Believer It is evident from the Scripture That the mayn Host or chiefe body of the Angels are in Heaven above waiting before the Throne yeelding personal attendance on their Head and our Husband Christ Jesus continually lauding and praysing God skreening their faces with their wings and crying Holy Holy Holy standing ready prest to execute his Will Therefore there is in * Mat. 22.30 2 Thes 1.7 Scripture so frequent mention of the Angels of Heaven Heaven is the Palace and Throne of God Angels are his guards Elect Angels do continue there unlesse they be sent and otherwise employed by God to execute his will upon Earth or in the Aire or in the deep waters Iacob in a vision saw a Ladder reaching up to Heaven and Angels continually ascending and descending on it That Heaven is a PLACE we need not doubt for the body of Christ is there And that the main host and corporation of Angels in that place wil evidently appear from the sacred Text Dan. 7.10 Dan. 7.10 The Ancient of days did sit his throne was like the fiery flame A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him Thousand thousands ministred unto him and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him It seems that Daniel in a Vision saw the glory of God in Heaven and his full Court of Angels about his Throne The like expressions are in Rev. 5.11 And I beheld and heard the voyce of many Angels round about the Throne c. Now if the main knot and corporation of Angels be in Heaven then it is not probable that each Believer should have Troops upon earth Or that all the blessed Angels watch over every Believer as some have affirmed 7. Rev. 12.7 opened And lastly let us grant that many Angels attend each particular Saint Yet it would not be a vain or fruitlesse Doctrin that one of them is chiefly intrusted with his preservation to place conduct and excite the rest as need shall require for 't is certain the good Angels fight with the evill in our behalf Rev. 12.7 Aug. Hom. 9. in Apoc. Michael and his Angels fought against the Dragon and his angels 1. Austin Tertullian Tertul. de carne Christi and our Modern Writers do by Michael understand Christ Jesus the head of all Principalities and Powers The Noble Captaine of our salvation 2. Brightman and Trap on Rev. 12.7 Some by Michael and his Angels understand Constantine and his Armies as learned Brightman and others 3. Others affirm that Michael is to be taken literally For Michael the Arch-Angel being commanded of the rest in the vision which is not altogether improbable 1. Because Michael is stiled an Arch-Angel in the ninth verse of St. Iudes Epistle 2. 'T is likely an Angel there was called an Arch-Angel as being Captain in the skirmish with Satan So saith Basil very fully to our purpose Basil advers Eunemium lib. 3. A celestial spirit is called an Arch-Angell when being accompanied with many other Angels in the work of the Lord he is guide and leader to the rest for inter Angelos est Ordo among the Angels and especially in Battail there is very great Order 3. Mark well the opposition Michael and his Angels against the Dragon and his Angels Who questions but the DRAGON is Beelzebub the chief the Prince of Devills Therefore also by MICHAEL may be meant an Arch-Angel since it is plain there are Degrees among the blessed Spirits And if there be Order in Hell sure there is no confusion in Heaven I might mention other places where an Angel in chief is mentioned Josh 5.14 and other good Angels with him see only two places Josh 5.14 15. There you see the Captain of the Lords Host appeared and spake to Ioshuah Gods host of Angels that came to the relief of Ioshua had over them a Commander or Chieftain and this Captain appeared and spake to Ioshua See also Luke 2. Luk. 2.9.13 at the ninth verse The Angel of the Lord appeared unto the Shepheards to convey unto them the news of a Saviour Now observe when the message of this chiefe Angel or Ambassadour was ended Then suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the heavenly host praysing God and singing ver 13. One Angel sang of Christ as the chief Musitian and a full Quire bore the burden of the Song Glory to God in the highest on earth peace and good will towards men Luk. 2.16 It is said that the Angels went into Heaven that is the Quire of them went but 't is likely the first Angel continued with one of the Shepheards to conduct them to the place where the babe lay So then if a man have many Angels about him 't is a comfort that one who is chiefe will be his guardian to guide counsell and order the Angels that are sent and to abide with him when the rest are disbanded and depart Perhaps for some other expedition as Providence shall dispose or else to joyne in the Halelujahs above I have been the larger in answering the second doubt because I find that it is generally urged against our point by the Antagonists thereof A believer hath many Angels hath all the Angels what need we confine his safety to One Thirdly Quest 3 Some may aske is not this a Popish and Antichristian point maintained chiefly by Jesuites and Papists and rejected by Protestants and sober men To this we answer Answ 1. There are many points in Divinity wherein the Romanists and wee doe agree We do not think the worse of Foundationall Truths if we find them owned by the Pseudocatholick Church But rather we say these things are so Our enemies themselves being Iudges They have the main body of truth so are called Christians only the pearl of divine Truth is hid in the endlesse rubbish of humane Traditions But whilst we have their Blindnesse Idolatry and Superstition let 's not extend our hatred to their persons but pitty and pray for them nor to the many Truths which they hold but cleave to them still A man will not reject a piece of Gold though he find it on the Dunghill and a Mother will love and take up her Child although bemired in the street among rude Play-fellows So it must be here we must love and embrace the truth whersoever we find it 2. Tertullian Clemens Alexandrinus Origen and many others who approved of the Guardian Angel and breathed in the three first Centuries after Christ could not be infected with Popery which then had no being For as wee prove the Sabbath to be more then Ceremonial for being constituted observed from the beginning Gen. 2.2 Exod. 16.23 30. before the promulgation of the Law So it is as easie to prove that the Doctrine of Angels Deputation is not Popish because it was maintained by the Primitive Christians as the Text declares And by the ancient Fathers that breathed in the purest ayre of Primitive times before
then one at once Aquinas Sic sunt in uno Loco ut non sint in Alio say the Schoolmen They are undoubtedly so in one place as not to be in another * Angeli sunt in loco non circumsrciptive quia non commensurantur loco sed definitive c. Non sunt ubique Bucan loc com de Ang. loc 6. sect 17. That the Angels are in a place is certain out of Scripture They are said sometimes to be in Heaven and sometimes to be on Earth Gabriel was sent into a City of Galilee Luke 1.26 Therefore when Gabriel was in Nazareth he could not be said to be in Ierusalem or any other City Angels are not in a place as bodies by circumscription or contiguity For a Legion was in one man yet they are so here that they are not there The same Angels cannot be in many places at once their motion indeed is very speedy and quick and therefore they are pictured with wings but their motion cannot be in an instant And doth not this make against the ordinary attendance of many Troops of Angels much more of all the Angels upon one single Person seeing all Believers are promised the presence of Angels And if so many or all be present with one what shall become of the rest shall one have many Troops and another farre distant have none Gods elect are not all in a cluster but scattered and dispersed o're the world One in a Family two in a Tribe in all Nations God hath some that feare and serve him 2. Let us consider not only the distance but the great number of Believers In the dayes of Iezabel when the Church was under sore persecution there were seven thousand left that had not bowed the knee to Baal 1 Reg. 19.18 How great then is the number of Believers since the Gospel when the silken Drag-net is sayd to draw in five thousand at a draught Actâ— 4.4 And the number of those that shall rejoyce at Antichrists ruine is said to be an hundred forty and four thousand Apoc. 14.3 11.15 In a word it is said that all Nations shall become the Kingdomes of our Lord and his Christ From all which wee gather that though few be saved in respect of that vast throng and innumerable spawn of the wicked that crowd into Hell yet the quantity of Believers is in it self very considerable and glorious Heb. 11.12 13. Such as dye in the faith are as the stars of the skie in multitude and as the sand which is by the Sea-shoar innumerable Such a Progeny had Abraham Heb. 11. Well the number of Believers on earth being so considerable as to passe all the known rules of Arithmatick to tell them From hence let us gather whether it bear a face of probability that each one of so great a company have many troops of Angels still to attend him 3. Add to this the number of Reprobate and falne Angels that kept not their station whereby the society of Angels is much maimed lessned You read that in one man there was a legion of Devils Luk. 8 30. Vegetius de Re Milit lib. 2. cap. 6. Isidore saith a legion among the Romans was six thousand armed Souldiers but Vegetius saith 6100. Footmen and 726 Hors-men but here a certain number I suppose is put for an uncertain A legion of Devils in him that is very many Our Saviour compares them to the Fowls of the Ayre in the parable of the Sower Luke 8.5 To shew us there be not so many birds flying in the Aire although sometimes the Ayr will be black with them as wicked spirits in the world Satan is the Prince of the Ayre and Beelzebub the chief of Devils to shew us the greatnesse of his Train and multitude of his Subjects Beelzebub signifies the Lord of Flies there be not so many Flies in the world as there be Devils If then the number of faln Angels be so great it must needs follow that the society of Angels is very much broken and maimed and therefore it is not probable that whole troops are allotted to each particular Believer 4. One is often mentioned in Scripture to attend one man There are threescore Places where mention is made of one Angel having to doe with one Believer too many here to be inserted sometimes named as Michael and Gabriel Dan. 10.13 Luke 1.19 On the other side it is a rare thing and in very extraordinary cases that many Angels are recorded to be about one man or one woman shall not these things be carefully heeded When the Lord saith One Angel shall we say many Angels Let us acquiesce in his word and take heed of adding to or diminishing from it 5. One Angel sufficeth for ordinary Attendance The body is actedby One soule which gives it a Naturall life The soule of a Believer by one spirit which gives it a Divine life And one Angel will suffice to guard and defend one man 2 King 19 What havock did one Angel make in defence of Hezekiah 'T was one Angel that shut the Lions mouths insomuch that they touched not Daniel Dan. 6.22 3. â—5 One Angel hindred the violence of the flames that they could not hurt the three Children And one Angel smote off the Chains of Peter and made the prison doors and iron gates to open unto him One Angel saith a Writer * Master Leighs body of Divinity in 4 to lib. 3. cap. 7. p. 90. is able to destroy all the Men Beasts Birds and Fishes and all the Creatures that be in the world by overturning the whole course of Nature if God should permit it One Angel is able to drown the Earth again and cause the waters to over-flow it To pull the Sun Moon and Stars out of their places and make all a Chaos Angels can move and stir the earth Mat. 28.2 Nay one Angel did it Mat 28.2 And behold there was a great Earth-quake For the Angell of the Lord descended from heaven Lastly the very voyce of an Arch-Angel is so loud and terribie that at last it shall awaken all that are dead 1 Thes 4.16 Psal 103.20 1 Thes 4.16 Thus you see an Angel is of incredible power The Angells saith the Psalmist do excell in strength I might say as much of their admirable wisdome Agility and Fidelity But I refer you to those that write of the Nature of Angels See Aquinas Zanchy and Saikeld and to the subtle and large Tracts of the Schoolmen thereupon By this time you see that one Angel sufficeth for our daily and ordinary attendance seeing one Angel hath done and can do such great and wonderfull things 6. Yet further to shew Principio serviunt ipsi Deo eundem concelebrant laudibus sempiternis Adorantes Glorificantes exultantes in Ipso Bullingeri decad 4. Ser. 9. fol. 251. that multitudes of Angels do not in an ordinary course attend one
22. That there appeared an ANGEL unto him from Heaven strengthening him T is probable his name was GABRIEL For even the Servants of Emperors and great Monarchs are renowned and their names Recorded Luke 1 Luke 1.26.30 2.21 The Angel Gabriel came to Mary told her she should conceive a Child Then Luk. 2.21 His name was called JESVS which was so named of the Angel before he was conceived in the Womb. T is likely that this Angel upon Conception was peculiar to Christ Comming here as his Harbinger to take up Quarters for him and declaring from God what his Name should be and how his great Master should be called The people also conceived that Christ had an Angel belonging to him John 12.29 When they heard a voice the people that stood by said it thundred others sayd an Angel spake to him Lastly This Angel for a while forsook his dead body attending his Soul into Paradice and again returned with his Soul at the Resurrection Matt. 28.2 And behold the * Non Christi causa venit Angelus tanquam sine illo non posset exire Sepulchro sed ut fides fieret mulieribus Apostolis Christum resurrexisse saith Calvin Angel of the Lord that is of the Lord Christ descended from Heaven and came and rolled back the Stone from the door and sat upon it his Countenance was like Lightning and his Rayment white as Snow and for feare of him the Keepers did shake and became as dead men I suppose that this was still the first Angel Gabriel that gave attendance at his Conception strengthened him in that Garden-Agony and leaving his Body at Death returned again at his Resurrection still it runs in the singular number the Angel and the Angel of the Lord. This I suppose will also appear probable to others who shall weigh it in the Ballance of Reason without casting in the black Grain of Carping Prejudice into the contrary Scale But however if any one can prove that Christ had every moment upon Earth many Legions of Angels about him which he sayd he could call for but did not We still say this doth not weaken our Assertion that each Beleever hath an Angel For Christ being an extraordinary Person might have extraordinary attendance 6. Quest 6 When an Elect Servant of Christ hath his Tutelar Angel placed by him I answer Answ Some think at the time of Conversion others at Baptisme Some think at our Birth and others at our Conception in the Womb To the two last I incline 1. Origen Tract 5. in Mat. Some think at the time of Conversion Cum fuerint per Regenerationem renati Tutores dati sunt conversis saith Origen on this occasion of which two Reasons are given 1. Because the Angels know not the Decrees nor who are elected and chosen of God Before that Election be declared in Conversion But we answer God can soon reveal it unto thme 2. Because In tempore Infidelitatis Homo est sub Angelis Satanae In the state of Nature a man is under the wrath of God and is vexed with evill Spirits that hurry him to sin and rule in the Children of disobedience I answer Although this cannot be denyed and that Elect Angels do not delight in mens sins nor in communion with the wicked yet God is resolved that all his Elect shall have invisible supports against Satan to preserve them charily as chosen Vessels against the time that he shall manifest himself unto them And then it is sufficient to Angels that God wills their attendance and that hereafter they shall discern