Tropes and Figures · Benjamin Keach
Tropes and Figures, Treatise 1 · Head 9 · Part 1 – Part 2
Miniſters compared to Angels.
Rev. 1.2. The ſeven Stars are the Angels of the ſeven Churches, &c.
Rev. 2.1. Ʋnto the Angel of the Church of Epheſus, &c.
MIniſters are called Angels.
| Angels. | Parallel. |
| ANgels are endued with moſt eminent Power and Dignity, they excel in Strength. | SO hath God endued his Miniſters with great Power and Dignity, they are his Subſtitutes on Earth, they repreſent Chriſt himſelf; and Paul ſaith,Phil. 4.13. He could do all things through Chriſt that ſtrengthned him. |
| II. Angels are God's Meſſengers, and are often ſent to bring good News to Men; the Angels brought the firſt tidings of Chriſt's Nativity. | II. So the Miniſters of the Goſpel are Chriſt's Meſſengers, they are called the Meſſengers of the Churches, and the Glory of Chriſt,2 Cor. 8.23. they bring the glad Tidings of Peace and Salvation, by Chriſt. |
| III. Angels are very wiſe; David was ſaid to be wiſe, according to the Wiſdom of an Angel of God.2 Sam. 14.22. | III. Miniſters of Chriſt are, or ought to be, wiſe Men, they underſtand the Miſteries of Chriſt, and open them to others. The Secrets of the Lord are with them,Eph. 3 10. the Angels themſelves underſtand the manifold Wiſdom of God by his Saints, and Miniſters of the Goſpel. |
| IV. Angels deſire to pry into the Myſteries of Grace and Mercy, by Jeſus Chriſt.1 Pet. 1.12 | IV. Chriſt's true Miniſters, make it their great Buſineſs to ſtudy Chriſt, to dig and dive into the hidden Myſteries;1 Cor. 2.1, 2. I determined to know nothing among you but Chriſt, and him crucified. |
| V. Angels are lively, beautiful, and ſhining. When Angels appeared to divers Perſons, of whom we reade, their Brightneſs and Glory was very great. | V. Chriſt's true Miniſters are lively, and very beautiful; when the Spirit of the Lord is eminently upon them, they ſhine gloriouſly in Grace, and Holineſs:Act. 6.15. Stephen (who was a glorious Preacher) was ſaid to ſhine like the Face of an Angel. |
| VI. Angels are very obedient to God, they do his Commands, and wait for his Word. | VI. The faithful Preachers of the Goſpel are very ready to obey God's Commands, tho they are thereby expoſed to great Danger, if God bid them go,Rom. 1.15. they go. |
| VII. Angels are ſwift in executing their Buſineſs; hence ſaid to have Wings. | VII. The Miniſters of the Goſpel are ſwift in their Spiritual Motion, they are ſaid to fly in the midſt of Heaven, having the everlaſting Goſpel to preach, &c. Rev. 14.6. |
| VIII. Angels have made known much of the Mind of God to the Sons of Men. | VIII. Chriſt's true Miniſters daily make known the Mind and Will of God, 'tis one great part of their Work and Buſineſs. |
| IX. Angels admire, reverence, and adore the glorious Majeſty of God, and therefore vail their Faces before him, and give Glory to him; Yea, as Mr. Venning obſerves, 'tis their very Buſineſs to ſing Hallelujahs to God; Angels Worſhip is, ſinging and praiſing of God, they ſeek not themſelves in ſerving God. | IX. The Miniſters of Chriſt, and all true Chriſtians admire and adore God, and his glorious Maj…ſty, and with ſelf abhorrency vail their Faces, as it were, aſcribing all Glory and Honour unto God: Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, Pſal. 115.1 but to thy Name do we give Glory; the Servants of God deſire only to rejoice in God, they know no other Name to Glory in, but in the Name of the Lord; and hence they ſing his praiſe, tho in Priſon,Act. 16. in all which they ſeek not themſelves, in any Service they do for God, but the Honour and Glory of his Name only. |
| X. Angels do their Service to the Lord with joyfulneſs; the Morning Stars, 'tis ſaid, ſang together, and all the Sons of God ſhouted for Joy. | X. So Chriſt's true and faithful Miniſters and People, take much delight in their Service, their Minds run exceedingly upon their Work, to do for God; to ſpend, and be ſpent for God and his People, is the deſire and delight of their Souls. |
