:Book IV. THE HOLY ANGELS coMPARED TO THE WIND, &c. 637 thina in it but this, 'i.:iz. Angels in their own Nature look up to him, it might con– vine~ us, that all inferior Creatures do depend upon him, as well ~~ thofe noble Ones. But when they come in with the Faces of other Creatures lookwg up, 11 IS a clear Evidence that all depend upon Chrifl. By him were all 'l'hings created, that are m Heavm and in Earth, 'Vijib!e and in'Uijib!e, whet~er 'l'hrones, or Domtmons, Prmapalt– ties, or P•wers. /ill 'Thzngs were cr•. 1ted by him, and for him, and by him all 'l'hings conjift, Col. i. r6, 17. Sixthly; We are{o learn from hence to be heavenly-minded, with the holy Angels, to look up. THE HOLY ANGELS COMPARED TO THE WIND, .I)ND TO FLAMING-FIRE. --Maketh his Angels Spirits, and his Minifters a flaming Fire, Pfal. civ. 4· And of the Angels he faith, Who maketh his Angels Spirits, and bis Minifters a Flame of Fire, Heb. i. 7· SOME of the modern Jews deny there is any mention made of Angels, in Pfal. civ. 4· affirmina, that the SubjeCt the Pfalmifl treats of, are the Winds, with Thund_<r and Lighte~ing, wl.1ich God employs as his Melfengers and Miniflers, to do his Will -<1nd Pleafure. But that the l:'falmift means the Angels, is evident from the Defign and Scope of the Words. · The Confent of the ancient Jews lies egai nfl the Sentiments of the mod,e,n; bot[\ the old TranOqtions, either made 9r embraced by them, expreffiy refer the Words tillto Angels; fo Dr. Owen, on Heb. i. obferves, as do the Se·vent)'; and fo cloth the 'l'argum, thus rendering the Place: Who maketh his Mejfengers or Angels fwift as Spirits, and his Minifters ftrong fir po'lperfu! as aflaming F'ire. The Supply of the Note of Simi– litude makes it evident that they underftand rhe Text of Angels, and not of Winds; and of making Angels as Spirits, and not of making Winds to be Angels or Melfen– gers, which is inconfiflent with their Words: The Word Cl'!lNilll doth ufual!y denote the Angels themfelves, and no reafon can -be given why it lhould not do fo in this place. The Apoflle puts it out of doubt pofitively, faying, .l,ln4 of the Angels he faith, &c. That the Apoftle fpeaketh not l;lere of the Nature and Effe~ce of Angels, but their Dignity, Honor and Employ– ment, is evident; upon which a,count, faith our Reverend Author, he preferreth the Lord Jelcrs Chrifl before them. ~ Qbfery. God fendeth his Angels like the Winds, or like a Flanu of Fir,e. MET A PH 0 R. l. THEWind is invii_ible, who can fee it? II. The Wind blo)vs at God'~ ~ommand; he is faic_l to hold the Wind in his Fiji. IlL T.he Wind is quick, pierc– ing, and powerful in its Opera– tion, the Caufe of many gracious EffeCts, though fometimes fent as a Judgment. PAR ALL EL. I. ANGELS are invifible Spirits; we are daily attended upon by them, but fee them not. II. Angels go at God's comm~nd, he hath the!l,l at his beck, Pfal. ciii. 20. III. Ange'ls are quick, agile, and powerful in their working; and many great and glorious Blef– fings Saints receive from their Miniftration, though fometimes fent as a Scourge toNations, and par– ticular Perfons, ·ro execute God's Difpleafure, as on Sodon1, f.<:c. F L A M I N G - F 1 R E. I: A flaming Fi,e is of a bu;ning ' I. Seraphi1!1s fignify Burning, noting that mighty QEahty. Zeal they are attended with, in doing God's Will. !I. A flaming Fir;e is of a con11. So have the Angels of God been to man)' (ummg, dcltroymg, and devourof God's implacable Enemies, as hath been hinted. mg Nature. HI. A flaming .Fire i~ a good Defence in a howling Wildernefs, Ill. The Angels of God are a glorious Defence to the Church, whilft in the Wildernefs of this 7 Z World
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