some fruit of their care when they come to rejoyce at the conversion of those whom they attend And in the mean time as the Sun is not polluted by looking into Sinks so Angels are not polluted or disquieted with the sin of men 2. Others think the Guardian Angel is placed at Baptisme Origen recounting many opinions doth mention this which is very improbable For then the Penitent Theef who never was Baptiz'd had no Guardian Angel to watch over him And besides it is then in the discretion of Parents who set the time of Baptisme when the Angel shall begin his Office o're the Child The Elect are pretious and dear to God before as after that Ordinance which is a Seal but no cause of Gods love The contempt of it is dangerous but the observation of it is not meritorious Away then with that egregious mistake of Austin that Children dying unbaptized do perish eternally Baptisme is either Flaminis or Fluminis of the Flame or Flood of the Water or its Author Elect Infants cannot want the Baptisme of Fire and of the Spirit Out of Christs side came water and blood and he that hath Christ hath both Sacraments Lastly Millions are baptized with water that neither have Angel here nor Heaven hereafter 3. Most think it is done at the Birth of an Elect God revealing to the Angels who are such by requiring their attendance on them that are his Of this opinion Origen speakes among others The Rhemists say Aquin. Sum Part 1. Quest 113. p. 240. Drex Horolog Hora. 7. cap. 1. p. 165. Aug. Medit. lib. 1. cap. 12. that the Angels charge begins at our Nativity Zanchy saith the same Aquinas saith Statim a Nativitate Drexelius saith Angelus Tutelaris nascentes nos in suam Fidem recipit And Austin saith expresly It is done Abortu Nativitatis At the first comming into the world This also is mentioned in two places of Scripture Gen. 48.15.16 The God which fed me all my life long unto this day Gen. 48.15.16 the Angel which redeemed me from all evill bless or keep the Lads So he mentions Gods feeding him from the Womb and so the Angels keeping him from his Nativity for otherwise it had not been linkt to it Mat. 18.2.5.10 And in his Infancy he was freed from many dangers as well as in his Man-hood But he saith That Angel redeemed or instrumentally kept him from all evill The other place is that of our Saviours Mat. 18. Jesus called a little Child to him and set him in the midst of them saying whosoever shall receive one such little Child in my name receiveth me Take heed that you despise not one of these little Ones For I say unto you that in Heaven their Angels do alwayes behold the face of my Father * Dr. Prideaux and Perkins on Mat. 18.10 Expositors agree that by Children our Saviour means not only his Disciples little in Gifts or in the eye of the World But also little Children even Babes and Sucklings Such a little Go-by-ground as he set before them Leigh in Nov. Test Even Infants have their Angels Angels saith one are their Rockers and Kings Sons must have their Guard saith Dyke Some think that Angels do help them to speak and go Elect Infants are in Covenant with God he hath not denyed them his Angels and shall we deny them his Seal Infants
assumed Bodies as a Cloak or other Vestment to be taken up and laid down upon occasion Angeli fuerunt in Corpore per intimam substantialem Praesentiam Suarez de Angel lib. 5. cat 36. tanquam Motor ad mobile cum particulari Respectu ad Peculiarem ejus usum saith Suarez This body so assumed may be composed of the Elements and they are not more easily assumed then deposed being again resolved into their former Principles And in case they were by God created of Nothing then they utterly vanish by Annihilation Here again it may be demanded Qu. 2 why Angels have somtimes appeared in Bodies I answer 1. Answ That they might familiarly confer with men and leave on them no impressions of terrour and dread Lawrence of Angels P. 14. 2. Such Apparitions were used of old to inure and prepare the people for the Incarnation of Christ the Angel of the Covenant 3. Aquinas adds that they might give men an entrance into that Communion which they expect with them in Heaven 3. Once more it may be asked Qu. 3 why Angels appear not in our daies I answer Answ Heathens ascribe this to the sins of men that therfore God will no longer converse with them But the true reason is this that God would now be Worship'd in Spirit and in Truth His whole mind is now written and recorded So spirituall should we now be under the Gospel that we are taken off from the Bodily presence of Christ Jesus 2 Cor. 5.16 Now know we Christ no more after the flesh There is now poured forth a greater measure of the Spirit So God would have us to converse with him in the Spirit and with those holy Spirits in a more invisible way as we shall above The Church needeth not now those visible sensible confirmations as formerly in the Infancy of the Jewish or Christian Church For which reason also Miracles are now ceased Well then The use see the care that God hath of his Church at all times and how he doth condescend and apply himself in a sutable way to his people And see the Dignity of Saints that have had Angels assuming bodies to serve them and make known the will of God without terrour unto them But why do we wonder at the Apparition of Angels in the shape of men Let us rather be astonisht at the love of Christ In that he abhorred not though Angels worship him to be * See Stephanus Paris de Incarnatione And Nieremberg Theopolit Part 1. lib. 2. cap. 25. An Decorum suerit Deum fieri Hominem P. 264. Dr. Sibbs Light from Heaven P. 50. unto 70. 2ly Of the Text it self clothed in the rags of our flesh that he might be capable of bleeding and dying for us Into this Mystery Angels pry GOD MANIFESTED IN THE FLESH That he who spanned the Heavens should become a Babe of a span long That he who thundred in the Clouds should cry in the Cradle and when Angels laid aside their assumed bodies Christ hath not deposed our flesh but hath carried that as a Pledge into Heaven and hath left with us the earnest of the Spirit After this let us wonder at nothing And so much of the Coherence Secondly We come now to the words themselves IT IS HIS ANGEL I am not to discourse of Angels in generall or of Elect or Reprobat Angels in particular I am not to treat of those glorious Creatures that sing and chant their joyfull Halelujas before the Lamb for then I should write of their Creation Confirmation Place Nature Number Amity Offices and Degrees All which is performed by very many Authors But I am to treat distinctly of The Deputation of Angels which by few hath been performed and for that end I have chosen this Text which I suppose is very clear for the Point For observe it is not sayd an Angel or his Angels but his Angel Now besides the marrow and substance of these words 4 Notable circumstances about the Text. there are four circumstantiall Observations that like Harbingers do blow their silver Trumpets to make way for this Text to ride with the greater triumph into our hearts viz. 1. The persons speaking 2. The time of speaking 3. The manner of speaking 4. The recording of the thing spoken by Saint Lukes Evangelicall and Golden Quill among the Acts of the Apostles and Primitive Christians 1 The Persons speaking First the persons speaking are very considerable if either you eye their quality or quantity 1. Their quality they were not superstitious Heathen but the Disciples of Christ They had bin tutor'd and instructed in the Principles of Religion either immediatly by Christ or else by his Apostles In Scripture are sometimes Recorded the speeches of vaine and foolish men as the vile speech of Jobs wife curse God and Dy of the whorish woman Personated in the Proverbs by a Prosopopaeia our Saviour useth the saying of Socrates and Plato Mart. Day on 1. Cor. 15. P. 132 133. and Saint Paul quotes Menander and Epimenides two heathen Poets Nay in the Scripture there is mention of things uttered by the black mouth of Saâ—an himselfe Qui Plebeios vulgares Homines putant cum haec dicerent ex vulgi opinione Locos vereor ne dubitent an sint Angeli Beza in Act. 12.15 P. 332. But our Text was uttered by Christians not only Nominall but Reall Persons knowing and fearing God being much in Prayer and resolved to endure Persecution for the Truth 2. Their quantity or Number is observable had it been only Rhoda's fancy we should have past â—t over as an impertinent speech But marke the context Then said THEY it is his Angell It seems it was their generall Vote And who or how many these THEY were Act. 12.5.12 you may gather by comparing the fiâ—t twelfth verses together Peter therefore was kept in Prison but Prayer was made without ceasing of the Church unto God for him So that those many gathered together in Prayer verse the 12 were doubtlesse the Church at Jerusalem where were very many Christians They met indeed together in a private house because they had not the Liberty of any Publique Assemblies Let this be weighed and t will follow that many did either speak or Agree to this perswasion of the Angel Guardian you read not that any did contradict it Publicus Rumor non est omnino frustra saith Aristotle The Generall consent and Harmony of people cheifly if knowing and good is very much to be heeded For oftentimes Vox populi est Vox Dei I am sure that which Primitive Christians untainted with Heresy so neer the Fountaine of Truth maintained as Orthodox with unanimous consent is not by us to be slighted but carefully observed Secondly an other circumstance is the time and place 2 The time place when and where it was spoken Not at the Table Semel in Anno ridet Apollo or Recreations when the Bowstring
all the Platonicks held as also Origen and others That the Soul was created before it was put into the Body and as it did good or ill so it was put into a well-tempered or defective Body Austin declares that this was the Platonicks Opinion And Piscator beleives that that Question of the Blind mans sinning related to the Pythagoricall Transmigration of Souls from one body to another after death Now unto all this I answer That although it is very probable that question touching the blind man was according to the Vulgar Opinion of Transmigration yet it from thence followeth not that our Text here was uttered in the like manner in regard of the forementioned circumstances of time place and manner of speaking it For the Disciples being now employed in so solemn Devotions could not probably be supposed guilty of so much Freedom if not Levity at such a time and in such a place as we have observed already Besides that Vulgar opinion of the blind mans sinning before he was born was checked by Christ himself Note Joh. 9.33 Ezek. 18.20 when he said that neither he nor his Parents had sinned that is He had not sinned himself nor his Parents sin should not be charged upon him Diodati on John Christ did put by this discourse saith one as vain and frivolous But this Doctrine of the Guardian-Angel received no check 1. Not from any of the Church there assembled 2. Not from Peter when he came in to whom among other Congratulations t is likely this Conception was declared 3. Not from Luke that relates it though the Evangelists relating a thing doubtfull or fictitious do use to put a spoke in the wheel that turns it off John 11.13 21.23 as in Iohn 21.23 Then went this saying abroad among the brethren that that Disciple should not dye Eccle. 12.7 Luke 23.43 Ezek. 18.2 20. yet Iesus said not unto him he shall not dye but if I will that he tarry till I come what is that to thee Nor 4. from any other Text of Scripture or rationall consequence therfrom But that opinion of the Transmigration of Souls is often confuted in Gods word A third Interpretation is this Atetius in Locum T is said that the Disciples concluded that an Angel by his knocking and voice came to give notice that Peters death was at hand For secret Murthers have been detected by such Revelations and Apparitions as these But this Gloss is rugged and unwarrantable For although the Jews in their Writings make frequent mention of Samael the Angel of Death yet they called him so for inflicting and not fore-telling of Death 4. Calvin Inst lib. 1. cap. 14. Sect. 7. Calvin thinks it was an Angel peculiarly destinated to Peter only for that time of his Imprisonment But in case it was peculiar to Peter how or whence did arise that generall Tenent among the Jews and Christians And if an Angell was appointed to attend him in the time of his Imprisonment why not also at other times when the Apostle might com into the same or like perils unless it can appear that Saint Peter had never need of an Angel but then Psal 91.11 The Angels are charged to keep us in all our waies viz. Which way soever we move or walk in every turn of our life 5. And lastly The opinion which the * Tertullian Origen Bâ—sil Tâ—â—â—doret Hiâ—â—â— Câ—ryâ—osâ—om 〈…〉 Ancient Fathers and most Learned Expositors follow is this That the Primitive Christians beleived that every Elect Servant of Christ hath one particular Angel to guard and guide him And they are so many who give this interpretation that it would be almost endless to muster them as all that have the least acquaintance with Antiquity and the Volumes of the Fathers will confess A small Tast you shall find in this Tract in its proper place Having given the Reader the severall glosses and chief interpretations of this Text we come now to our Doctrinall conclusion from the words Every Elect person hath his Guardian-angel Thesis who by particular Designation is allotted to be his faithfull Keeper and Tutor and vigilant Associat to his lives end I say Elect persons and such only saith Origen as are Praecogniti a Deo Heb. 1.14 They are to attend the Heirs of Salvation All such are dear to God and there be Angels enow to guard them Every Elect person hath the presence and tuition of confirmed Angels to shield him and to stave off evill Spirits from him Every Elect hath one particular Angel that watcheth over him God hath a generall care of the World but a more particular care of his Saints who are his Jewels the Apple of his eye the Signet on his hand This Angel is allotted and assigned by God to his particular charge every Angel knows his Office and his Place They all act by Commission for God is the God of order and not of confusion This Angel is to be his Keeper his wise Counsellor his faithfull and strong Defender his most loving and friendly Associat Moreover the Angel is not utterly to depart from him till his Pilgrimage and Warfare be ended Now the main Branch which requires confirmation and in treating of which the rest will fall in is this That every Elect person hath one particular Angel to guard him But first to shut out all Prejudice three things will by us all be most easily granted 1. That many rich Mysteries are lockt up in the Nature of Angels which by degrees will break out 2. That we abhor with greatest Detestation the Adoration of Angels 3. That we must not exclude a multitude of Angels from extraordinary attendance for our greater consolation in some streights And these things will eternally stop the mouth of most Arguments against this Truth The first is to satisfie the Ignorant who will stumble at this Point because they are in darkness and never heard it before The second is to silence our Adversaries of Romish Interest who may hope that the Needle of this discourse inclines to draw in the rotten Thred of Adoration The third is to prepare the Godly Learned and Orthodox who chiefly in opposition to Rome have denyed this point That they would be pleased to suspend their Objections and meekly to consider what is here written The first Concession is this 1 Concession that many Mysteries are lockt up in the Nature of Angels which by degrees will break forth Among all the Creatures that God made in the six daies Moses doth not once mention the Angels of Heaven shall we therfore be Sadduces and believe there is no Angel nor Spirit T was a long time before those great Mysteries of the Nature Offices and Degrees of Angels did break forth before the Headship of Jesus Christ over them and their happy confirmation by him after so many fell as Lightning from Heaven was the usuall talk and discourse of the church of God strang things are mentioned
