. They are spirits incoi-poreal, intelligent, active, substances; they excel in wisdom and strength. (2. ) What the angels are as to their office; they are ministering spirits. Christ, as Mediator, is the great Minister of (iod in the great work of redemption. The Holy Spirit is the great Minister of God and Christ in the application of this redemp- tion. Angels are ministering spirits under the bless- ed Trinity, to execute the divine will and pleasure, they are the ministers oi Divine Providence. (3.) The angels are sent forth for this end — to minister to them who shall be the heirs of salvation. Here observe, [1.] The description given of the saints — they are heirs of salvation ; at present they are under age, heirs, not inheritors. They are heirs because they are children of God ; if children, then heirs. Let us make sure that we are children by adoption and regeneration, having made a covenant-resigna- tion of ourselves to God, and walking before him in a gospel- conversation, and then are heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ. [2.] The dignity and pri- vilege of the saints — the angels are sent forth to mi- nister for them. Thus they have done in attending and acting at the giving forth of the law, in fighting the battles of the saints, in destroying their enemies. They still minister for them in opposing the malice and power of evil spirits, in protecting and keeping their bodies, pitching their tents about their's, in- structing, quickcnin?, and comforting their souls un- der Christ and the Holy Ghost ; and thus they shall do in gathering all the saints together at the last day. Bless God for the ministration of angels, keep in God's wav, and take the comfort of this promise, that he will give his angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. They shall bear you up in their hands, lest you dash your feet against a stone, Ps. 91. 11, 12.
CHAP. II.
In this chapter, the apostlo, I. Makes some application of the doctrine laid down in the chapter foresjoins;, concerning; the excellency of tlie person of Christ, both by way of exhor tation and arpument, t. 1 . . 4. II. Enlanjcs further upon the pre-eminence of Christ above the angels, v. 5. . 7. III. Proceeds to remove the scandal of the cross, v. 10.. 16. IV. Asserts the incarnation of Christ, taking upon him not
