The Holy Angels Compared to the Faces of a Man, of a Lion, of an Ox, and of an Eagle

    THE HOLY ANGELS COMPARED TO THE FACES OF A MAN, OF A LION, OF AN OX, AND OF AN EAGLE

    "And every one had four Faces" &c. Eze 1:6,10; that is, every one of the living creatures or Angels which the prophet saw in the vision.

    FOUR particular Angels, as some conceive, which were chief over the rest of the whole host of Angels. Others, upon better reason rather understand it relates to the four parts of the world, east, west, north, and south; i.e. the work of Angels laid out in all those parts. See Mr. Greenhill on Ezek. p. 85.

    Observ. 1. God employeth glorious intelligent creatures in his service, in the ways and workings of his power and providence in his world.

    Observ. 2. That Angels are in all quarters of the earth, taking notice of men's works and ways; they perceive what is done in every place, by the just, and by the unjust. The consideration of which should make us carry ourselves wisely and holily at all times, and in all places.

    "And every one had four faces"

    1. The face of a man. | 3. The face of an ox.

    2. The face of a lion. | 4. The face of an eagle.

    In some pictures, saith reverend Mr. Greenhill, you may see several faces so drawn that which way soever you look, a several face is presented: so here, before was the face of a Man, behind the face of a lion, on the right side the face of an ox, on the left side the face of an eagle. There is not a face, but is compared to the face of some principle creature. Man is the chief of all the rest, a lion is the king of wild beasts, the man is the chief of the tame ones, and the eagle is the chief of the birds. To these distinctly.

    I. THE FACE OF A MAN.

    METAPHOR

    I. THE Face of a Man notes understanding and the excellency of reason by which all human actions are managed.

    PARALLEL

    I. ANGELS have got great knowledge and understanding. By their likeness unto man, is laid before us the rationality, knowledge, and understanding of angels. They are not ignorant creatures, but ipsæ intelligentiæ, the most understanding creatures in heaven and earth. The woman of Tekoah said to David, he was wise according to the wisdom of an Angel of God, to know all things that are upon the earth, 2Sa 14:20; that is, he was very wise, as Angels are, to search out understanding, and discover things. Therefore Jerom thinks they are called cherubims, from their much knowledge; Cherubims, as it were, rabbies, and teachers of others. And this office some Angels have done. "Gabriel, make this man understand the vision." "I am come to make thee understand what shall befal thy people in the latter day. Da 8:16. Angels, saith one, are good philosophers, they know the principles, causes, effects, life, motion, and death of natural things: they are great statists and know the affairs of kingdoms. Da 10:13., saith Gabriel, I remained with the Kings of Persia," &c. They are said to be full of eyes before and behind, because they see what is past, and what is to come. Besides, they have much revealed to them by God, by Christ, nay, and understand many things by the church, as concerning the mysteries of the Gospel; so Eph 3:10; 1Pe 1:12, "Which things the Angels desire," saith Peter, "to look into;" paraxuyai, the word notes, bowing down to pry heedfully into a thing. Cherubims were made looking down towards the mercy seat; so here, Angels look into the things of Christ, as it was there figured forth, "In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge," Col 2:3.. They have much experimental knowledge, arising from things done daily in the world, and in the Church; Angels love to be at the congregation, to meet the saints; they understand partly by their essence, and partly by species communicated to their understandings, as to ours, &c.

    METAPHOR

    II. The face of a man hath much awe and majesty in it; nothing, as is observed by some Naturalists, carries more terror in it to sensitive creatures, than the Face of a Man.

    PARALLEL

    II. Angels are very majestical creatures; many have been greatly terrified and astonished at the sight of them. How was Manoah's wife, Sampson's mother, amazed at the sight of the Angel that appeared to her. "Then the woman told her husband, saying, a man of God came unto me, and his countenance was like the countenance of an Angel of God, very terrible," Jg 13:6.

    METAPHOR

    III. The Face of a Man notes human affections, as Mr. Greenhill observes.

    PARALLEL

    III. Angels are of a loving countenance, and most careful of Men; they have most dear affections to those they are sent to minister unto.

    METAPHOR

    IV. The Face of a Man denotes beauty. How amiable and lovely are some Faces of mortal creatures to look upon! It is the seat, as I may say, of human beauty.

    PARALLEL

    IV. Angels are very beautiful and lovely to behold; though they have, saith Mr. Caryl, no visible bodily beauty, yet their beauty far exceeds the beauty of mortals.---See Morning Stars.

    II. THE FACE OF A LION.

    METAPHOR

    A Lion is a creature of great strength, the strongest amongst beasts, as was said before; "He turneth not away for any," Pr 30:33. "What is stronger than a Lion?" said the interpreters of Sampson's riddle, Jg 14:18.