Mornaeus etiam â—nd Dr. Hammond of the reasonableness of Religion See Tertul. de Carne Christi lib. 5. cap. 5. others do abundantly shew in divers particulars too many here to recite Although Bleer-eyed Nature cannot pry into the Trinity Incarnation and Resurrection 4. The same Object may be known by the Light of Nature and by Faith I may know there is a God and but one by Nature and Scripture Revelation And yet for all that hath been said we dare not affirm with Socinians that Reason is the Rule and Pillar of faith For in many things Ideo credendum Quia Incredibile You see what is taught by the Light of Nature in Religion is not to be neglected 2 What the Light of Nature saith to our Point nor rested in I am now to shew you what the Light of Nature hath seen and said to our Point I answer It is well known to the Learned that Heathens have talked much of ones good Genius which waits on every man from his Cradle to his Grave And perhaps Plato's Genius differed little from Aristottle intellectus Agens For the Peri-pateticks write much of immateriall Substances Intelligences abstracted and separated forms Servius saith that the Genius was given to be a Guide and Conductor of those that were born * Camerarius lib. 4. cap. 15. Stoici Singulis Cenium Junonem dederunt That is saith Lipsius Viris Genii attribuebantur Foeminis Junones Seneca in Epist 110. p. 640. Censorius saith that we have a Genius given to us for a continuall Controller and Assistant and that he never with-draws a Minute from us but doth alwaies accompany us from the time we are committed to his charge which is at our first coming into the World to our last Gasp Socrates Empedocles Plutarch held the same In a word The Heathen Poet Menander is most express Cuique homini simul ac Natus est statim assistit Daemon Ductor vitae bonus This Eusebius thinks they learned of the Jews But others say they read it by the Light of Nature In the ancient Coins of Trajan and Adrian there is seen a Genius holding in his right hand a Cup which he reaches out over an Altar strewed with flowres And in his left hand a Whip or such like thing In the Coins of Dioclesian there is seen in the left hand of the Genius a Cornucopia or Horn of plenty and in the right hand a Cup with this Inscription * Genius Populi Romani Camerarius lib. 4. Plutarch in vit a. M. Ant. GEN. P. R. Also Cities and Nations had each of them a speciall Genius saith Camerarius in his Learned Historicall Meditations Plutarch saith that an Aegyptian advised Antony not to contend with Augustus any longer because the Angel or Spirit that had him in keeping as he found by casting their Nativity if we may beleive him did fear and redoubt the Angel of Caesar and being couragious and lofty when he was alone became Timerous by approaching the other This good Genius they called Lares Apulejus writes much De Deo Socratis Aug. de Civ Dei lib. 8. cap. 14. of Socrates his God which saith he ever attended upon him as his freind and forbad him to proceed in any Action that was to be unfortunate in the end Now there saith Austin he plainly affirms that this is no God but an Aiery Spirit Much more might easily be written of this subject if it were needful T is sufficient that Heathens have this truth from the breast of Nature From thence they sucked it though pulling indeed somewhat hard they have drawn blood with the milk yet who doubts but the good Genius of the Heathen and the Christians Angel-guardian are one and the same thing Secondly 2 The point proved by the clear beams of Scripture As the Doctrine of Angels Deputation was seen by the dim light of Nature so also is it evident by clear beams of Scripture I say not only by Heathenish conjecture but Scripture Revelations And here I shall premise three things 1. That all Doctrines must be brought to the beame and ballance of the Sanctuary * Trapps Treasury p. 103. See Doctor Whitaker of the Scripture against Bâ—llar And Reynolds de sacra scriptura Ecclesia The Chineses use to say of themselves That all other Nations see but with one eye they only with two so I may say poor Heathens see but with one dim eye of Râ—ason Christians with two Eagle eyes The Old and New Testament Sinne and Death have defaced very much blotted the volume of Creation but the Bible is a Fountaine clear and unmudded Let the Jew go to his Cabala The Mahumetan to his Alchoran and the Papist to his simple Legend But Protestants must go to the Scriptures as a well of Life 2. That many things are firmly believed which the Scripture doth but touch in a few places As the creation of Angels and fall of one moiety of them Christ the believing Jewes Saviour and Heaven as wel as Canaan their portion after this life which is seldome mentioned in the Old Testament The famous Doctrines of the Trinity Lords Supper Infant-Baptisme the Christian Sabbath and Lotts but touched in the New God not once named in the book of Esther yet who doubts but it is Canonicall * Hoc non vult de mo le Librorum sed quod spiritus sanctus nostri babuerit Rationem c. Aust Iohn 21.25 If all the things that Christ did were recorded how vast a volume would they make So if all Truths in the Scripture should be largely treated of not the Pocket but a Cart should carry the Bookes The Rabbins say that on every sillable or tittle of the Law hangs a mountaine of sense and holy Doctrine And a good servant will minde what his Master once bids him do without expecting a second command The rarity of Pearls and Jewels makes them the more precious 3. That which is mentioned in both Testaments is not only a Truth but eminently so And that which in the New Testament was expressed by the lips of Christ the way truth and life you must account written not with Inke but a Sun-beam or in letters of Diamonds To apply these Rules to the comfortable Doctrine of Angels Deputation It is clearly expressed in Gods word It is not much or very often mentioned therein yet of equall authority and truâ—h as if it were It is in both Testaments and in the New Testament was uttered by Christ Jesus himselâ— Hunc audite Letting passe some others that are urged we â—hall chiefly insist on three Texts of Scripture Gen. 48.16 Mat. 18.10 And our Text Acts 12.15 To begin with Gen. 1 Scripturt proof Gen. 48.16 48.16 Jacob blessing his son Joseph speaketh thus to him blessing both him and his two sonnes Chrysost Hom. 7. in Laudem Pauli Ephraim and Manasseh The Angell which redeemed me from all evill blesse the Ladds Chrysostome quotes this
very Place for the Deputation of Angels Basil contra Eunom lib 3. And Basill shewes from this Scripture That an Angell is present with every one as a Pedagogue and Pastor ordering and directing his life Rivius de Praesid Ang. p 720 Loquitur Patriarcha de eo Angelo quem peculiariter ipsi tutorem custodem comitemque addiderit Deus so Rivius writing on that place Now because some modern Writers are very confident this makes not for our Turn let us see and weigh their Objections It is sayd this is spoken of God Object 1 blessed for ever I answer Sol. God is named as a distinct person in the foregoing verse Gen. 48.15 And he blessed Joseph and said God before whom my Fathers Abraham and Isaac did walke the GOD which fed me all my life long to this day The Angell which redeemed me from all evill blesse the Lads Behold he first mentioneth God and after that an Angell so that 't is evident he speakes not of one and the same person here In case he had he would not have varied the Terms much lesse have called Jehovah God blessed for ever by the name of an Angell Jacob could distinguish between the Potter and the clay and put a difference between God the Person sending and an Angell the creature sent If it be replyed that Christ is called the Angell of the Covenant Mal. 3.1 I answer 1. Christ is indeed called an Angell in Scripture but seldom without a note of Difference To let you know he is more then all Angells so he is called the Head of Angells and the Angell of the Covenant 2. Richard Stock on Mal. 3.1 p. 165. God the Father is never in the Scripture called an Angell Christ is called an Angell bâ—cause saith Austin he is the Messenger of the New Testament wherein heavenly blessings are promis'd Aug. de Civ Dei Christ was to reveale his Fathers will to his people But how God the Father of whom Jacob speaks can be called an Angell I see not what person is there to send him Again it is objected Object 2 This Angell mentioned by old Jacob is joyned in Blessing with God therefore it is Christ not an Angel Besides the Angel with whom Jacob wrestled in prayer Gen. 31. 't is like was this Angel I answer God blesseth and redeemeth efficiently Angels and Men instrumentally If this were spoken of eternall Redemption it were peculiar to Christ but Jacob here speaketh of Redemption and Deliverance from temporall Evils which is confessed to be a main office of Angels Ps 91.11 Therefore Mercerius saith it was an Angel to whom Jacob ascribeth his Deliverance as to Gods Minister Who is there that doubteth whether Ministers or Pastors may blesse their people Parents their children as old Jacob here blesseth Joseph If so then certainly Angels may instrumentally be said to bless and do us good as well as men But how doth it appear that this Angel was he with whom Jacob wrestled long before when it is plain that he was prayed to by Jacob and was called The God of Bethel Gen. 31.13 32. But this Angel is neither prayed to nor stiled God Only in blessing Joseph he wisheth that God and his Angel may also blesse them The one in commanding a blessing and the other in the execution of Gods will 'T is again objected Object 3 How was this Angel peculiar to Jacob when Jacob wisheth that he may blesse and help Ioseph and the Lads his sonns I answer 1. Although that Angel did principally attend Iacob yet now also he might be helpful to Ioseph his sons being locally as well as morally neer unto him 2. At Iacobs death he being now very old that Angel of his would wholly be free and at liberty to help them 3. Iacobs Angel by further looking to him and cherishing him in his old age and weaknesse Secundus in sentent p. 89. and in the Dreggs of his time for old age is Viva mors Cadaver spirans Mobile cadaver might therein not onely do good to him but also to his children that hee might have strength to give them a more particular blessing as afterward in Gen. 49.22 Lastly Object 4 it is objected that Iacob met an Host of Angels sent for his defence and he accordingly called the place Mahanaim Gen. 32.1 that is two Hosts or two Camps Therefore some hastily conclude Iacob had not ONE Angel to guard him But this is no consequence For as a King sometimes appeareth with a vast or stately Retinue and at other times is alone with a speciall Favourite So it was with Iacob in extraordinary cases two hosts of Angels were about him and yet he might have one Angell for ordinary and hourly attendance which was sufficient of which more in its place So that you see the Objections being removed that an Angel was Iacobs Guardian for he redeemed him instrumentally and ministerially from those temporal evils that otherwise had befaln him The second Scripture Proof that I shall urge for this truth 2 Scripture proof Mat. 18.10 is that illustrious passage of our Saviours Mat. 18.10 Take heed that yee despise not one of these little ones for I say unto you that in Heaven THEIR Angels do alwayes behold the face of my Father which is in heaven Observe it 1. Not their ANGELL but their ANGELS Every one hath his Angell 2. Nor the Angels in generall but Their Angels in particular 3. Christ saith not the Jewes and Heathens have such Observations But I who am truth it self and at the coming of which Sun all the shadows of Error and Superstition must flye away I say unto you that this doctrine of Angels Deputation you must receive as an indubitable truth 4. Then he chargeth the world not to goe about to molest or trouble his People because their particular Angels are not onely titular but tutelar Their Angels watch over them and will protect them Grotius Hugo Grotius in Mat. 18.10 P. 314. although hee be not very zealous for the Deputation of Angels as to particular persons yet was forced to write very favourably of it from that cleare Scripture Probabile admodum est eam sententiam hic a Christo approbatam It is very probable saith he that Christ doth here approve of that commonly received opinion P. Lomb. lib. 2. Dist 11. The Master of the Sentences doth chiefly insist on that place for the proof of this Point Angelos dicit eorum esse quibus ad custodiam Deputati sunt And the place is so clearly for it Rivius P. 717. that with Rivius we may demand Quid clarius Quid Apertius Etiamne firmius aliquod ad hujusce Rei fidem Argumentum quaeris What can be clearer or plainer Will you after this seek for any Argument to prove it And Bullinger thus Bullingeri Dâ—cad 4. serm 9. Clare dicit puellis additos esse Angelos hand dubie custodes In a word
Austin Chrysostome and Zanchy say the same from this clear Text of our Saviours But because some endeavour and bend their wits to blunt the edge of this Scripture also and unpin the wheel of this Charret that it may drive the more heavily whilst they escape it I shall answer their Objections and Nicities tending to corrupt this Text. 1. It is thus glossed by some Object 1 Not their Angels as if every one had an Angel but theirs in common As divers Children of a rich great Man may have three or four servants to attend them in common and yet each child may not have his particular servant I answer 1. Sol. 1 This most slender Objection doth sufficiently grant the Deputation of Angels For the objectors do confesse that those Angels mentioned be their Angels not the Angels in generall of Gods Church There is then a peculiar Designation and Deputation of some certaine Angels to their attendance 2. If they be their Angels then it followeth that when all those Disciples were dead except one there still remained one Angel to attend the surviving person Note who was so his Angel that he was not anothers which clearly proves the particular deputation of Angels For if it can so clearly appear that one Disciple out-living the rest had Angels peculiar to him then I pray what false Divinity is this to say each Believer hath one Angel at least to guard him For Omne majus continet in se minus the greater comprehends the lesse We doe not affirme that an Elect hath never more then one Angel For in arduous and difficult cases a whole troop of those Angels that attend the Church in generall or such as worship before the Throne do flye to our relief But this we may say that every Believer hath one at least to be near him It is thus also objected by some Object 2 If these Angels did attend the Disciples on Earth as a shadow the body how do they behold the face of God in heaven 'T is the heaven of Angels to see Gods face who is omni-present Sol. and to be doing and fulfilling his will This doth not eclipse the happinesse of Angels To retain their Primitive excellency To attend on the Church which is part of Christ Mystical To be free from all distraction sinne and misery To see know and love God to do his will readily faithfully and cheerfully Oh this is an heaven to elect Angels whilst they are dispersed busied and employed upon earth Lastly 't is objected Object 3 Let the scope of Christ be well observed what doth he drive and aime at Was he before talking of Angels or their Deputation No but he would not have his Disciples offended despised or injured Now how doth the Doctrine of Angelical deputation contribute any light or vigour to that discouse and design of our Saviour Sol. I answer much every way in foure respects 1 Offend them not do not despise or undervalue them †Ab homine mortali despici vel pro Nihilo duci quos Deus in tanto pretio habet nimis absurdum feret Mart Bucer in Mat. 18.10 Because each of them though never so poor mean in the world and voyd of external pomp and glory or humane assistance hath an Angel of Light glorious in power and wisdome design'd to his particular attendance For as the children of Noble men are discerned by this that each one hath particular Servants so it is with the