May 5

Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels, and authorities, and powers, bring made subject to him.—1 Peter 3:22.

This is added on purpose to show us further, what he is, how high and glorious a Saviour we have!

In this and the preceding verse, we have four points or steps of the exaltation of Christ: 1. Resurrection from the dead. 2. Ascension into heaven. 3. Sitting at the right hand of God. 4. In that posture, his royal authority over the angels. The particulars are clear in themselves. Of the sitting at the right hand of God, you are not ignorant that it is a borrowed expression, drawn from earth to heaven, to bring down some notion of heaven to us'; to signify to us in our language, suitably to our customs, the supreme dignity of Jesus Christ, God and Man, the Mediator of the new covenant, his matchless nearness unto his Father, and the sovereignty given him over heaven and earth. And that of the subjection of angels, is but a more particular specifying of that his dignity and power, as enthroned at the Father's right hand, they being the most elevated and glorious creatures: so that his authority over all the world is implied in that subjection of the highest and noblest part of it. His victory and triumph over the angels of darkness, is an evidence of his invincible power and greatness, and matter of comfort to his saints; but this here intends his supremacy over the glorious elect angels.

That there is among them priority, we find; that there is a comely order in their differences, can not be doubted; but to marshal their degrees and stations above, is a point, not only of vain fruitless curiosity, but of presumptuous intrusion. Whether these are names of their different particular dignities, or only different names of their general excellency and power, as I think it can not be certainly well determined, so it imports us not to determine: only this we know, and are particularly taught from this place, that whatsoever is their common dignity, both in names and differences, they are all subject to our glorious Head, Christ.

What confirmation they have in their estate by him, though piously asserted by divines, is not so infallibly clear from the alleged Scriptures, which may bear another sense. But this is certain, that he is their king, and they acknowledge him to be so, and do incessantly admire and adore him. They rejoice in his glory, and in the glory and happiness of mankind through him. They yield him most cheerful obedience, and serve him readily in the good of his church, and of each particular believer, as he deputes and employs them.

This is the thing here intended, having in it these two: his dignity above them, and his authority over them.

1. Such is his dignity, that even that nature which he stooped below them to take on, he hath carried up and raised above them; the very earth, the flesh of man, being exalted in his person above all those heavenly spirits, who are so excellent and pure a being in their nature, and from the beginning of the world, have been clothed with so transcendent glory. A parcel of clay is made so bright, and set so high, as to outshine those bright flaming spirits, those Stars of the morning, that flesh being united to the Fountain of Light, the blessed Deity in the person of the Son.

In coming to fetch and put on this garment, he made himself lower than the angels; but carrying it with him, at his return to his eternal throne, and sitting down with it there, it is raised high above them; as the apostle teaches excellently and amply: To which of them said he, Sit on my right hand! Hebrews 1:2.

This they look upon with perpetual wonder, but not with envy or repining. No, among all their eyes, no such eye is to be found. Yea, they rejoice in the infinite wisdom of God in this design, and his infinite love to poor lost mankind. It is wonderful, indeed, to see him filling the room of their fallen brethren with new guests from earth, yea, with such as are born heirs of hell: but that not only sinful men should thus be raised to a participation of glory with them who are spotless, sinless spirits, but their flesh in their Redeemer, should be dignified with a glory so far beyond them—this is that mystery the angels are intent on looking and prying into, and can not, nor ever shall, see the bottom of it, for it hath none.

2. Jesus Christ is not only exalted above the angels in absolute dignity, but in relative authority over them. He is made captain over those heavenly bands: they are all under his command, for all services wherein it pleases him to employ them! and the great employment he hath, is the attending on his church. Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister to them that shall be heirs of salvation? They are the servants of Christ, and in him, and at his appointment, the servants of every believer; and are many ways serviceable and useful for their good, which truly we do not duly consider. There is no danger of overvaluing them, and inclining to worship them upon this consideration; yea, if we take it right, it will rather take us off from that. The angel judged his argument strong enough to St. John against that, that he was but his fellow-servant. But this is more, that they are servants to us, although not therefore inferior, it being an honorary service. Yet certainly they are inferior to our Head, and so, to his mystical body, taken in that notion, as a part of him.