Divine Drops Distilled from the Fountain of Holy Scripture, Part 20
Expoſitions and Obſervations on 1 PETER 1. 9, 10, 11, 12.
Receiving the end of your faith, even the ſalvation of your ſouls.
Of which ſalvation the prophets have enquired, and ſearched diligently, &c.
Which things the Angels deſire to look into.
THe Apoſtle ſpeaks of the ſalvation that Godhath given unto us, and Chriſt hath purchaſed for us in the New Teſtament; and he ſaith it is ſuch a glorious ſalvation that all the prophets in old time, they have been groping after it; they have ſpoken much of it, but underſtood little of what they ſaid, but ſpake for our ſakes, that is, principally for us: and the very Angels deſire to look into that ſalvation. The Apoſtle ſets out the glory of that ſalvation thus: the prophets inquired after it, and the angels deſire to look into it. So the word then briefly is this, that
The very angels of God, they doe earneſtly deſire to know, and underſtand the myſteries of the Goſpell, the ſalvation that God hath given to ſinners by the Goſpell.
The Angels are wondrouſly taken with the knowledg The deſire of the Angels after the myſteries of the Goſpel.of the glorious myſteries of the Goſpell. True it is, for themſelves, they are not more ſaved after the manner as men are; but yet the glory of it is ſo great, and the glory of God by it, that the very angels deſire to look into it, the Angels ſtudy it.
Now, how do they ſtudy it?
Compare this with that Epheſ. 3. 8, 9, 10. VntoUnto me (ſaith the Apoſtle) God hath given this grace that I ſhould preach among the Gentiles the unſearchable riches of Chriſt; And to make all men ſee what is the fellowſhip of the myſtery which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, &c. To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places, might be made known by the Church the manifold wiſdom of God. The Angels no doubt know that that we cannot comprehend, and they have a great deal of that intuitive knowledg, as we ſay; but this I would teach you, that the Angels are willing by the Church, that is, by Goſpell preaching, by the ordinances of God ſet up in the Church, they are willing to learn, and by the help of them to prie into the glorious myſteries of the Goſpell.
Not only the good Angels, they are preſent here Both good and bad Angels.(that is certain) waiting upon the Saints; but alſo the evill angels, that is, the devills, they deſire to look into the Goſpell, they do learn the myſteries of the Goſpell by Goſpell ordinances, by preaching. For good and bad Angels are of the ſame nature by creation, though ſome fell, and others did not. This myſtery of the Goſpell was hid from Angels, from good and evil Angels. And though they know diverſe things of God, and their own happineſse, yet the glorious things of God in the Goſpell, and New Teſtament, they are content to come down among us, and hear and learn of the Church, and of the ordinances. We are not able to comprehend what ſenſes Angels have, or that we ſhall have when we are gone hence to the Lord. Therefore there are two or three things that we ſhould learn from it.
Vſe 1 Me thinks it ſhould be a generall motive to every one of us to be a little more diligent, and carefull to To be diligent hearers of the myſteries of the Goſpel.hear the myſteries of the Goſpel when they are opened to us. If angels come down (as it were and learn this wiſdom by the Goſpell, who is ſo great but he ſhould ſtoop to prie into theſe glorious myſteries? And if the devil (though he learn it that he may the more diſhonour God by it) hearken to every tittle, and uſe of it, and improve it, how carefull ſhould we be? If the good Angels learn, though their ſalvation be not by it; but only the glory and the myſtery, and beauty of it; how much more ſhould I hearken, whoſe ſalvation, or damnation it is for ever? If the Devil hearken to every doctrine and uſe, that he may diſhonour God, and hinder my ſoul, how much more ſhould I hearken, that I may honour God, and reſiſt the devil and ſave my ſoul?
Vſe. 2 Secondly, learn hence another thing, that is, wiſdom and watchfulneſſe againſt Satan. Truly the devil To learn Caution againſt Satan.was a groſs fool, in the times of Popery I mean, there was but little preaching, therefore he had but little knowledge of the things of the Goſpell: but as the light of the Goſpell grew clear, ſo the devill grew wiſer. And he hath laid aſide all the temptations that he had a hundred yeers ago: for he can never catch men that way, for the generality, and now he hath gotten ſpirituall temptations: for as the Goſpell breaks out for the enlightening of the Saints, to bring glory to God, and ſave their ſouls; ſo the Divel gets more light, and knowledge whereby he may more diſhonour God, and damnifie the ſouls of men. The devil is the ſame now as he was then to diſhonour God, and damn ſouls; and the way generally is the ſame to bring men to ſin: but for the ſpeciall manner of it, the devil drives a new trade, nothing like as before: before it was to invocate angels, and dead Saints; that was groſſe. Now you think you are ſafe, becauſe theſe things are gone; but the devil hath got the Spirituall knowledge of every leſſon you hear, and he knows how to beat you with your own weapons, the divel hath temptations on the right hand, and on the left, now he brings men to be puffed up with ſpirituall knowledge, he hears pretious things in the Goſpel, and an intelligble man is much taken with notions, and the devil takes him that way. He ſees the doctrine of juſtification breaking out, and it is glorious, and men are taken with it, therefore in way of thankfulneſs men ſhall ſwagger as the world doth; and whereas before they were ſomething like profeſſors, even to the world, now they ſhall walk in all looſneſs, and wantonneſs. I ſay not that all do ſo: but there are ſome, and wo to them, that turn the grace of God into wantonneſſe. I am not able to tell my thoughts how fine the temptations of Satan are grown by this ſalvation; by every Sermon he increaſeth his knowledg, and will to the end more and more, and thoſe temptations that take us now, our children will laugh at them, becauſe knowledge ſhall increaſe. Therefore take heed of pride, and arrogancie, walk humbly, and hearken to advice, for thou haſt an enemy that learns more at one Sermon, then thou doſt at three.