people of God You have no reason to despise or vilipend them whom God hath thus owned and honoured 2 Offend them not in any place though alone for in all places God is present with them and a Believers Angel is his faithful Associate 3 Offend them not at any time For though extraordinary guards may with-draw yet their Guardian Angel will not forsake them 4 These particular Angels are placed by God and are daily accountable to him for their charge They always behold the * Id est astare Deo tanquam Regi observantes ejus nutum ut capessant ejus Mandata de ipsis emittendis ad custodiam Puerorum Piscator Annal. Schol. Mat. 18.10 p. 182 185 face of my father which is in heaven So that you see the Doctrine of Angels designation did most directly advance the scope and design of Christ in this place namely why his little ones should not be despised or offended The objections being removed let us be careful how we despise the Doctrine of Angels Deputation For if it be unsafe to despise the Christians so attended it will be more dangerous to contemn the Doctrine whereby they are secured For in slighting this Doctrine take heed least yee be found among the slighters of Christ who delivered it Shall the ipse dixit of Aristotle be of force in our schools How much more the Ipse dixit of Christ in our hearts Let these words of our Saviour I SAY VNTO YOV be as a clap of Thunder most hideous for sound to awaken and startle the contemners of this Truth yet so as that it may be accompanied with harmlesse Lightning and flashes of Divine conviction that they may no longer suspect or question what is here uttered by Truth it self I who am the King and Law-giver of the Church who am Truth it self and so cannot lie or countenance the lies and errors of others Wisdom it selfe and so do not speak rashly Holinesse it self and so do it not partially Power it selfe and so am able to punish those that will not believe me I that am your Redeemer and shall seale all my Sermons and sayings with my blood Finally I that am the Head and Captain of Angels and best know what Orders and Instructions I have given them I SAY I doe not only and inwardly see and know it who know all things but I think it fit to speake and promulgate this truth to you Heathens and Jewes have ever said it but now remember Christ the Eternal Son of God hath confirmed it to you Many things I know that yet ye are not able nor fit to heare but this I will reveal from the Father unto you as a Doctrine doubted by some but of rich consolation to all the Elect. VNTO YOV My dear Disciples I speak it unto you my hearers as before many Witnesses as before those that must record and publish this Truth to the world and all its nations and ages For what is spoken to you in obscure corners see that ye trumpet and proclaim it on the house top THEIR ANGELS DO ALWAYES BEHOLD THE FACE OF MY FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN Which words as you have seen do most clearly hold forth with both hands the particular Deputation of Angels For he saith not The Angels that attend Gods Elect but THEIR Angels Nor is it sayd their Angel as if one were allotted to many but their Angels each of these little ones that belong to me whether little in stature as this Childe here
Custos Comes jam indea Nativitate usque ad finem Vitae a Deo Assignari Extra Ordinem vero plures etiam nonnunquam ad eum pro Dei beneplacito Majoris consolationis causâ mitti vero simile est cum sacris literis consentaneum c. Vniversa Ecclesia semper sic sensit It is most like to be true for it agreeth with the Scripture and the whole Church hath in all Ages held it that God doth allow every single Elect ordinarily a particular Angel to be his Keeper and Companion from his Birth to his Buriall from the Womb to the Tomb And in extraordinary cases he sends many Angels to his help and for his richer Consolation as seemeth good unto him Buchan Gu. Bucan Loc. Com. De Angelis Loc. 6. p. 70. who wrote about the year of our Lord God 1600. is expresly also for it Ordinarie cuique electo certum quendam bonum Angelum a Deo Destinatum esse ad custodiam colligi potest ex Verbis Christi Mat. 18.10 Item ex Act. 12.15 It may be gathered from the Scripture that every Elect person hath some one good Angel assigned of God for his Preservation To these Testimonies let me add some of our latter Writers Salkelds 44. Chap. of Angels Salkeld in his 44. Chapter of Angels is very cleer for his Guardian-angel Mr. Josiah Shute a late Eminent Preacher in London writes thus Iosiah Shute his Hagar p. 105. It cannot be denyed but most of the Greek Fathers and many of the Lattine and all the School-men yea some of the late Writers and those of the Protestant Party have been for the Guardian-angel Mr. Fuller thus Fuller of Christs Temptations p. 100. THEIR ANGELS that is Angels deputed to their Protection The Pages and Servants which wait on the young Children of great Persons are commonly called the Childrens Servants although their Parents hired them and give them Meat Drink and Wages Angels are Gods Angels as he employes them OUR Angels as employed about us Mr. Mr. Lawrence of our Communion War with Angels p. 20. Mr. Greenhill on Ezek 9. p. 207. Lawrence writing of Angels declares for it saying T is probable that every Elect hath his proper and peculiar Angel Reverend Greenhill on Ezekiel supposes that severall Angels have the care of Cities Kingdomes and Communities committed to them for which he urgeth Dan 10. and Clemens Alexandrinus And why not by the same reason each Beleever his Angel Mr. Mr. Leighs Body of Divinity in 4to lib. 3. Cap. 7. p. 98. Leigh therfore though he doubts this Doctrine may well Lace his Margent with this confession Vnde concludunt tum Patres tum Scholastici singulis pueris atque adultis etiam certos Angelos esse attributos From whence the Fathers and Schoolmen do conclude that both Children and men have particular Angels assigned them Thus I have given you a Taste of ancient and modern Writers untainted with Popery who have eminently appeared for the particular Deputation of Angels So that you see it is no Novel Opinion or that which hath been only embraced by the Sea of Rome And now having written thus much to free this Perswasion from ever being clogg'd with the Imputation of Novelty A Digression of Novelty in opinions I shall by way of Digression say somwhat of Novelty in Opinions before I quit this Head One hath layd down these Distinctions of Novelty in Doctrine Mr. Samael Bolton of Errors 1. Things may be sayd to be new in respect of Gods Prescription or of mans Invention Mat. 15.9 2. In respect of Institution or Restitution John 13.34 3. In respect of Creation or Apparition So the Moon may be new though long since created 4. In respect of Being or Observation And so especially this Doctrine of Angels may happly appear new to the vulgar Reader Now from these Distinctions I shal raise two Conclusions 1. Daille of the Fathers p. 188. That all Doctrines coyned and invented by men unwritten in the Scriptures and unmentioned by the ancient Fathers must needs be reputed no better then Errors That which the ancient Fathers do not touch conclude it was never preached by Christ or his Apostles For what probability is there that those holy Doctors of former Ages from whose hands Christianity hath been derived down to us should be ignorant of any of those things which had been revealed and concern our Salvation Take heed therfore of Curiosity and inordinate desires of Novelty in Religion Brinsley's Sermon on 2 Tim. 3.2 1 Cor. 4.6 that cursed Athenian humour and temper of loving to hear and tell some new thing Let us think and speak soberly and not be wise above that which is written He that quits the Bible and goeth after unwritten Revelations forsakes the Sun to follow an Ignis Fatuus that will lead him into Bogs of Error Or at least despising the Fire on Gods Altar he lyeth warming his hands at the Glo-worm of some vain Opinion that rends not unto Edification or Consolation New-lights many times prove to be old Errors But remember Pauls Resolution Though an Angel from Heaven should preach any other Doctrine then that which you have received let him be accursed 2. That Doctrines which are new not in themselves but as to Restitution Apparition or Observation are very pretious Truths that must be embraced by the Church of God And such is the Doctrine of Angellicall Deputation For it is not new in it self the Scripture and ancient Fathers have it But this Orient Pearl hath lien hid in the Rubbish of Roman Errors Let not any say they never heard or observed it before for the brightest Starrs of Divine Truth do oft dis-appear But bless God this Pearl was not utterly lost Note this Star not quite extinguished Austins Doctrine of conversion meerly of Grace and without preparations in the Creatures Luthers Doctrine of Justification only by Faith Calvins Doctrine of Predestination only of Grace and not of Faith or fore-seen Works These Truths seemed new when deliverd by them But we know the Scriptures are full of them and they are now generally received except by a few Turbulent Spirits that resolve to walk contrary to all men And hold Arminius by one hand and Socinus by the other Well towards the end of the World these Truths shall grow more Refulgent God will vindicate and discover many things that as yet do seem dark in the Scriptures The way of Discipline shall grow plain and many Prophesies shal not be fully understood till unveyl'd by fulfilling In a word where the Fathers have seen a little the Future Ages like a Dwarf upon a Giants shoulders shall see further Not into new Truth but into a clearer and more ample and bright Discovery of things that have been held known For Hab. 2.14 Isa 30.26 Knowledge shall cover the Earth as waters the Sea The Light of the Moon shall be as the Light of the
Sun and the Light of the Sun of one day as the Light of the Sun of many daies And so much of the Proof and Confirmation of the Point by Dim Light of Nature cleer beams of Scripture and joynt Harmony of many ancient and modern Writers never charged with Popery But that this Point may yet further be enlarged The Offices of the Angel-guardian hinted and no scruple remain unobserved and unanswered There are twelve Questions or Objections to be resolved and untyed that are or may be raised against this Point of Angellicall Deputation First Some may ask Quest 1 is not God able to defend his Church what need then of Tutelar Angels He is infinit in Power and Wisdom By his Immensity and Ubiquity he filleth Heaven and Earth with his Presence what necessity is there that Angels should guard his Church Rivius hath Learnedly and at large answered this Objection Answ Rivius de Praesidio Angelico lib. pag. 709. ad 717. By the same reason saith he we may say what need of Magistrates or Ministers in State or Church What need of Food Fire Apparel Sleep or Physick for our Preservation What need of Armes to defend us in time of danger Or in summe of any Secondary means for our good God is able to support and help us without all these c. We say therfore with Reverend Dr. Dr. Sibbs Light from Heaven 1. Treat p. 107. Sibbs It is true the Creatures that God hath ordained in their severall Ranks are not for any Defect in God or to supply his want of power But further to enlarge and demonstrate his Goodness He is Lord of Hosts therfore he will have Hosts of Creatures one under another and all serviceable to his end His end is to bring a company to Salvation To a supernaturall end to happiness in Heaven And he being Lord of all maketh all Creatures to serve for that end He could do it of himself but he useth the Creatures for the manifestation of his power and of his goodness He could I say do all by himself He could have been content with his own Happiness and never have made a World but he made the World to declare his Attributes to the Creatures So he will have Angels to attend us though he watch over us by his own Providence This takes not away from his care But hereby he declares and conveys his care and love to us Quanquam enim per se ipse omnia Potest Deus Rivius lib. de Praesid Angelico p. 709. Nec propter praestantissimam Virtutem atque infinitam Potentiam ullo prorsus ad agendum instrumento indiget tamen it a Sanctissimae ejus voluntati visum est cujus sunt rationes See Bullengeri Decad 4. Serm. 9. fol. 250. Consiliaque occulta nobis uti ad ministerium suum atque ad efficienda ea quae ipse vult rebus a se conditis uteretur saith Rivius on this occasion Though God is able to do all things by himself being infinite in power and needeth not the help of instruments See Nierembergii Theopolit part 1. lib. 2. cap. 28. yet it seemeth good unto him his Reasons and Counsels being unsearchable and past finding out to call unto his Service for the accomplishment of his great and holy ends the feeble Creatures that himself hath made out of nothing He will thus far honour the Works of his hands Magnifie his own power in doing great things by weak and unlikely means and teach us not to disdain the service and help of his meanest Creatures For a Gyant to raise up a weight of Lead with his hand is no marvellous nor strange thing Note But for a man to fasten an haire to the Lead and by that haire to lift up the weight would be no lesse then a miracle 'T was nothing for God mediately to make the World with a few words 2 Reg. 19.35 'T was wonderfull for God immediately by one Angel in a night to slay an hundred fourscore and five thousand Assyrians in defence of Hezekiah At this we very much marvell because he used the Ministry of a creature he took up the weight of Lead by a very small hair Iohn 14.12 John 14.12 opened You read that our Saviour having done many wonderfull Miracles saith that his Disciples should yet be enabled to do Greater things Some may say can there be greater things then to cure the Blind raise the Dead and cast out Devils All this and much more was done by Christ Yet greater things saith Christ shall be done by his Disciples after his Ascention 1. Calvin saith hee spake of the wonderfull conversion of soules upon the effusion of the Spirit Calvin in Joan. 14.12 which is probable because he adds I goe to the Father viz. to send the Spirit unto you Christ never converted five thousand soules at a Sermon as the Apostles did though he could have done it 2. Chrys saith thus Chrysost apud Grotium Maximum signum Gloriae Christi quod per absentem fierent quae praesens non effecerat That Christ being absent should work so powerfully by weak men This it was that so much advanced the glory of Christ Revel 6.2 They were the white Horses on which the Lamb rode about the world conquering and to conquer And thus you have seen why the Omnipotent useth the Ministry of Angels and other creatures to accomplish his own blessed and glorious ends Secondly Quest 2 some doe ask why we so much plead for one Particular Tutelar Angel when so many Angels doe attend Gods Elect which by all is believed Yea each particular Elect as by some is affirmed because it is said I wil give my Angels charge concerning thee Psal 91.11 Gen. 32.1 2 King 6.17 One Iacob met an Host And the mountain was full of Horses and Chariots about Elisha I answer This Objection hath been toucht at already Answ Zanchy and Bucan declare that this Doctrine excludes not the extraordinary attendance of many Angels if need require But is it probable that each single Believer hath alwayes an whole troop of Angels about him that yeeld most particular attendance I mean that so attend on him as not to attend on another nor ever to with-draw from him If so yet notwithstanding it is a comfort Luk. 2.13 that one is eminently placed as the Captain of the rest to dispose conduct lead and trayn them about us in Martiall and most exquisite order the better to oppose evill spirits that shall assault us I shall lay downe seven particulars that may give light to this Discourse and make it probable that many Angels doe not ordinarily attend and inviron one Believer And that in case they do yet ONE of them may most especially heed and mind us place and lead forth the rest for our preservation 1. The nature of Angels is such that although they be Spirits yet they are not cannot be Omnipresent or in more places
