Glory to God in the highest
Which with the following words, are not to be considered as a
wish, that so it might be, but as an affirmation, that so it was;
for the glory of God is great in the salvation, peace, and
reconciliation of his people by Jesus Christ, even the glory of
all his perfections; of his wisdom and prudence in forming such a
scheme; of his love, grace, and, mercy, the glory of which is his
main view, and is hereby answered; and of his holiness, which is
hereby honoured; and of his justice, which is fully satisfied;
and of his power in the accomplishment of it; and of his truth
and faithfulness in fulfilling his covenant and oath, and all the
promises and prophecies relating to it. Great glory from hence
arises to God; who is in the highest heavens, and is given him by
angels and saints that dwell there, and that in the highest
strains; and by saints on earth too in, their measure, and as
they are able: the ground and foundation of which is what
follows:
and on earth peace:
by which is meant, not external peace, though, at this time there
was peace on earth all the world over; nor internal peace, as
distinguished from that eternal peace which the saints enjoy in
heaven; nor even peace made by Christ; for this, as yet, was not
done on earth, but was to be made by the blood of his cross:
rather Christ himself is here intended, who is called "the man,
the peace" ( Micah 5:5 ) and "our
peace", ( Ephesians
2:14 ) and was now on earth, being just born, in order to
make peace with God, and reconciliation for the sins of the
people: and he is so called, because he is the author of peace
between Jew and Gentile, which were at enmity with each other; by
abrogating the ceremonial law, the cause of that enmity; by
sending the Gospel to them, and converting some of each; and by
granting the like privileges to them both; see (
Ephesians 2:14-20 ) and because he is the author of peace
between God and elect sinners, who, through the fall, are at
enmity against, God, and enemies in their minds by wicked works
unto him; nor can they make their peace with God; they know not
the way of it; nor are they disposed to it; nor can they approach
to God to treat with him about terms of peace; nor can they do
those things that will make their peace with God, as satisfying
his justice, and fulfilling his law: Christ only is their peace
maker; he only is fit for it, being God and man in one person,
and so a daysman that can lay his hands on both, and has a
concern in each, in things pertaining to God, and to make
reconciliation for the sins of the people: he only is able to do
it, and he has done it by the blood of his cross; and a very
excellent peace it is he has made: it is made upon the most
honourable terms, to the satisfaction of justice, and the
magnifying of the law of God; and is therefore a lasting one, and
attended with many blessings, such as freedom of access to God,
and a right to all the privileges of his house; and the news of
it are glad tidings of good things: and those angels that first
brought the tidings of it, may be truly called, as some of the
angels are by the Jews F20, (Mwlv ykalm) "angels of peace". Moreover, Christ may be
said to be "peace", because he is the donor of all true solid
peace and real prosperity, both external, which his people have
in the world, and with each other; and internal, which they have
in their own breasts, through believing in him, and attending on
his ordinances; and eternal, which they shall have for ever with
him in the world to come. And now Christ being the peace on
earth, is owing to
good will towards men;
that is, to the free favour, good will, and pleasure of God
towards chosen men in Christ Jesus: that Christ was on earth as
the peacemaker, or giver, was owing to God's good will; not to
angels, for good angels needed him not as such; and the angels
that sinned were not spared, nor was a Saviour provided for them;
but to men, and not to all men; for though all men share in the
providential goodness of God, yet not in his special good will,
free grace, and favour: but to elect men, to whom a child was
born, and a Son given, even the Prince of Peace: it was from
God's good will to these persons, whom he loved with an
everlasting love in Christ, laid up goodness for them in him,
blessed them with all spiritual blessings in him, and made a
covenant with him for them; that he provided and appointed his
son to be the Saviour and peace maker; that he sent him into this
world to be the propitiation for sin; and that he spared him not,
but delivered him up into the hands of men, justice, and death,
in order to make peace for them. The Vulgate Latin version, and
some copies, as the Alexandrian, and Beza's most ancient one,
read, "peace on earth to men of good will"; and which must be
understood, not of men that have a good will of themselves, for
there are no such men: no man has a will to that which is good,
till God works in him both to will, and to do of his, good
pleasure; wherefore peace, reconciliation, and salvation, are not
of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that
showeth mercy: but of such who are the objects of God's good
will, and pleasure, whom he loves, because he will love, and has
mercy and compassion on them, and is gracious to them, because he
will be so; and therefore chooses, redeems, and regenerates them
of his own will, and because it seems good in his sight. The
Syriac and Persic versions read, "good hope to men"; as there is
a foundation laid in Christ the peace, of a good hope of
reconciliation, righteousness, pardon, life, and salvation for
sinful men. The Arabic version renders it, "cheerfulness in men";
as there is a great deal of reason for it, on account of the
birth of the Saviour and peace maker, the salvation that comes by
him to men, and the glory brought thereby to God.