accusation against dignities, when God himselfe sometimes speaks evill of them, and makes the Angels to execute his malediction?
Answer. They are said to abstaine from speaking evill, 1 Because they do not speak evill, but when God commands them, and therefore it is not their malediction so much as Gods. 2 Though they do speak evill of the men that are set in authority, and do evill also unto them sometimes, as we see in the example of Herod, and in the Host of Senacherib, yet they do not speak evill of the dignities themselves, which was the sin of these imposters, of whom the Apostle speaks. The Doctrines arising herehence. Doct. 1. Their sin is the greater, who are of a lower condition, if they wax proud and despise dignities, then if they were set in a higher degree.
This is the ground of the Apostles comparison. For otherwise it would make nothing to the aggravation of the sinne of these men.
Reason 1. Because his sin is the greater, that is drawn unto sin upon the lighter occasion or smaller temptation. 2. Because such men are not moved by those reasons, that might and should with-hold them from committing such a sin, which other men have not after the same manner. Vse. This may serve for condemnation, to condemne the fashion of some men of the lowest rank, who even in that condition of life are as proud, and more also sometimes, then they that are in the highest degree of dignity and honour. Doct. 2. The Angels are greater in power then all men. Vse. This may serve for the comfort of the faithfull, because God hath given the Angels a speciall charge over them, so that they are said to pitch their tents about them. Doct. 3. These powerfull Angels do most religiously abstaine from all sinne.
For what is here said in speciall, is to be understood also in generall.
Vse. This may serve to admonish us, therefore the more carefully to beware of sin; both because we are bound by the Law at least as well as they, and also because otherwise we cannot have those good and powerful ministring Spirits to take care of us.