the plague of Popery brake out 3. It hath been and is maintained by divers of the Orthodox since the man of Sin was revealed Not only Chrysostome Austin Bernard and others of the Fathers but also by our Modern Divines and soundest Protestants as Bullinger Peter Martyr Beza Zanchy Bucan and by divers yet living Let not this Doctrine therfore any longer be clogged and branded with the odious name of Popery 'T is the subtlety of Satan thus to disfigure the Truth and beget a prejudice in us For as Errors do often pass when they have the trimming of Truth so Truth is often pelted under the Vizard of errour Fourthly Quest 4 some ask whether Adam in the state of Innocency had an Angel Guardian Here are two questions 1. Whether Adam had a tutelar Angel 2. If so whether before or after his Fall To the first Answer 1 I answer All Gods elect have such communion with Angels And 't is most likely that Adam was elected and saved Dr. VVillet on Gen. 3.47 because the Promise was made to him concerning Christ Gen. 3.15 That the seed of the woman should break the Serpents head From whence Dr. Willet concludes That though our first Parents finned yet they were restored and saved by faith in the Messiah and not utterly condemned * Danaeus super Aug. de Haeresibus cap. 25. p. 107. which was the uncharitable heresie of the Tatianes saith Danaeus concerning whom thus he writes Primus eorum Maximus proprius error Quod Adamum Primum Hominem Damnatum Nec ex-lapsu suo saluti restitutum putant Docent But Irenaeus hath * Irenaeus lib. 2. cap. 39. Resutat Tacianos well confuted them And generally the Auncient Fathers doe think more charitably of our first Parents hoping and affirming that they were saved from three Texts of Scripture viz. Gen. 3.15 That there should be enmity between the seed of the Woman and the Serpent Luke 3.38 Adam is called the Son of God but surely after his fall and before faith he was the child of Hell and Perdition 2 Cor. 15.45 The first Adam was made a living Soul the last Adam was made a quickning Spirit We may here mention as an humane testimony Wisdom 10.1 Where it is sayd See Coll. of Doway's Annotaâ—ions Tom 2. p. 356. that Wisdom preserved the first Father of the World and brought him out of his Offence So then if Adam was elected and saved as t is probable by that which hath been sayd what should hinder but that he as well as others had a Guardian-Angell To the second part of the Querie Answ 2 whether this Angel did attend him in the time of Innocency in Paradice Aquinas is for the Affirmative Tho Aquinas Parte prima Qust 113. p. 239. Homo in statu Innocentiae non patiebatur aliquod Pereculum ab interiori quia interius erant Omnia Ordinata Sed imminebat periculum ei ab exteriori propter insidias Daemonum ut rei probavit eventus ideo indigebat custodia Angelorum Though there was an Harmony within yet there were Tempters without Though he stood he might fall He had a Posse non Mori but never a Non posse Mori His danger was great because many Angels were become Apostates and would still be laying snares for him as the issue declared This Guardian-Angel peradventure counselled him when he had sinned to hide and cloath himself Glorious was the Communion between man in Innocency and Elect Angels Fifthly Quest 5 Some do ask whether Jesus Christ had a Guardian Angel The School-men answer warily in this Point Answer Tho Aquinas ut ante in Artic. 4. Christus Ratione Passibilitatis erat Victor secundum hoc non debebatur ei Angelus custos tanquam superior sed magis minister tanquam inferior Christ in regard of his Humanity and sufferings was a Pilgrim upon earth yet the Angel that therfore attended him was not his Superior or Ruler Hugo Cardin Tom. 6. fol. 262. but meerly his obedient Vassall trusty Squire and diligent Servant Therfore when the Angel is sayd to strengthen him Hugo doth thus expound it Confortans eum id est Ad modum confortantis se habens Forte aliqua verba consolatoria dicendo after a manner he is sayd to strengthen him perhaps by speaking comfortable words to him Now here we shall endeavour to prove two things unto you 1. That the Angels were much about Christ 2. That one Angel especially did belong to him 1. Mat. 4.11 26.53 John 20.12 Mat. 13.41 1 Tim. 3.16 For the former it is evident Elect Angels were very busie about Christ in the dayes of his Pilgrimage their Ministrations was used upon all occasions They did comfort him in the Desert after his Temptations in the Garden after his Agony They were busie about the Sepulcher and gave attendance at his Resurrection They treated with divers about Christ they brought news of his Birth to the Shepheards of his Resurrection to the Women and of his Ascention to the Disciples Upon all occasions the Heavenly Host came and ministred unto him of which divers Reasons may be given 1. Jesus Christ is their Head and Generall all Angels Arch-angels Seraphins and Cherubins are subject unto Christ 2. Where the King is there is the Court kept though in the meanest Village 3. By attending on Christ in the Flesh they declared his Divinity From the greatest abasements of Christ certain sparkles of Glory and Divinity flew out 4. They came to comfort and strengthen his Humanity when the Divinity was hid and ecclipst in his Sufferings which were very great not only from men but God See Luke 22.43 T was the Humane Nature that received strengthening here from an Angel The * Fuller of Christs Temptations Angel saith one being in a Calme Christ in the Tempest of an Agony no wonder if the Meaner give support to the Superior 5. The Angels attend Christ * Col. 1.20 2.10 Eph. 1.10 3.10 1 Pet. 1.12 because of their Interest in his Mediation for in that Glass they read their confirmation in grace and happiness So that now there is no fear nor possibility of their Apostacy and falling This makes them to pry into the Mysteries of Christs Mediation 6. By Christs †Incarnato Christo Angeli Deum laudaverunt quia viderunt Numerum corum impleri Hugo Cord. Tom. 1 p. 447. Col. 2. Redemption The vacant and empty Rooms of fallen Angels will be supplyed by Saints saith Hugo to make their maimed Society compleat For Christ saith that Beleevers shall be as the Angels of Heaven So the order of Angels will be replenished and the Gap filled up not with Thorns and Rubbish but very pretious Jewels You see there are many reasons why the Angels were so officious about Christ Jesus 2. For the latter that one Angel did especially belong to Christ may appear probable to us Luke 22.43 It is sayd Luke
were received under the Law and shall they be rejected under the Gospel When Christ himself saith suffer little Children to come unto me and forbid them not The Gospel came to * Eph. 2.14 This expression convinced an Officer of the Army break down partition Walls then surely not to build up new ones But of old under the Law there was no partition-wall between beleiving Parents and their Children to exclude them from Circumcision See Mr. Marshall Sermon of this Subject And Mr. Halls Font-guarded Wo be to those that shall now build up a Wall to shut out Children from Baptisme coming in its room And can we suppose that under the Gospel whole Housholds nay whole Nations were without Children The Apostles are often sayd to baptize the Former and are impowred to baptize the latter One Gospel saith teach and baptize and another saith baptize and teach This only by the way To return to our business Even poor little Infants have their Guardian-Angels Were it not so into how many dangers would they fall They would be disfigured and lamed with bruises and fearfull miscarriages cutting and burning themselves as opportunity is offered Angels are very diligent and handy to look to them and keep them out of harms way We may well say with Dauid Psal 22.9.10 Thou O Lord art he that took us out of the Womb thou didst make us to hope when we hung upon our Mothers breasts We were cast upon thee from the Womb thou hast been our God from our Mothers belly And herein especially doth his goodness appear in appointing Angels to watch over us when we would not watch over our selves When you pass through fire and water I will be with you saith the Lord. Poor Children would soon perish by those Elements but that Angels are so handy to catch them up When Father and Mother forsake you the Lord takes you up This methinks is the Voice of God to Infants dear to him When Parents are without naturall affection when Nurses and Tenders are careless and Children of restless stirring and climbing dispositions Then doth the Guardianship of Angels especially appear for how many dangers do they escape that others know not of when alas there is but an hairs-breadth between them and the Grave Let us hear Chemnitius on this Subject Chemnitius in Hamm. Evan. cap. 92. pag. Maxime autem quoad Infantes res ipsa testatur illos tot tantis periculis obnoxies esse ut nulla Parentum solicitudo nulla famulorum cura ipsis servandis sufficere posset nisi Angeli custodes adessent Children are obnoxious to very many and great dangers so that no Anxiety of Parents or diligence of servants can secure them without the Tuition of Angels This is the third thing that the charge of Angels begins at our Nativity or in our childhood 4. And lastly Lawrence of Angels p. 21. some goe further yet and say this is done at the conception of elect Infants immediately upon the infusion of a Rational soul And 't is then very probable that Angels doe begin the execution of their charge For although the child be a part of the Mother yet hath it a distinct being of its own consisting of soule and body And it may be the Mother is not Elect and so hath no Angel to look to her Some thinke that the presence of an Angel with Iohn Luk. 1.41.44 made him leap in Elizabeths womb at Maries salutation an Angel making of that little Embrio to rejoyce and leap that otherwise had been uncapable of such affections and motions according to the course of Nature Who questions but many have gone to heaven dying in the womb and surely such are guarded by Angels into Abrahams bosome What hinders then but an Angel may attend upon a Childe unborn Dr. Boys his works p. 878. Psal 8.4 Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained or founded praise The Translation of Abenezra initium fecisti Thou hast begun praise cannot be so good as that of our Saviours Perfecisti Thou hast perfected or finished praise Note in Mat. 21.16 For as Martin Bucer very well observes Almighty God begins his power and providence towards Infants in the Mothers womb and when they be Sucklings their praise is perfected for then they quickly cry Ab. Ba. and so call the Lord Abba Father in their innocent Language How strong a consolation is this to godly women bearing of children to consider that holy Angels attend them and those little pieces and pictures of themselves their little children So that a Believer bearing Twins may possibly have three Angels to attend her Motions and all Occurrences for the safety and preservation of Root and Branches Seventhly Quest 7 some will further object and aske If every Saint hath his particular Angel what doth that Angel and where doth he abide before his Man is born or after he is dead and what employment and office hath he I answer either 1. Attend on that vast Quire that worship at the Throne Revel 5.11 Or 2. Answer be among those that have generall inspection o're the Church and are some of Michaels host that resist the Dragon Or 3. Attend on some other person as Providence shall dispose For as Lombard saith one Angel may be Guardian to many successively coming and dying off Pet. Lombard lib. 2 Dist 11. Angels can never want employment that have such a God to worship such a Christ to follow such a Bride to attend and such a host of Dragons to subdue Finally though we do not with Pythagoras hold a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Piscator in Joan 9. p. 654. or transanimation of souls yet nothing hinders but with Lombard wee may believe a Transmigration of guardian Angels from one man dying off to another conceiving in the womb Eightly Quest 8 a considerable question may arise whether the Tutelar Angel is able to reach help and comfort the soule of man 'T is confessed he keeps us from bodily dangers but can he reach and support the soule I answer Answ 1 1. By way of Negation Angels cannot certainly know our Thoughts though they guesse at them They cannot change the nature infuse or increase grace They may hint and suggest comfort but they cannot bow the heart to receive it All this is the peculiar work and prerogative Royall of the Spirit of God the third Person in sacred Trinity Angels have no effications power o're the heart God only can over-rule Note melt and new-mold us Therefore it is a very wicked opinion of some to give God no more efficacy in moving the heart to conversion then good Angels have that is onely by counsell and perswasion We believe then that God onely can so work as to speak unto us with a high hand in the Scripture phrase that is so to speak as to speed to charm turn or captivate a soule 'T is he that can effectually inlighten the understanding and determine
debilitavit patefecit insidias fraudem detexit saith Rivius Hee hath reveal'd their sleight and repel'd their might The Angels do watch over us saith Greenham yet all see it not Greenhams Workes p. 3. and when they see it t is by the effect of their Ministrie They watch over us and preserve us from many dangers of soule and body 4. The Angels have been used to declare and trumpet out the will of God to his People The Angel reveased to Mary the Incarnation of Christ an Angel admonished Hagar of her duty an Angel instructed John that God only is to be worshipped The name Angel signifies Messenger because God hath by their Ministration conveyed many Messages to Men. Nay 5. The Angels do not only declare what is good Dr. Sibbs Mystery of Godlinesse p. 108. but they advise us to it So Dr. Sibbs if the Devils can suggest sinne Angels are stronger and wiser then Devils whatsoever they can do in evill the elect Angels can in good therefore they suggest many thoughts that are good Lombard saith of the guardian Angel Lombard lib. 2. dist 11. Hortatur ad Bonum He doth admonish and perswade us on all occasions to that which is good The way how this is done is very mysterious let us not pry into that 6. They encourage and comfort us in doing our duty So an Angel comforted Hagar another comforted Paul in the storm at Sea 2 Râ—g 1.3 and an Angel encouraged and strengthened Eliah to his worke And although now they doe not appeare in bodily shapes yet the same offices are by them although more spiritually and mysteriously performed to us Mendoza in Reg. vel 1 cap. 1. sect 2. p. 244. Nay Mendoza saith they further excite quicken the soul in Prayer But we shall not proceed so far least we think of them above that which is written 7. The Angel guardian helps us in our sufferings and afflictions Thus the Angels have appeared unto the Martyrs a little before their death to cheer and encourage them When Christ was in an Agony just before he was betrayed the presence of an Angel did strengthen him Lu 22.43 And Peters Angel appeared to him in the prison and delivered him When the child Moses was layd among the flags and Joseph put into a pit then did their guardian Angel stand them in good stead or else the one had been destroyed of Water and the other starved to death or made a prey to wild Beasts 8. And lastly at Death the Angel guardian conveys the believing * Hoc munus non frustra Angelis assignat Christus quos scimus datos esse fidelibus Ministros ut eorum saluti sua studia operasque impendant Calvin in Luc. 16.22 soul into Abrahams bosome through the Devils Territories and in spight of him for he is the Prince of the Ayre Some think that to the Angel guardian are joyned certain other Angels to scour and cleer the passage for us They are our convoy to Blisse And in this march they are continually fighting for us and thus with much speed and triumph they convey us into our Fathers house which is the last office this Angel shall do for us unles it be to call gather our very bodies to Judgment at the last day And in heaven we shall have perfect knowledg of that Angel that was our keeper as also of all other Angels and Saints there Some may say Object If Angels do all this for us guesse very much at our hearts make powerful impressions on our Fancy and Imagination impede and hinder evill actions declare and perswade Gods will hearten and encourage us in service and sufferings and convey us at last into our haven of Heaven Then what will you leave unto God and the holy spirit of Grace We leave unto God all in all Solut. which is 1. The Commission 2. The Inspiration 3. The Benediction From him they have their warrant message and blessing Angels are but his servants Cesterns are they not Fountaines God only can renew and sanctifie the soul and blesse all the means and methods of our good why should ascribing to Angels some work upon the soule derogate from Christ more then their tuition of our bodyes for we deny not to Christ the care also of our outward man So then let the Ministry of Angels as to our bodies and soules raise and elevate our thoughts to admire adore the great Lord and Master of those Servants and breed in us a high esteem of these heavenly Tutors That having gained them wee may converse with and suck all the good we possibly can from them Ninthly Quest 9 The next question may be this are our Angels greived at our falls and miseries Doe they sympathize with us Mourn with them that mourn Are they touched grieved when we fall into sin or when trouble falls upon us I answ Answer with Hugo Hugo Cardinalis Tom. 7. p. 246. Angelus scire potest infirma nostra sed non compati quia nec Pati The Angel may know our infirmities but cannot suffer with us because he cannot suffer at all The Schoolmen therefore do upon good grounds deny the fellow-feeling of Angels by suffering and grieving with us in our tryals For though they unfeignedly desire our good yet they cannot dis-roab themselves of their own happinesse Rev. 21.4 When we come to Heaven there is no more death nor wayling Revel 21. No man in heaven shall mourn or sigh for the damnation of his dearest friends So also the Angels instated in so much happiness are not capable of griefe and sorrow Tho Aquinas Prima parte Quest 113. Artic. 