    PARALLEL

    Angels are mighty in strength, Re 18:21. An Angel can hinder the blowing of the wind, stop the mouths of Lions, break iron chains, open prison doors, and make bars and doors of brass to fly. Hence they are called "mighty Angels," 1Th 1:7. Who can stand before the Angels of God!

    III. THE FACE OF AN OX.

    METAPHOR

    I. An Ox accustomed to the yoke is very tractible, not stubborn, kicking and flying, like as untamed heifers are, "Ephraim is an Heifer that is taught, and loves to tread out the corn." An heifer taught delighting in her work, doth it willingly.

    PARALLEL

    I. Angels do the work of God willingly, with much delight; they hearken to the voice of his Word, they set about their work with much cheerfulness, they are very obsequious to God's commands. If he say, go, smite Herod for his pride, Balaam for his covetousness, David for his vain glory, Sennacherib for his blasphemy, and Sodom for its uncleanness, presently they go.

    METAPHOR

    II. An Ox doth faithful service. Horses often deceive persons in their service, and throw their riders; but Oxen, either in plowing or carrying burdens, fail not, nor deceive their owners.

    PARALLEL

    II. Angels are faithful in their ministrations, they fail not in the least particular. The Angel would not let John worship him. The Angel would not suffer Lot to linger in Sodom. They never betrayed their trust, as some of the saints have done, Re 22:8-9.

    METAPHOR

    III. An Ox is a very patient and laborious creature. They labour hard, and carry heavy burdens; and yet though ever such hard service be put upon them, they quietly and with much patience bear it, and never seem to complain.

    PARALLEL

    III. Angels are patient in their ministration, though they meet with much opposition. "The prince of Persia," saith Gabriel, "withstood me one and twenty days," &c., Da 10:13. In the midst of all opposition, whether from men or devils, and great services, they are not at all impatient; though their work never end, Re 5:11, yet they never complain.

    METAPHOR

    IV. Oxen are very useful creatures; much increase was brought in by them. No creature, saith Greenhill, is more useful to the support of a family, than the Ox; for of old all the Ploughing was done by oxen. See 1Ki 19:19. Job had oxen ploughing in the field, he had five hundred yoke of oxen, no mention being made of horses, Job 1:3. There was a severe law made against those that stole an Ox, Ex 22:1. David makes it one part of the happiness of a commonwealth, that "the Oxen are strong to labour."

    PARALLEL

    IV. Angels are very useful creatures; they are useful to God, they continually go on his errands, execute his judgments at the command of his mouth. They were useful to Christ in the days of his flesh; they proclaimed the joyful tidings of his nativity, Lu 2:9-11; had the charge of him in his humiliation, whilst his conflict remained with the evil Angels; they ministered to him in his temptations, and when he was in his bloody agony; they declared and made known his resurrection. "He is not here, he is risen," Mt 28:6. They witnessed to his ascension, and to his second coming;"Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus which is taken from you into heaven, shall so come, as ye have seen him go into heaven," Ac 1:10-11. They shall come with him, when he comes the second time, without sin, unto salvation: "He shall come in the glory of his Father, with all his holy Angels." They shall attend him on the throne of judgment, and as officers execute his righteous sentence, viz., seize all condemned sinners, and cast them into the lake of fire and brimstone, &c. Angels are useful to the saints. We little think what great good we receive by the ministration of angels. See Watchers.

    INFERENCES.

    This should instruct us, we should be like Angels in many respects.

    1. When God commands, or calls upon us to do any service or duty, how ready ought we to be to do it! even say, with Samuel, "Here am I, speak, Lord; what thou commandest I will do it."

    2. It should teach us to be faithful to the Lord, as the holy Angels are.

    3. To be patient under burdens, reproaches, and all the oppositions we meet with.

    4. To be serviceable to God, and to one another, in places and stations wherein God hath set us, &c. Angels in all they do, seek the glory of God, and the profit and the great good of the saints; let us in this imitate them.

    IV. THE FACE OF AN EAGLE.

    METAPHOR

    I. An Eagle hath a mighty quick sight; her eyes behold afar off; from the top of rocks, out of clouds, they are said to behold fishes swimming in the sea. So strong is the sight of an Eagle that she can a long time behold the sun with open and steadfast eyes.

    PARALLEL

    I. Angels are quick sighted; they, as you hear, have eyes before and behind, as if they were all eye; which notes the excellency of their sight, and knowledge of things. They soar aloft, stand before God; they are said to behold the face of God: "Their Angels always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven," Mt 18:10.