| XI. Angels are without weariſomneſs in their Work and Service, they are as ſtrong and as lively at the end, as they are at the beginning. | XI. So Chriſt's faithful Miniſters and People, by the help of God's Spirit, labour and faint not,2 Cor. 4.16. For which cauſe we faint not, &c. They ſhall run and not be weary;Joſh. 14.7, 8, 9, 10, 11. Caleb was as ſtrong and as able to do Service for God at fourſcore, as he was at forty Years old. |
| XII. Angels ſerve the Saints, and watch over them, and daily adminiſter to them; and, tho glorious Creatures, do not think it below them ſo to do. | XII. So the true and faithful Preachers of God's Word ſerve the Churches, Members, and Saints of God, and daily watch over them, and miniſter unto them; and tho poſſibly ſome of them may far excell in Parts and Wiſdom, yet they think not his Service below them. |
| XIII. Angels are often ſent to comfort the Saints when caſt down, as they miniſtred to Chriſt in his Bloody Agony. | XIII. So are Goſpel-Preachers ſent, and commanded to comfort the Feeble-minded, and ſupport the Weak; they know how to comfort others with the ſame Comfort whereby they themſelves are comforted of God.2 Cor. 1.4 |
Inferences.
THis may inform us, what Glory and Dignity God hath conferred upon his Servants, who labour in the Miniſtry; they have a glorious Name, and are greatly honoured by the Lord, and therefore ſhould be received with all due reſpect, and eſteemed very highly for their Works ſake.
II. It ſhews us who are true Miniſters of the Goſpel.
III. It ſhews Chriſt's faithful Miniſters, how they ſhould do their Work, and behave themſelves before the Lord.
Miniſters compared to Stars.
Rev. 1.20. The Myſtery of the ſeven Stars, which thou ſaweſt in my Right-hand, and the ſeven Golden Candleſticks: The ſeven Stars are the ſeven Angels of the ſeven Churches; and the ſeven Candleſticks are the ſeven Churches.
BY Stars in this place, it appears the Miniſters of God's Word are meant.
| Metaphor. | Parallel. |
| NAturaliſts ſay, the Sun communicates his Light to the Stars. | SO Chriſt imparts of his Spirit, and ſaving Light and Knowledg, to his faithful Miniſters. |
| II. The Stars are placed by the Lord in the Heavens. | II. So the Miniſters of the Goſpel are placed by the Lord in the Church. |
| III. The Stars are a great Ornament, and ſhine gloriouſly in the Heavens. | III. So faithful Miniſters are a great Ornament to the Church, in which they ſhine forth gloriouſly in Doctrine and Converſation. |
| IV. Stars differ one from another in Glory. | IV. So there are Diverſities of Gifts of the Spirit in the Miniſters of the Goſpel; ſome ſhine more than others in Parts and Piety. |
| V. Stars ſometimes are obſcured by Clouds, and ſhine not. | V. So Miniſters ſometimes, through Temptations, are beclouded, and ſhine not as at other times. |
| VI. Stars are a Guide unto Mariners. | VI. So the Miniſters of the Goſpel are Guides to ſpiritual Mariners. |
| VII. A Star led the wiſe Men to Chriſt. | VII. A true Miniſter's deſign in Preaching, is to lead Men to Chriſt. |
| VIII. Stars give light to Men, only in the Night. | VIII. So Chriſt's Miniſters ſhine forth, and give light to Sinners, and others, whilſt the Night of this World doth laſt. |
| IX. The Stars ſend down ſweet Influences on the Earth:Job 38.31. Canſt thou bind the ſweet Influences of Pleiades, (or, the ſeven Stars?) | IX. So the faithful Miniſters of the Goſpel, in a bleſſed manner influence, by their heavenly Doctrine and Life, the Souls of Men to whom they preach, and daily converſe with. |
Inferences.
O What a Bleſſing are faithful Teachers to a People or Nation where they live! Is it not a lovely thing to ſee the Goſpel-Stars? Pray that the Heavens may be clear, and that theſe Stars may not diſappear, nor withdraw their ſhining.