7. The Reason saith Thomas is this They are brimfull of happinesse and their wils are so clearly wheelâ—d about by the supream will of God without which nothing comes to pass that they cannot grieve or mourn for that which God is resolv'd shall work together for the good of Believers 'T is sufficient they earnestly wish and desire our good and do rejoyce at our conversion let us not be troubled that they grieve not at our Deviation Note Excessive griefe hath made friends to be uselsse to us and piniond their arms that they have not bin able to help us Angels will strive to pull us out of evill that is better then if they sate still to sigh and mourn over us Christ is said to be Toucht with the feeling of our infirmities Nay in all our afflictions he is afflicted Not that he can suffer or mourn in heaven but that such is our Union with him and his Remembrance of our frailty because he hath our flesh that he is ready to own and help us in our streights In this respect Angels also may be sayd to sympathize with us for they will stand by us and support us in a time of need 10. Quest 10 How Believers can fall into dangers that are still thus attended by the wise and powerful
care of their Angels Mephibosheth a child of five yeares old sonne to a good Father and afterwards a good man himselfe was lamed by a fall from his fleeing Nurse Innumerable examples might be brought of the same kind Are the Angels of Believers absent impotent or sullen and careless when Believers do thus miscarry under their hands and such mischances befals them One answers Answer No mischances can befall them that are godly Fuller of Christs Temptations p. 100 101. Not chances because all things are ordered by divine Providence Nor mischances because all things worke for their good Therefore we say 1. The promise of Angels protection Mat. 4.6 Mat. 4. as all temporall promises runs with this tacite Reservation and condition Alwayes prouided that God in his infinite wisdome for Reasons best known to himself doe not judge the contrary more conducing to his glory and our inward good Hee seeth that many times Afflictions humble us awaken us do us good †Schola crucis schola lucis teaching us his will and our duty 2. Angels are to keep us in all our wayes Psalm 91.11 It is not sayd Our wandrings And who in this wilderness-condition is free from wandring Who can say I have made my heart cleane Sinn must have sorrow here or for ever Your sinnes have hindred good things from you 3. God is above the Angels and they all move and act by Divine Appointment As the Primum mobile moves all the other Sphears so Angels and all creatures are swayed moved and ordered by the Lord Note he can countermand Angelical protection and give Instructions to those powers in some cases to suspend their Attendance and care of us Hee also gives scope to evill Angels to molest us lengthening out their chaine certaine links by enlarging their Commission to exercise and prove us as in the famous cases of Iob Paul Satan was permitted to destroy the goods children health of the one to buffet the mind and conscience of the other and give him a thorn in the flesh 4. When believers do thus lie under the lash of a Father Angelical attendance doth mitigate the evil that they do not succumbere despair and utterly miscarry As if a Limb be bruised that the Life be spared Let us hear the Apostle 2 Cor. 4.8 9. We are troubled on every side yet not distressed we are perplexed but not in despair Persecuted but not forsaken 1 Cor. 6.9 cast down but not destroyed and elsewhere as dying yet behold we live Angels are not alwayes to keep us from Primum ac praecipuum genus consolationis est Animum tristem consolari etiamsi Res Adversae adhuc durent Musculus in Psal 94.19 p. 729. but sometimes in troubles which saith Musculus is the chiefest Point of consolation So * 2 Cor. 1.3 Rom. 5.5 Saint Paul He comforteth us in all our tribulations again As the sufferings of Christ abound in us so our consolations also abound in Christ Now these Cordials and Consolations in and under sufferings are chiefly administred by God the holy Spirit Instrumentally also by Angels Christ could have prayed that many Legions of Angels should have kept him from suffering this he did not yet the Angels Ministred unto him in the Wilderness in the Agony and other sufferings of his from time to time 5. Beleevers are so defended by God and Elect Angels that whatsoever temporall things they suffer they shall not eternally miscarry though the miseries and crosses of this life prevail against them yet the Gates of Hell shall not Though the Lions do roar God will not cast them his Children to feed them that Tormenting Flame shall not touch one hair of their head Is this all their Consolation that the Oven of Hell is heating but not for them No Heaven is preparing and perfuming for them Though thy Angel therfore do suffer thee to trip he will support and raise thee up again He is not to leave thee till thou art safe within Heavens Gate 6. And lastly This objection that Beleevers have not their Guardian Angels because of their sinnings and sufferings is not so considerable if you remember that each Beleever also is acted by the holy Ghost who is intempled in the Saints and yet the people of God have many failings and infirmities sin in them is dejected but not ejected The body is acted by a Raitionall Soul yet in the time of fancy and sleep it cannot counsell and watch over us The Sun is ever in the Heavens yet somtimes his face is ecclipst or muffled with Clouds Though our Angel be never so wise faithfull and Potent yet the Lord of Angels and men may suspend and ecclipse his Protection for a time that we may the more depend upon himself Note As the Nurse gets behind the Skreen that the Infant may go into the Mothers armes without crying If Angels do not help us t is that we may call upon God for aid Eleventhly Qu. 11 It may be asked if the Tutelar Angel doth at any time really and utterly depart and leave those destitute and forelorn with whose Guardianship they are intrusted T is sayd of Peters Angel Acts 12.10 when the Iron Gate was opened and one street passed That forthwith the Angel departed from him I answer Answ that departing of the Angel was only his disappearing or laying down that bodily shape that was assumed Mat. ult ult So Christ is said to leave and not to leave the World We affirm therfore that good Angels are our constant Associates till death Though their Influence may be susspended yet their presence is continued and they never throughout our life do utterly and totally sorsake us Mat. 18.10 Their Angels do alwayes behold my Fathers face They are their Angels not for a spirit or in a good Mood but alwayes theirs alwayes expecting new commands for their good And Psal 91.11 They are charged to keep us and be with us in all our wayes As a shaddow followeth the body without leaving it or lagging behind so do the Angels accompany Beleevers in all their walks and wayes Oates on Jude 9. p. 216. Oates in his Comment on Jude writeth thus The Angels attend on us ride and journey with us T is most necessary and evident that they never totally forsake us in our Pilgrimage in this wayfaring and warfaring condition Satan goeth about seeking whom to devoure If therfore he should find us alone and without the tuition of Angels we were but one morsel for him He spareth the wicked because they are his and must do him service As God is sayd to leave us for a time when sins and afflictions overtake us So the Angels his Messengers and Ministers may be sayd to withdraw when some hurt befals us to return again for our greater advantage but it is certain * Heb. 13.5 Psal 27.10 that God never leaves nor forsakes us therfore nor the Angels really or totally
But saith one they are often with us as Physitians are with those that have filthy Ulcers Note they stop their Noses and administer the Medicine So do they our vanity and sins extreamly offend them as also God yet their obedience to God and love to us chains and keeps them steddily to us They will not dare not cannot utterly forsake us till we be got into Heaven If it be objected that the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul Object 1 Sam. 16.14 and an evil Spirit from the Lord came and troubled him Sol. I answer By that good Spirit that departed you must either understand the holy Spirit of God in his common not sanctifying gifts and graces Or a good Angel that for a time was sent to him but not to abide Good Angels may be sent unto the bad as to Saul and Baalam but they abide only with the good Heb. 1.14 The Heirs of Salvation Such saith Origen as are Praecogniti a Deo foreknown of God Then by the evil Angel that succeeded and seized on him is meant Satan taking fuller possession as he is sayd to enter into Judas after the Sop who had a litter of Divels in his heart before So saith Christ the Devil may seem to depart and takes with him many other Spirits worse then himself to repossess a man that his latter end shall be dolefull and the very Map of all misery and desperation And on the other side if good Angels seem to withdraw from the Saints t is that they may return with the greater Triumph and Consolation The twelfth and last Question is this Quest 12 How can Elect Angels be happy in Heaven if they be thus disperst and busied and employed on Earth To this I answer 1 Answer which is confuted First Some affirm that Heaven is not at any distance from us but consists in the fruition of God so that Heaven may be on Earth Chemnit Harmon Evangel cap. 92. p. 1741. Thus Chemnitius in his Harmony resolves this doubt Observandum est quod Angeli qui pusillis ministrant Haec officia omnia in Terris expediunt nihlominus Faciem Patris in Coelis videre dicuntur Vnde manifestissimum est Coelum in quo Deus cum Majestate sua residet non per tot Myriadas Milliarum ultra supremum hoc aspectabile Coelum abesse sicut Calviniani de co Nugantur That because the Angels of little Children on Earth behold the face of God in Heaven therfore Heaven is not a place at such distance from us as Calvinists imagine * Coelum itaque Terra In fernus non locorum intercapedinibus sed Beatituditudiuis tius Ibid. Infoelicitatis Respectu distinguuntur Chemniâ— And that therfore it is most manifest that Heaven Earth and Hell are only distinguished by a greater degree of happiness or misery not Locally or any distance of place But that Gods Throne and the Seat of Elect Angels and glorified Saints is a Place and at a great distance from us will full easily appear And that therfore Angels cannot be here and in Heavâ—n at the same time I mean the same Numerical Angels First I will prove unto you that Heaven iâ— not only happiness or content but a place which will â—huâ—â—ppear I refer the Reader to the Scriptures in the Margent 1. By (a) Eph. â— 3 â—ohn 14.2.3 plain and positive Scriptures 2. By Names and Titles given to Heaven (b) Heb. â— â—6 Mat 5.8 a Kingdome an (c) Iohn 14.2 Isa 63.15 House an (d) Luke 23.43 Rev. 2.7 Eden or Garden of Pleasure 3. By the Inhabitants that dwell in Heaven 1. Spirituall as (e) Mat. 6.9 Ioh. 3.13 1 Ioh. 5.7 God (f) â—at 2 25. Angels (g) Luke 23.43 the Soul of just men made perfect 2. Corporeall There is the body of (h) Gen. 5 24. Enoch (i) 2. Reg. 2 11. Elias and (k) Mark 16.19 Ep. 1.20 Christ and as his body went thither so there it (l) 1. Acts 3.21 abides wherupon Austin saith thus Vbi corpus ibi locum esse necesse est where there is a body there must of necessity be a place It is evident then that there is a Locall Heaven Secondly * Nam quum assumptus in Coelum dicitur Christus Certe aperte notatur Locorum Distantia saiâ—h Brentius Heaven is at a great distance from us which Brentius concludes from Christs being taken up out of sight they followed him with their eyes so long as ever they could T is at least an 160 Millions of * Greenhill on Ezek. Vol. 1. p. 104. miles high from Earth to Heaven So far it is by the Rules of Astronomers If this ascending Line could be drawn right-forward some that have calculated curiously have found it five hundred years journey unto the Starry-heaven for an ordinary Traveller Ob. How could the Soul of the converted Theef trace and travel it then in one day This day shalt thou bee with me in Paradice said Christ Sol. Leighs Body of Div. in 4to lib. 3. cap. 3. p. 28. This was done by the conduct and celerity of Angels that conveyed it A Bullet from a Musket flyes very swiftly it will fly an 180. miles an hour according to its motion But the Sun moveth swifter 1160000. miles in one hour Now the Throne of God is very much above the visible Heavens therfore certainly the Seat of Angels and blessed Souls is at an huge distance from us T is in the (m) Psal 104.3 highest Heavens (n) Eph. 4.10 Christ is ascended far above all Heavens saith St. Paul * Magirus lib. 2. cap. 2. p. 120. From the height of the Stars you may guess at the vast distance of Coelum Empiraeum which is sedes Beatorum according to that of Eliphaz Is not God in the height of Heaven and behold the height of the Stars how high they are Job 22.12 Compare now the judgment of Eliphaz with that of Chemnitius The second Answer to the Question then is this Ans 2 which is confirmed That whilest Angels are on Earth Heaven is still their Country their Home their Inheritance And that a main part of Heaven which is the fruition and vision of God Elect Angels may and do enjoy whilest they are on Earth with us This is our conclusion for seeing Heaven is at such a distance and Angels are not Omni-present Damascen lib. 2. Orth. Fidei cap. 3. We must say with Damascen Angeli cum sunt hic Nobiscum non sunt in Coelo Angels cannot be in Heaven and on Earth together That they are sometimes on Earth who denyeth for here they have appeared by Assumption of humane bodies Angels do not then suffer by with-drawing from Heaven for here they enjoy the presence and favour of God which supplies the want of Heaven unto them Their condition is so happy here that figuratively they are said to be in Heaven Mat.
