SERMON XII.

ANGELIC OBEDIENCE THE MODEL OF OURS.

ST. MATTHEW vi. 10.

"Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."

In discoursing upon these words, upon a former occasion, I referred to two particular points in which the blessed angels were to be regarded as our models, or examples,-models or examples of obedience, put before our eyes by our Holy Lord Himself, as those which we are never to lose sight of, and by imitating which we shall be enabled to please Him. These points were, their purity and their praises. Their purity, which admits them to the presence and throne of God; their praises, which never cease to sound around that throne, but, as they have continued since first the heavenly hosts were created, so will continue for ever and ever.

I proceed at present to enquire what other points of the angelic character and office are made known to us in Holy Scripture, assuredly gathering from the text, and its position in the Lord's Prayer, that every part of that character and office, revealed in Holy Writ, is capable of affording proof of the way in which the will of God is done in heaven, and should be done in earth.

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And, first, let us consider what is meant by the expression found in several passages of Holy Writ, of their being sons of God'." Sons they are, as all other intelligent creatures are, by creation. This is the first and obvious manner of sonship: but this meaning will not account for the title of

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sons of God," given to the angels distinctively, since it would not distinguish them from many others to whom the same name, in this sense of it, might be applied. No, they are sons of God, emphatically, as being good sons, dutiful, obedient, affectionate sons; sons who know their relation to their Father, and act according to it; sons who do not disgrace their descent, but in act, and spirit, and desire, and love, exhibit the lines and features of the character of their Father; who imitate because they love Him,

1 Job i. 6; xxxviii. 7.

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and love Him the more as, by imitating, they obtain a deeper and more intimate knowledge of Him. They are the elder brothers of God's family elder in creation, elder in obedience, elder in present privilege ;-elder sons who are ever with Him, and yet feel no jealousy, but rather loyal joy in heaven, when any of the younger outcast prodigals of the same blood returns, and repents, and says unto their common Father, "Father, I have sinned against Thee, and am no more worthy to be called Thy son." Thus they are sons, and, as sons, objects of our imitation. For we too are sons, having all their obligation, and much more than theirs, to love, and serve, and imitate, in the highest spirit of filial duty, our Father which is in heaven.

And here I would observe, that the whole opening of the Lord's Prayer receives some light and illustration from this consideration. For it seems as if the idea of the angels may properly be introduced to fill up the interpretation of all the early petitions, in some such manner as this: "Our Father, Father of angels and men, which art surrounded by thine angels in heaven, but not too high to behold the things which are upon the earth, may Thy sacred name be hallowed by the constant praise and reverence of all this Thy visible and invisible

family may Thy kingdom, which shall include, not only Thine innumerable hosts who already, as pure creatures, are admitted to Thy presence, but also the quick and dead of the race of Adam, shortly be filled, by the filling up of the number of thine elect; and may we, the earthly, younger, probationary members of Thy family, and subjects of Thy kingdom, learn to copy Thy heavenly ministers in all love, obedience, and performance of Thy will, which is our only law and happiness."

But, besides the points of view in which we have hitherto regarded the blessed angels, it is as loyal and zealous ministers of God, that they seem to be principally represented to us in Holy Scripture.

In the Old Testament they appear as the constant agents of the will of God, bearing various messages of blessing and judgment to mankind; talking with the patriarchs, exhibiting themselves often to the sight of holy men and women, so as to enter into the history of the people as well-known and familiar ministers. And, besides the many instances in which their visible presence is mentioned,-with Adam, with Abraham, with Hagar, with Lot, with Jacob, with Manoah, and many others,—we read also, in many cases, of their being present, though unseen.

Such was the case with Balaam when the angel of the Lord stood in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand, to slay him. Such, again, was the case with Elisha, when the king of Syria sent horses, and chariots, and a great host to take him; and he prayed to the Lord to open the eyes of his servant. "And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha"." And we may observe of these appearances, that it was from worldly and sinful people, like Gehazi and Balaam, that the presence of the angels were hidden; and so, perhaps, it was because the world grew more worldly and less pure than in the simpler patriarchal times, that the former visible offices of these holy beings became more unfrequent, and at length were only heard of in the great events of our Lord's own advent and sacred life on earth. But though since the days when angels ascended and descended upon the Son of man their ministerial offices have, for the most part, been invisible, we are well assured in the New Testament, that they still perform the most zealous and loyal service as God's messengers and ministers on this earth.

22 Kings vi. 14-17. Cf. Ps. xxxiv. 7 ; lxviii. 17.