mifery. Angels, therefore, conftitute a branch of that great family, which is named of him, in heaven and earth. And having made peace by the blood of his crofs, he has effected a reconciliation, not only between God and finners, but also between angels and men. How, thofe inhabitants of light, are difpofed to finful men, confidered as finful, we may learn from many paffages of fcripture. They are devoted to God, filled with zeal for his honour, and wait but for his command to execute vengeance upon his enemies. When Herod, infatuated by his pride, and by the flattery of the multitude, received their idolatrous compliment with complacence, an angel of the Lord fmote him, because he gave

not God the glory*. The peftilence which destroyed the people, towards the end of David's reign, was under the direction of an angel†, and David faw him with his arm ftretched out against Jerufalem. And in this prophecy, angels are spoken of, as employed in pouring forth the vials of wrath upon the earth. And still they are ready, we may lieve, to avenge their Maker's caufe upon the wicked, when they are commiffioned. + 2 Sam. xxiv. 16, 17. And

* AЯts. xii. 23.

be

And if the hiftory of modern times was written by an inspired pen, and events, as in the fcriptures, were affigned to their proper caufes, perhaps, the death of many a haughty worm would be recorded in words to this effect-And an angel of the Lord fmote him, because be gave not God the glory. But, viewing finners as the fubjects of redemption, the angels copy from their Lord. They regard them with benevolence, and rejoice over every one that repenteth *. They willingly attend on them, and affist them, in ways beyond our conception. They esteem believers in Jefus as their fellow-fervants +. We have reafon to think, that they are prefent in our worshipping affemblies; and, perhaps, always fo prefent, that they could discover themselves to us in a moment, were it confiftent with the rules of the divine government, established in this lower world, fuited to the ftate of thofe who are to walk by faith, not by fight. Thus far, however differing in other refpects, the angels and the redeemed, are united and related in one common head, and have fellowship in worship and fervice. When finners are enabled,

*Heb. is 14.

+ Rev. xxii. 9.

mifery. Angels, therefore, conftitute a branch of that great family, which is named of him, in heaven and earth. And having made peace by the blood of his crofs, he has effected a reconciliation, not only between God and finners, but also between angels and men. How, thofe inhabitants of light, are disposed to finful men, confidered as finful, we may learn from many paffages of fcripture. They are devoted to God, filled with zeal for his honour, and wait but for his command to execute vengeance upon his enemies. When Herod, infatuated by his pride, and by the flattery of the multitude, received their idolatrous compliment with complacence, an angel of the Lord fmote him, because he gave not God the glory *. The peftilence which destroyed the people, towards the end of David's reign, was under the direction of an angel, and David faw him with his arm ftretched out against Jerufalem. And in this prophecy, angels are spoken of, as employed in pouring forth the vials of wrath upon the earth. And still they are ready, we may lieve, to avenge their Maker's caufe upon the wicked, when they are commiffioned. + 2 Sam. xxiv. 16, 17. And

* Acts xii. 23.

be

And if the history of modern times was written by an infpired pen, and events, as in the fcriptures, were affigned to their proper caufes, perhaps, the death of many a haughty worm would be recorded in words to this effe&t—And an angel of the Lord fmote him, because be gave not God the glory. But, viewing finners as the fubjects of redemption, the angels copy from their Lord. They regard them with benevolence, and rejoice over every one that repenteth *. They willingly attend on them, and affist them, in ways beyond our conception. They esteem believers in Jefus as their fellow-fervants +. We have reason to think, that they are prefent in our worshipping affemblies ; and, perhaps, always fo prefent, that they could discover themselves to us in a moment, were it confiftent with the rules of the divine government, established in this lower world, fuited to the ftate of those who are to walk by faith, not by fight. Thus far, however differing in other refpects, the angels and the redeemed, are united and related in one common head, and have fellowship in worfhip and fervice. When finners are enabled, + Rev. xxii. 9.

* Heb. i. 14.

by grace, to renounce this world, they are admitted, to an honourable alliance, with a better.

II. From hence, we may form fome judgment of the true nature and high honour of that spiritual worship, which is the privilege and glory of the church of God, under the gospel difpenfation. When we meet in the name of Jesus, as his people, and with a due obfervance of his inftitutions, we come to the innumerable company of angels, and to the general assembly and church of the first born *, the first born ones, (for the expreffion is plural.) We draw nigh, by faith, to the very gate of heaven, to the holiest of all. Men, unacquainted with fpirituality, are foon weary even of the form of worship, unless their minds are amused by a fplendid ceremonial. The first rife, and fubfequent increase, of that pomp and pageantry, which, in fome countries, has quite obfcured the fimplicity and beauty of gofpel worship, is to be ascribed to this indifpofition of the human mind. Our thoughts, while we are in a natural state, are too weak and wavering, and too grofs, to be pleased with a worship,

* Heb. xii. 22, 23.