18.10 The Angels of Christs little Ones are said to behold the face of God in Heaven viz. Their communion with God is not eclipst God filleâ—h every place with his presence This made Mount Tabor so glorious at the Transfiguration of Christ We say then that Elect Angels not only sometimes when they be in Heaven but alwayes saith Christ namely when on Earth also THEIR Angels by reason of particular attendance do still continue to behold the face of God Elect Angels even whilest they are on Earth with us have a fulness of Gods presence and joy some way (o) Leighs Body of Divin lib. 3. cap. 7. answerable to that in heaven which makes them no loosers by this Employment Seeing it is an Heaven to Angels to be doing the (p) Dr. Gouge his Guide to God p. 79. will of God and seeing his face and rejoycing in his Service For although they go up and down in their Ministry here below yet this they perform without Regret or Distraction and their happiness is not therby obstructed As the Souls in Heaven are not hindred from happiness by desiring their bodies again so Angels continue happy though they be a while from Heaven their usuall home Note And as Noble-men do joyfully go Ambassadors into a meaner Country then their own not so much disliking the coldness of the Climat as approving the honor of the Embassage and high employment wherein they do serve their Prince and publick good So Angels do not greive but rejoyce to come as Ambassadors and Agents from Heaven to Earth as knowing they must shortly return in Triumph to their Native Country In the mean time they here below do fully enjoy the face and favour of God and are freed from all manner of distraction and misery Et si foris exeunt internis contemplationis gaudiis non Privantur Gregory saith Gregory most truly Although for a time they leave their own home they want not the inward joyes of contemplation Luke 2.13 A full Quire of Angels sang Carols over a few ragged Shepheards and their Flocks which declares that their absence from Heaven and their attending poor Worms upon Earth doth not cut them off from their heavenly contemplations and sweet rejoycings in God As a General rejoyceth to be in the Field Note and glorieth in his Spoyl and Ensigns of Victory so do the Angels in skirmishing and routing the evil Spirits Christ himself was well pleased with being on Earth accounting it meat and drink to do the will and business of his Father He submited to a mean life and cursed death for our sakes and was emptied of all Glory for us Therfore let us conclude Elect Angels do not repent their Attendance on us Princes are not alwayes in their Palaces somtimes they make excursions into Forrests Note Villages and desolate Places and at last retire home with renewed satisfaction So Angels short excursions on Earth do but set out unto them the Glory of those Celestiall Habitations Having answered all the Objections that I ever yet met withall or can possibly think of The way is now sufficiently layd out that we may pass unto the profitable Inferences of this Discourse for our further instruction and edification First Vse 1 here will be matter of confutation as to certain Romish additions and mistakes about this very Point of the Guardian-Angel Although I do not remember that Conradus Vorstius in his Index errorum Ecclesiae Romanae Or Amesius in his Bellarminus enervatus do touch at the Errors of the Romish Synagogue in relation to Angels or their Deputation yet Dr. Dr. Andr. Willet Vis Synapsis Papismi Willet who omits nothing in his Synopsis Paptismi doth write particularly of them although so smartly and vehemently as withall to reject the Guardianship of Angels the Romish Errors wherabout are these four 1. The Papists say that Michael is the Prâ—tector and Keeper of the whole Church of Christ This we reject for Jesus Christ is the HEAD of Angels the Protector and Defender of his Spouse the Church All power is given unto him in Heaven and Earth He is the Crowned King of aints T is true there are Degrees among Angels some are Angels and others Arch-angels but Christ not Michael is the Head of them all and sole Saviour and King of his Church 2. Romanists do hold that every man hath his Guardian-Angel from God So Clictoveus Cuique Hominum sigillatim and Designatus est Angelus Doway Expos Gen. 18.16 And our Doway men affirm the very same We beleive say they that this Priviledge belongs not to Gods Elect only But Heb. 1 14. t is most expresly affirmed that Angels are to attend the Heirs of Salvation Scil. Such Positively and exclusively Such and no other not Reprobate Heirs of Perdition Good Angels may have treated with evil men as with Baalam And so the holy Spirit doth often suggest good things to them but all this is for their conviction and greater confusion at the last We cannot from hence affirm that either the holy Spirit or elect Angels do abide with and watch over them 3. The Pontificians hold that each man hath two Angels allotâ—ed him by God one to vex and punish him Bucan Loc. Com. de Angelis Loc. 6. Sect. 35. p. 74. the other to guard and comfort him But this is absurd God appoints not an evil Angel constantly to attend his Elect and if Satan Depute him the Elect Angel set by God will continually expel and vanquish him So that though the evil Angels do very often assault the Righteous yet no one evil Angel can quietly and constantly be neer unto him that fears God Therfore Satan bad particular Commission to molest Iob for a time and to give a BUFFET to Saint Paul Now a Buffet is a sudden blow or surprise No evil Angel can long be neer Gods Elect because Michael is stronger then the Dragon There is no communion between Light and Darkness Christ and Belial Elect Angels and Reprobate and there is not a syllable in the Book of God that speaks of two Angels the one good the other bad about a Child of Light 4. And lastly most of them hold Invocation and Adoration to be due unto the Guardian-Angel and many Arguments they urge to this end here take the chief First Arg. 1 Joshuah fell down before the Angel and worshiped Josh 5.14 We say Origen 6. Homil. in Josh he Worshipt non an Angel but Christ their Captain But Origen thus expounds it Joshua non adorasset nisi Agnovisset Deum He would not have Ador'd if he had not known him to be God Secondly Arg. 2 Baalam adored the Angel Numb 22.31 1. We say this might be an exceeding great Reverence and no Adoration 1 Reg. 1.23 as Nathan bowed down to David where the same word Shacha is used 2. T is but a weak Argument that is taken from the example of a false Prophet and Sorcerer that was
accustomed to prostrat himself before his evil Spirits Thirdly they urge Rev. 8.3 Arg. 3 Dr. Willets Synop. Pap. in the 8. Gen. Cantr Quest 3. p. 395. I saw another Angel that came and stood before the Altar and much Odors were given unto him to offer with the Prayers of the Saints upon the Golden Altar We answer 1. Though the Angels should present our Prayers to God yet it is not in their own name but Christs Much Odors were mingled with the Prayers i. e. Christs Merites It follows not that therfore we may Invocate Angels For the Saints on Earth may and do invocate God for us yet are not to be Invocated by us 2. This place is better expounded of Christ himself the Angel of the Covenant who offers up our Prayers unto God which is Austins judgment on that Text. Fourthly Arg. 4 Gen. 48.16 They say Iacob seems to pray unto the Angel Gen. 48. But we answer He is not there praying at all but blessing his Children and wishing all good unto them And in case his Blessing comprehend Invocation he prayeth only to God to bless them and that his Angel may instrumentally be employed to do them good These be the Arguments of Romanists which they sharpen and boast of For the Adoration and Invocation of our Guardian-Angel We Protestants have many weighty reasons against it as 1. Divine Worship is due only to (a) Psal 50.15 Mat. 4.10 God 2. (b) Heb. 1. â— Aug. de Ver. Relig. Cap. 55. Angels do worship God Quod ergo colit summus angelus id colendum etiam est ab Homine ultimo saith Austin truly That therfore which is worshiped of the highest Angel the man of lowest degree ought also to worship 3. Christ is our (c) 1 Joh. 2.2 Only and All-sufficient Advocate no need of other Mediators 4. John fell down to the (d) Rev. 19.10 22.9 Angell but the Angell suffered him not saying See thou do it not I am thy fellow Servant worship God 5. T is most expresly forbidden of God A man would bless himself to think how Romanists can swallow and digest that Text Col. 2.18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of Angels c. * Sine Authoritate Scripturaram Garrulitas non habet fidem Hieronan cap. 1. ad Titum Observe first T is Voluntary or Will-worship no where appointed in Gods word for which Christ will not thank you at the day of Judgment but say (e) Isa 8.20 Who required this at your hands 2. It hath in it a shew or pretence of humility No Hook is câ—st among the Fishes without a Bait T is common for Vice to go clad in the Robe of humility 3. It is flatly forbidden Let not any man not he in the Porphiry Chair in his triple Crown nor any one else beguile and deceive you in this Point 4. The Punishment is hinted if you do it you loose your reward If you worship Angels here you shall not sing with them in Heaven The Papists do know that this Scripture cuts * Davenant Expos Colos 2.18 p. 238. very deeply and they would fain either evade it quite or blunt the edge if they could To that end 1. Caranza unworthily reads it De ijs qui Angulos colunt instead of Angelos that prize and meet in Corners not in Publick Assemblies well knowing how much this prace makes against him 2. Rhemish Annot. on Col. 2.18 Vol 3. p. 540. The Rhemists say that the Apostle speaks here against the wicked Doctrine of Simon-Magus who affirmed that the Angels both ill and good were Mediators for us unto God We answer Theodoret sufficiently declares that in that place all Wil-worship is forbidden and the Worship of good Angels as well as bad what fear or likely-hood was there that the Primitive Christians should be so unreasonably sottish as to worship the Divel This therfore is a very Cobwebb excuse a very slender and pitifull evasion for such Learned men to offer unto the World I conclude this Point with a Golden Saying of Austin and an humble confession of Cajetan no small one among them Honoramus Angelos Charitate non Servitute Augustinus de vera Relig. cap. 55. sayth Austin We Honour the Angels with sincere love not servile Adoration What shall I say more Cajetan himselfe confessing Certa ratione nescimus an nostra vota cognoscant We cannot certainly say that the Angels know or heare our prayers And so far of the necessary confutation of Romish Additions and Errors about this Point Secondly Vse 2 here wil be matter of Information about several other truths as 1. The great number of Angels 2. The goodnesse of God in allottingus such Associates and Tutors 3. That hence it will follow as a most probable truth that Cities Counties Isles Provinces and Kingdomes have their particular Angels And 4. by the rule of contraries That perhaps wicked men have their evill Angels to follow them First 1 It informs us in the vast number of Angels Mat. 26 53. Revel 5.11 It may serve to inform us in the vast number of elect Angels seeing every Believer hath one at least to defend him and upon extraordinary occasions many troops to guard him besides those that look to Cities and Provinces and the main body all this while is resident in heaven before the Lamb Revel 5. and Iude 14. doe expresse their multitudes by the greatest and roundest numbers in use among men Dan. 7.10 so also Dan. 7. Thousand thousands minister unto him and ten thousand thousands stand before him Heb. 12.12 Pauperis est numerare pecus But the Author to the Hebrews ascends higher yet The innumerable company of Angels How surpassing glorious will the Throne of Christ be when he shal come riding in the clouds of heaven Mat. 25.31 all his holy Angels with him Not an Angel shall be left in heaven that shall not attend him This Doctrine of the multitude of Angels doth marvellously tend to the Churches comfort and terrour of her enemies For how truly may we say There be more with us then against us Thou that hast few friends on Earth maist have many friends in Heaven Iob 38.7 Iob 38. when the morning Stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy The Angels are there called Stars for their great number and glistering perfections They all sing with one mouth and Nightingale throats their Halelujas to the Lamb that sits upon the Throne for ever Secondly 2 In the goodness of God it may serve to inform us in the goodnesse of our gracious God towards us for allowing us who are worms and no men the society and tuition of Angels Lord what is Man that thou art mindfull of him Tygers and Dragons might deservedly be our companions when lo Angels come and minister unto us But of this subject something †In my Spirituall
â—ast on Psal 34 8. p. 11 12. I have spoken else where So then briefly the free grace of God doth eminently shine in the guardianship of Angels 1. In regard of our meannesse and sinfulnesse that God should passe over that send his Son to bleed for us and charge all his Servants in heaven and earth to shew tender love and respect to us (g) Rom. 5.10 2. In regard of Angelicall excellency * Psal 104 Creat ministros flammam â—gâ—is Quia Diaphaenia Pulchritudine incorruptibilitateque Agilitate item Celeritate puritateque sunt Ornatissimae Praestantissimae creaturae Bullingeri Deead 4. Serm ' 9 fol. 249. Angels are in Christs School of an higher form then man So when Angels attend us 't is as if Men perhaps should be sent to wait upon the Beasts Man in his greatest honour nour and advanced on the highest pinacle of happinesse was and shall be very much below the blessed Angels For even Christ in respect of his humanity was made a little lower then the Angels Heb. 2.7 3. In regard of the freenesse of this life it was bestowed on Man unmerited undesired placed on him in the Infancy yea in the dark womb 4. The constancy of this favour Angels must not leave us till Death We shall be sure of one Angel at least till we launch into the harmony of millions 5. This gift is an earnest of further kindness If one of the Nobility place Officers and servants of all kinds about a Child of meane birth it presages he will breed him up and make him Heir of all that he hath And thus the Lord deales with his Elect as in that notable place Heb. 1.14 The Angels do minister to the HEIRS of salvation Isa 65.24 The Saints then are joyntheyrs Co-heirs with Christ Heaven is indeed their Inheritance This is the time of their minority And hee that considers this that God hath sent his Angels to attend tutor them must needs conclude That certainly God hath some further Design then that his Saints should be born and thus bred only to be under hatches to be hated and vilified in this world 6. And lastly this is a singular kindnesse and priviledg that belongs only to the Elect He hath not dealt thus with all Adams children In these respects the glorious free grace of God doth appear in the Guardianship of Angels over us Thirdly 3 That Communities have their Angels Angeli sunt Principes Moderatores hujus Mundi non futuri Gerhard Notae in Heb. 2.5 p. 48. It may inform us that Communities also where there be any belonging to the election of Grace have their Angels guardian placed by God over them Hath the Lord care of Oxen and not Pastors is the reasoning of the holy Ghost So say I hath the Lord care of particular persons to allot them their Angels then much more of all Christian communities and Religious Societies It is therefore most probable that Cities Shires Provinces Islands Churches and Kingdoms have particular Angels to be presidential over them and that each Republick hath an Angel to be its protector some say that Angels are set over the severall * Rev. 14.18 16.5 Elements for which Scriptures are urged but Pareus will none of it Learned Mede thinkes (i) Medes Diatribae p. 172. that there be seven Arch-Angels that rule govern the whole world which also he proves (k) Zech 4.10 Rev. 5.6 out of Scripture One thing you may observe that divers who do question the Deputation of Angels o're particular persons do yet believe that Communities have their Angels that are allotted them The Scripture is not altogether silent in this point (l) Mr. Lawrence of Angels p. 22 23. That place of the tenth of Daniel is famous where mention is made of the Prince of the Kingdome of Persia and of the Prince of Greece and of Michael their Prince So Dan. 10.13.20 21. vers The Prince of the Kingdome of Persia withstood him and Michael their Prince came to help him The same may be said of CHURCHES which are Communities very deare to God They have their Angels Some of the Fathers were of this mind and bring those places of the Revelation Apoc. 2.1.8.12.18 To the Angell of the Church of Ephesus c. which they understood to be mentioned of the Guardian Angel much cannot be said against it And that place 1 Cor. 10.11 may as probably be urged where the women were to have Power over their heads because of the Angels And we may frame an argument from the lesse to the greater Doth the Lord take care of Kingdomes and not for Churches If civil Communities have their particular Angels then much more Religious Now here that you may see this is no Novel or Heterodox opinion I shall spread before the Reader the judgment and assent of very learned Men Clemens Alexandrinus saith thus Clem. Alexand in Stromatum lib. 6. Per gentes Civitates sunt distributae Angelorum Praefecturae The guardianship of Angels is distributed by Nations and Cities Theodoret thus Theod. 11. Orat. p. 715. Sicut unicuique nostrum designatus est Angelus Sic unieuique Provinciae unus praesertim est Archangelus As every one of us hath by designation his Angel so every Province his Arch-angel Jerom writing on Dan. Hier onymus apud Lawrence of Angels p. 22. Chemnit Harm Evang cap. 92. p. 1740 10. saith thus Hence it appeares that Angels are deputed to the care of Provinces and Countreys Chemnitius saith thus Sufficit nobis in hac Regione mortalium hoc ex Scriptura novisse quod non tantum Regionibus Populis Angeli a Deo sunt custodes Tutatores constituti sed etiam Pii de Praesidio Angelorum sive Vnius sive plurium certi esse possunt He saith that several Nations and People have their Angels as also particular Believers one or more Peter Martyr on 1 Cor. 11.10 Pet. Mart. Com. in 1 Cor. 11.10 fol. 151 saith thus Nec vetat quidpiam ut per Angelos bonos spiritus accipiamus quos ex Daniele scimuus Provinciis ac Regnis praefici quin Ecclesia illos habet se tuentes suique Defensores Nothing hinders but that by Angels we may understand good spirits who as we know out of Daniel are placed over Provinces and Kingdomes yea Churches also have them for their Guardians Bullinger thus Dominationes Bullingeri Decad. 4. Serm. 9. Fol. 250. 252. Principatus Potestates nuncupari videntur quod Deus Imperium suum per Angelorum Ministerium in mundo administrat suamque potentiam exercet And again thus Apud Danielem inducuntur Angeli Regnorum Principes aut Praesides Vt Michael cum Gabriele Regni Israeliti Alius autem quidam Regni Persici alius quidam Regni Graecorum Angels are called Dominions Principalities and Powers because God doth rule the world by the Ministry of Angels In Daniel