Uſe. 3 Another thing is this, ſee what a glorious Jewel the Goſpel is, what a glorious pearl, when the angels come To make us admire the glorious Pearl and riches of the Goſpel.down to ſtudy it. The Angels in heaven ſee God, and for ought I know they have as much happineſs as ever they ſhall have; they are ſent down to the Saints to wait on them, and that they that it concerns not ſhould be ſo taken with it, it muſt needs be a glorious Iewel. Therefore ſome conceive that the Cherubins in the law: there were two Cherubins over the Ark on the mercy ſeat, one looking towards another, God ordered it ſo, ſo as they were prying as it were into the mercy ſeat: and ſome conceive they were a type of the Angels prying into the glorious myſteries of the New Teſtament, looking one at another, and wondring (as it were) It is a glorious Jewel.
Therefore let us praiſe God for it, and indeavour to uſe all means to keep it up. Many deviſes the devil hath to pull it down (though he get nothing, but make himſelf more miſcrable) ſo there will not be ſuch wanting ſtill. To inſtance in one, take heed of Idolizing diſcipline, and government, that is, ſo to give our ſelves up to ſeek a government, that we care not what hindrance we do to the Goſpel the while. As there are ſome here among us in hindring the poor Welch Miniſters from preaching to the people, onelyonly becauſe they ſuſpected them to be Independents: this is but the beginning of ſorrows, if men may have their will for diſcipline and government, we ſhall looſe this Goſpel which the Angels pry into: diſcipline and government is good, but we muſt not looſe the Goſpel for it, keep up that.
And beloved, if ever the Lord ſet peace among you, think of thoſe poor countries that have not this Iewel and Pearl. If God raiſe men, you may finde out ſome way or other, whereby to maintaine them. And it is more then allowing them maintenance: for you are to ſtickle with that generation of wicked men that for every trifle and nicity hinder poor people from enjoying the Goſpel, and pretend either it may be he is not a Vniverſity man, he is no maſter of Arts, it may be he hath Greek, and Latine, and not Hebrew, though he be full of the Holy Ghoſt, and yet the people muſt be ſtarved. Let us do what we can to prize, and advance the Goſpell, hold it up before every ſoul. If the Angels come down from heaven to prie into our Goſpel; how much ſhould we prize it, and not ſuffer people that we ſhall curſe ſeven yeers hence that we bleſſe now, that would couzen us of the Goſpell: be not cheated of the Goſpel: it is a precious Pearl; it is all that this poor ruind, tottered Kingdom hath left: for peace, and wealth are gone, and there is a foundation of a new war laid, only God hath kept up the Goſpell in England as much as in any kingdom in the world, Beware of men, of wolves in ſheeps cloathing, beware of all the inſtruments of the devil that would beguile you, and your poor children of this Iewel.
Vſe. 4 Laſtly, be forward, and ready to every good work; though it do not much concern you. Truly there is a lovelineſs in To be ready to every good work.good works, though they concern not me, and my good, yet I ſhould have a hand in them, I mean, though they concern not my calling. There is a diſpoſition in men, that they wil meddle with nothing, but their end is their profit, or credit. The Angels prie into our Goſpel; what have they to do with it? They love to ſee the wonderfull wiſdome of God in it, and to ſee Chriſt woing ſinners, and take them in his Arms, it is nothing to them, yet they rejoyce that poor ſinners ſhould be ſaved, and they rejoyce to ſee the juſtice of God, and the wiſdom, and mercy of God, how ſweetly they be reconciled, and glorified in his Goſpel. So let us, when any good work is to be done, though I, and my family be not concerned in it, yet let us go among them, and do what we can. This is the Plague of this age, that many are about doing of good, that is certain, but there are ſome wheeles of their own ends in it. I cannot ſay it of every Officer; but in any Office or place in the City, you ſhall have ſome that have wheels of their own ends that move all, and if that be away, all ſtands ſtill. Let us love good works for good works ſake: for the beauty of the work.