Ministers Compared to Angels

    "The seven stars are the Angels of the seven churches," &c., Re 1:20.

    "Unto the Angel of the church of Ephesus" &c., Re 2:1.

    METAPHOR

    MINISTERS are called Angels.

    I. Angels are endued with most eminent power and dignity, they excel in strength.

    PARALLEL

    I. So hath God endued his ministers with great power and dignity, they are his substitutes on earth, they represent Christ himself: and Paul saith, "He could do all things through Christ that strengthened him," Php 4:13.

    METAPHOR

    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.

    PARALLEL

    II. So the Ministers of the Gospel are Christ's messengers, they are called the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ; they bring the glad tidings of peace and salvation, by Christ, 2Co 8:23.

    METAPHOR

    III. Angels are very wise; David was said to be wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, 2Sa 14:17.

    PARALLEL

    III. Ministers of Christ are, or ought to be, wise Men, they understand the mysteries of Christ, and open them to others. The secrets of the Lord are with them, the angels themselves understand the manifold wisdom of God by his Saints, and ministers of the Gospel, Eph 3:10.

    METAPHOR

    IV. Angels desire to pry into the mysteries of grace and mercy, by Jesus Christ, 1Pe 1:12.

    PARALLEL

    IV. Christ's true Ministers, make it their great business to study Christ, to dig and dive into the hidden mysteries; "I determined to know nothing among you but Christ, and him crucified, 1Co 2:1-2.

    METAPHOR

    V. Angels are lively, beautiful, and shining. When Angels appeared to divers persons, of whom we read, their brightness and glory was very great.

    PARALLEL

    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: Stephen, who was a glorious preacher, was said to shine like the face of an Angel, Ac 6:15.

    METAPHOR

    VI. Angels are very obedient to God, they do his commands, and wait for his word.

    PARALLEL

    VI. The faithful preachers of the Gospel are very ready to obey God's commands, though they are thereby exposed to great danger, if God bid them go, they go, Ro 1:15.

    METAPHOR

    VII. Angels are swift in executing their business; hence said to have wings.

    PARALLEL

    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., Re 14:6.

    METAPHOR

    VIII. Angels have made known much of the mind of God to the sons of Men.

    PARALLEL

    VIII. Christ's true Ministers daily make known the mind and will of God, it is one great part of their work and business.

    METAPHOR

    IX. Angels admire, reverence, and adore the glorious majesty of God, and therefore veil their faces before him, and give glory to him; yea, as Mr. Venning observes, it is their very business to sing hallelujahs to God; Angels worship is singing and praising of God, they seek not themselves in serving God.

    PARALLEL

    IX. The ministers of Christ, and all true Christians admire and adore God, and his glorious majesty, and with self abhorrency veil their faces, as it were, ascribing all glory and honour unto God: "Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but to thy name do we give glory," Ps 115:1. 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, though in prison, Ac 16:25. In all which they seek not themselves, in any service they do for God, but the honour and glory of his name only.

    METAPHOR

    X. Angels do their service to the Lord with joyfulness; the morning stars, it is said, sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.

    PARALLEL

    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.

    METAPHOR

    XI. Angels are without wearisomeness in their work and service, they are as strong and as lively at the end, as they are at the beginning.

    PARALLEL

    XI. So Christ's faithful Ministers and people, by the help of God's Spirit, labour and faint not, "For which cause we faint not," &c. 2Co 4:16. They shall run and not be weary; Caleb was as strong and as able to do service for God at four-score, as he was at forty years old, Jos 14:7-11.

    METAPHOR

    XII. Angels serve the saints, and watch over them, and daily administer to them; and though glorious creatures, do not think it below them so to do.

    PARALLEL

    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 though possibly some of them may far excel in parts and wisdom, yet they think not his service below them.

    METAPHOR

    XIII. Angels are often sent to comfort the saints when cast down, as they ministered 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, 2Co 1:4.

    INFERENCES.

    I. 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 work's sake.

    II. It shows us who are true Ministers of the Gospel.

    III. It shows Christ's faithful Ministers, how they should do their work, and behave themselves before the Lord.