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Although the birth of our blessed Saviour was published by one angel, yet is it celebrated by a host of angels; a whole choir of angels chaunt forth the praises of Almighty God, upon this great and joyful occasion.
Here observe, 1. The singers.
2. The song itself.
The singers of this heavenly anthem are the holy angels; called a host, partly for their number, and partly for their order.
Where learn, 1. The goodness and sweet disposition of these blessed spirits, in whose bosom that cankered passion of envy has no place; if it had, there was never such an occasion to stir it up as now: but heaven admits of no such passion; envy is a native of hell, 'tis the smoke of the bottomless pit, the character and temper of the apostate spirits; these grieve at the happiness of man, as much as the angels rejoice.
O ye blessed angels! what did these tidings concern you, that ruined mankind should be taken again into favour; whereas those of your own host, which fell likewise, remained still in that gulph of perdition, into which their sin had plunged them, without either hope of mercy, or possiblitly of recover! The less we repine at the good, and the more we rejoice at the happiness of others, the more like we are to the holy angels; yea, the more we resemble God himself.
Learn, 2. Did the angels thus joy and rejoice for us? Then what joy ought we to express for ourselves? Had we the tongue of angels, we could not sufficiently chaunt forth the praises of our Redeemer. Eternity itself would be too short to spend in the rapturous contemplation of redeeming mercy.
Observe, 3. The anthem or song itself, which begins with a doxology, Glory be to God in the highest; that is, let God in the highest heavens be glorified by the angels that dwell on high. The angelical choir excite themselves, and all the host of angels, to give glory to God for these wonderful tidings; as if they had said, "Let the power, the wisdom, the goodness and mercy of God, be acknowledged and revered by all the host of heaven for ever and ever."
Next to the doxology, follows a gratulation: glory be to God in the highest, for there is peace on earth: and good will towards men. The birth of Christ has brought a peace of reconcilitaion betwixt God and man upon earth; and also a piece of amity and concord betwixt man and man, and is therefore to be celebrated with acclamations of joy.