    METAPHOR

    II. Eagles are swift in their flight. Naturalists tell us, no bird flies more swiftly than the Eagle, 2Sa 1:23.

    PARALLEL

    II. Angels are swift creatures; their agility, speed, and swiftness is extraordinary, moving, saith one, like lightning, from one end of heaven to the other: compared therefore to "a flame of fire," Heb 1:7; and said from hence also to have wings with which they fly," Isa 6:6. Their quickness or agility in motion proceeds from their spiritual nature, which is not subject to weariness; they cannot be hindered by any corporeal substance; they can pass over and through all impediments. And, besides this their agility is much helped forward by their promptitude and readiness, propensity and zeal, to despatch their errand and ministry upon which they are employed. It is not here, saith Ayston, timor, but, amor addidit alas. Their swiftness is very necessary, saith Clark: 1. Because of the vast distance between heaven and earth, betwixt which they often pass and repass. 2. Because many of the saints, whose necessity requires present relief, live far asunder. 3. Because the devils are swift to do mischief, therefore they are swift to defend, succour, and do us good.

    METAPHOR

    III. Eagles are fresh and lively always; age and sickness works not upon them, as upon other birds. The Eagle in her age, saith a great writer, is useful. Pliny saith, they never die with age, nor sickness, but by hunger; her upper bill groweth so much over the under, that she cannot open her mouth to take in sustenance, and so dies. Her age is said to be renewed by often changing of her feathers.

    PARALLEL

    III. Angels never grow old, they are always strong and lively, they know no sickness, their service doth not wear them out. The Cherubims before the mercy-seat, which represented the Angels, were without beards, to shew their vigour, vivacity, and youthfulness. Men soon decay, their strength and activity many times on a sudden is gone. Sin hath brought this upon us; if man had not sinned, he had never decayed, but retained an immortal vivacity: Angels sinned not, and so retained their first liveliness.

    INFERENCES.

    FIRST, from hence we may infer, that Angels are fit for public and great service. They have four Faces, a man's, a lion's, an ox's, and an Eagle's; which show they have all that is requisite to great undertakings. They have wisdom to consult, to contrive, and manage the affairs of the world prudently: they have the strength of a lion, to execute; they have the willingness and faithfulness of the ox, to rejoice the heart of the commander, and patience to undergo the difficulties of their work, and usefulness of the public; they are quick-sighted, to discern and prevent the designs of enemies, and speedily to despatch much in a little time, and that with cheerfulness. This is meant by their four Faces; which notes their perfection, and fitness for service in all parts of the world: in regard of which they are said to have one Face before, and another behind, and one on each side. God sets forth their serviceableness by these creatures, both rational and irrational; they have the shapes of men, birds, and beasts.

    Secondly, That suitable persons are to be employed in public and great service. God employs Angels in the government of the world, who are wise, trusty, strong, and speedy; and you know what men God calls for in the state. Ex 18:21, viz., "Such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness;" and in the church, 1Pe 5:3, "Bishops must not lord it over God's clergy." They are not lords, but servants: they ought not like princes, to dwell in stately palaces, in pride and idleness; but daily to study, and preach God's holy word, and labour in God's harvest, like as an ox is faithful and laborious to his owner; not instead of preaching, and striving to build up God's house, plot and contrive ways to pull it down; and instead of feeding, undo and ruin such as are faithful in the land.

    Thirdly, Angels are noble and glorious creatures, and yet disdain not to do service to them that are far beneath themselves. Man at first, when in his glory, was but a little lower than the Angels, Ps 8:5, but since he sinned, he is degraded, and fallen as low as hell; he hath a vile body, a defiled conscience, and a polluted soul; yet the Angels, that are styled gods, holy ones, elect, that are of the privy-counsel of heaven, these blessed creatures are not ashamed to serve and wait upon us though we have the scent of the earth and hell about us, and do often grieve and offend them with oar miscarriages; yet they despise us not, but cheerfully minister unto us. What pride is it then in men, that have parts, places, honour, greatness, grace, &c., not to stoop to those that are their inferiors! They have not more worth in them than an Angel, and Angels condescend to serve us; therefore let us "Not mind high things, but condescend to men of low estate, and not be wise in our own conceit, Ro 12:16.

    Fourthly, There is one thing more remarkable touching their Faces, viz., the Faces were stretched upward; so Montanus, and others read it, "They looked up to him that sat upon the throne, which was Christ." The Cherubim's Faces, Ex 25:20-21, were towards the mercy-seat.

    Fifthly, Observe, all creatures depend upon the Lord Jesus Christ. These Angels have the Face of men, lions, oxen Eagles, and look up to him. If there were nothing in it but this, viz., Angels in their own nature look up to him, it might convince us that all inferior creatures do depend upon him, as well as those noble ones. But when they come in with the faces of other creatures looking up, it is a clear evidence that all depend upon Christ. "By him were all things created, that are in heaven and in earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, principalities, or powers. All things were created by him, and for him, and by him all things consist," Col 1:16-17.

    Sixthly, We are to learn from hence to be heavenly-minded, with the Holy Angels to look up.