110.111 Vossius Institut Orat. lib. 4. cag 7. p. 166. Why Because Angels more Glorious Creatures then you do not dare not and Christ more Glorious then they will not Angels are willing to tend the meanest Saint to provide things needfull for us Therfore saith Vossius is Manna called Angels food Quia Angelorum Ministerio fuerit Productum Angels had a hand in the Production Well to comfort and feed and releive one another is the work of an Angel Shall any one think himself too good to hear or help any poor Christian or to settle and resolve his doubts O the pride of our Nature When Angels disdain not to tend and rock little Babes To visit and cherish Job full of Sores What Devilish qualities are Pride and Envie They make us to neglect others advance our selves we know it was the speech of wicked Cain Am I my brothers Keeper Shall I stoop to him Flesh and blood begins to take state upon it Let us blush and be ashamed of this churlish Humour when we see Angels attending poor Beggers and Orphans and Christ himself washing and wiping his Disciples feet When the great God became MAN shall we wonder that Angels should attend the Nature that God had so honoured rather let 's suppose that the Devils left their first Stations being proud Spirits and disdaining their Calling For the good Angels do humble themselves to this work What Devilish sins then are Pride Envie and Disdain that stand a Tiptoe and over-look the poor Members of Christ The Angels rejoyce in the Salvation of Souls shall we slight the Image of God Shall the well-fare of others and their thriving spiritually or outwardly be cause of joy to the Angels and yet matter of trouble and griefe to us Shall we envie the prosperity of Gods people look a squint on their enjoyments and shall we dare to scorn and trample on those who are cast down This be far from us Let us rather honour those whom God hath so loved and reverence those whom Angels attend You value men for externall Pomp the glory of their Apparel Chariots and Retinue The Number and Gallantry of their Pages and Servants O consider this that Beleevers have Elect Angels for their Servitors and daily Attendants * 2 Kings 6.16 Poor Elisha had a Mountain full of Horses and Chariots of fire Thirdly 3 Make use of Christ make sure of Jesus Christ who is the LORD and head of the Angels Him they worship and at his disposal are they Col. 2.10 Col. 2. The head of all Principality and Power There is a vast difference saith Lactantius between this Son and other Angels Magna inter hunc filium caeterosque Angelos differentia est Lactant Instit lib. 4. cap. 8. You must chiefly apply your selves unto Christ He was that Iacobs Ladder which touched Earth and Heaven and joyned them both together by his Mediation And on him Elect Angels descend upon us because of our Relation to him They attend us as the Kings Daughter and as the Royal and Loyal Spouse of Christ Jesus Clear up then your Ingrafture into Christ and blessed interest in his Propitiatory Mediation and Merits if you desire to be assured of Angelical Attendance Vt Angeli nostri sint Calvin Angeli sine Dei ipsius irradiatione obire per se Proprium munus intelligentiae nequeant Piâ—rius in Hieroglyph lib. 33. cap. 6. Calvin Harmon Evang. Christi Membra nos esse oportet saith Calvin That Angels may be ours it concerns us that we be Members of Christ Which way the Messiah goes that way go all the Promises and Angels If Christ be ours we need not to question the love of his Servants Angels saith Pierius without a new Irradiation of God upon them can do nothing And Calvin in his Harmony saith thus That Promise He shall give his Angels charge ouer thee doth indeed appertain to all the faithfull but especially to Christ who as he is the head of the whole Church so in his own right he governeth the Angels giving them chargeover us Let it therfore be our particular care to get a part in Christ to be able to say Christ is mine is beter then a Mine of the Gold of Ophir Fourthly 4 Admire and trust chiefly in God Let us chiefly admire and trust in God As Angels can do nothing without him so he can do all without them In the midst of their encampings eye Jesus Christ their Lord and Captain who hath all power given him in Heaven and Earth If Angels be so strong so wise so beautifull how glorious is God that made and maintains them Oh if these stars of the morning be so bright and glistering how full of light and splendor is the Sun of Righteousnesse Iob 38.7 Mal. 4.2 All that hath or can be said about Angels should serve as a glass to discover unto us the glory of God We doe not goe about to extoll the creature and derogate from the Creator God forbid Calvin Instit lib. 1. cap. 14. sect 10. Let us heare Calvin Videmus Christi gloriam superioribus aliquot seculis fuisse multis modis obscuratam quam immodicis elogijs Angeli Praeter Dei verbum cumularentur We see saith he that Christs glory was many ways darkened in former Ages by reason of those high prayses heap'd upon Angels besides the Word Therfore St. Paul declared against worshipping Angels Colos 2. A sinne it should seem that some in those purest times were leaning unto Now God forbid that this Fly should fall into our box of Oyntment Let us rather climb up to God by the ladder of his creatures the uppermost round whereof is the Doctrine of Angels How should we joyne in that Angelicall employment of praysing adoring and admiring for ever that God whom we love and honour and in comparison of whom we must vilifie and nullifie all things that we may magnifie omnifie Christ Jesus Oh that this might be the fruit of our Meditations on this subject Trust not in Man no nor in Princes saith the Psalmist So may I go on Trust not in Princes no nor in Angels or Arch-Angels absolutely but still in subordination to God Look not so much on the Angel Gabriel as on the glad tydings that he brought Look not on the Arch-Angel Michael so much as Christ his Master In a word Look not on any Angel so much as Christ the Angell of the Covenant As a Stranger that comes to the Courts of Princes observes the Nobility the Favourites and all the Followers but yet chiefly enquires for the Prince and still looks through them all to receive a fuller Idea of the King So it must be here we may look upon the Angels and Saints and admire the image and graces of God in them but we must chiefly look at Christ the King of his Church before whom the Angels fall down and worship the 24. Elders piling up their Crowns at his feet
protect the Good therin imitate our Guardian-Angels yet they must not give like Protectiont to Wolves and Foxes where yet we have shewed that Dissenters in things circumstantiall And the poor Jews should be considered in order to their conversion Thirdly 3 To Ministers This speaks to Ministers who are * Rev. 2. 3. chap. See Laurentii Homil 8. in Apoc. p. 76. called Angels of the Churches They are like unto Angels in name and employment for they carry Messages from Heaven and Glad-tidings to men They ought therfore to shine and sparkle as Angels in sound Doctrine and holy conversation and carefully look unto the Flock over which God hath made them Overseers He that is properly a Pastor hath a particular Flock to attend T is likely when the Apostles had command and commission from Christ to preach the Gospel to the whole World They accordingly divided their walks not at all adventures but according to the four parts of Heaven Each Apostle had his walk and so each Pastor must have his Flock It is sayd the Galathians received Paul as an Angel of Christ Gal. 4.14 Every City and Town must have one Pastor at least to deal out unto them the bread of life Angels keep close unto their charge and so must Ministers unto their people If Mothers being able do not nurse suckle their Children They are judged proud unnaturall And much more are those Ministers to be blamed that neglect their people and live far from them committing them to any one perhaps a dry Breast Let our stately and covetous Non-residents look upon the Angels who attend their charge as a shaddow the body And oh that we might see the day that as every Province City Town hath its Angel So every golden Candle-stick might have a bright burning Tapor in it And every leaden Candle-stick be made a Golden One by additionall means That every Gloomy corner may not only have a Minister but one that is faithfull and watchfull Note Satan well knowing how much this undermines his Kingdoms doth also imitate God in his Designs He will have his Factors and most busie and trusty Agents dispersed into all places Some have observed that every Parish or considerable Town hath one at least that is suspected of Witchcraft Satan will have no place free from his Imps and Emissaries To countermine the Ministry the chief Underminer of his Kingdome Let therfore the man of God bestir himself let the Watchmen of Israel cry aloud lift up their Voice as a Trumpet To tell Judah of her sin * See Mr. Fenner of Christs Alarm to drouzy Saints p. 7. ad 20 Let Ministers be like Angels set over the Churches of Christ in twelve things 1. The name Angel signifies Messenger God the sender Let Preacher be sure of Mission from * Joh. 1.6 God and Commission from men 2. Angels are (a) Psal 104.4 Spirits their nature Communion Food Delights are Spiritual (b) Gal. 6.1 Ministri Ecclesiae dicuntur Angeli quia ad mandata Dei annuncianda ab co legantur Debent in eodem statu Iustitiae stare conversatiouem in caelo habere Gerhard Not. ad Apoc 1.20 p. 13. every Christian and much more every Minister should be spiritual A formal and dead Ministry is like a Carkass without a Soule 3. Angels are the highest Rank of Creatures and the Ministry is of all other the most honourable Function Such are worthy of double honour as labour in the word and Doctrine What ever some do speak in Derogation and Vituperation of so high a Function of old the same man was King and Priest 4. Angels are Creatures of another World though they move up and down in this So Ministers should not be delving and rooting in this nor intangled in the Thicket of Secular Affairs But their hearts and minds should be in Heaven and at leasure for Divine Contemplations 5. The Angels stand before God and so should Ministers to enquire and know his will Jer. 15.19 Jer. 15.19 They must be very much in Prayer every Sermon should smel of Heaven And look like a Child of Prayer John wept and the Book was opened 6. Angels are very (c) Mat. 25.31 holy Creatures (d) Psal 50.16 17. unholy Ministers pull down in stead of building up They make the offering of God to be abhorred It is sayd of Christ our Type Caepit facere docere Act. 1. So the Minister must first Do then Teach being unreproveable 7. Angels are winged in Gods Service and Ministers must be ready prest to every good word and work 8. 2. Tim. 4.16 Angels are to gather the Elect and is not this also the work of Ministers 'T is better to convert one then civilize a thousand Ministers are Christs Paranymphs who must not speak two words for him and ten for themselves 9. 1 Thes 2.19 20. Angels rejoyce at the conversion of a sinner So Pastors in the seale of their Ministry Ye are saith Paul Our glory and joy 10. The chiefe charge of Angels is over the (d) Psal â—1 11 Elect and so the Ministers of the Gospel are chiefly sent to call home and build up (e) Ephes 4.11 12. 2 Tim. 2.10 the Elect of God and for the perfecting of the Saints 'T is then a very dreadfull thing if any Ministers shall count such the worst of their Flock as doe too many 11. Angels doe mainly heed their Deputation Note and watch over those Cities Provinces and persons committed to them as you have seen in this Tract And so faithfull Ministers will attend their owne Flock and employ their chief care at home They 'l be fixed stars and glister in their own Orbes They may be called to help desolate corners and are not denyed the liberty of journeying but still their hearts be at home and they dare not in body be long absent least Wolves in sheeps cloathing enter the Fold weary and worry Christs Lambs Of all things they abhorre idleness and the people shall not only have their presence but pains and sweat and teares The Angels on Iacobs Ladder were some ascending others descending none standing or sitting still So faithfull Pastors are ever stirring watching and contriving by all meanes publick and private the peoples good I say desiring their good rather then their goods 12. And lastly the Messages of Angels have still been heeded and so should the Sermons of faithfull Ministers for such should be received As an Angel of God Gal. 4.14 yea even as Christ himselfe They are Ambassadors and must be heard of good tydings and so should the rather be heeded We shall end all with a use of consolation to the Saints Vse 4 Every Believer hath invincible guards of Angels to help and relieve him in his streights but one hath speciall Commission still to be with him and watch over him Wheresoever thou goest See Dr. Sibs Light from Heaven of the mysterie of godlinesse p. 103. this Angel moveth marcheth after thee ready to counsell and comfort thee resolved to stay by thee in the greatest extreamities Perhaps the time may come that the world will desert you and friends may forsake you You may come into streights and no body neer you yet a true Christian is never alone for God and his are with him Kings are never without their Guard nor Believers without their Angels Here is rich comfort for you in health and sicknesse in Life and at Death For then Angels are most busie to be our convoy to Christ and to lodg us in Abrahams bosome Therefore let us never be disconsolate let us never despaire whatsoever our estate or condition may prove Though our Carkasses be tumbled and crumbled into Earth be not dismayd Angels shall gather up our bones dust not any part shall be missing at that day Sweet and mysterious is our communion with elect Angels here glorious and eternall shall it be with them in heaven lauding and praysing God so long as the circle of Eternity shall last To wrap up all here is comfort for you for your Children and for the Nation 1. For your selves your whole Man shall be shielded from †Defendunt nos adversus Diabolos impios homines VVendelin Theol. lib. 1. cap. 8. many Dangers There is a daily conflict between good and evill Angels about you but Michael is sure to prevail against the Dragon 2. For your Children if they belong to God Dr. Sibbs ut ante In our Infancy in our tender years saith Doctor Sibbs we are committed to the custody of Angels 3. For the Nation God hath hitherto wonderfully appeared witness our Peace and great plenty That a stranger cannot find the foot-steps of War Wee trust a stop is set to that Confusion in things sacred which was over-flowing the Land Therefore let us still trust and wait upon our gracious Father for the perfecting of our mercies for us that our good Angels may not depart from us and that England * Diu desiderata dulcius obtinentur at last may be made a most glorious Church FINIS The Errata IN the Catalogue of Authors read Ludovicus Vives Page 21. for Locos read Loquutos p. 25. l. 16. r. Learning and Wisdom p. 62. l. 25. r. seasonable p. 84. l. 9. r. mediatly p 94. l. 2. r. is in p. 95. l. 17. r. commander p 98. l. 24. for have r. hate p. 148. l. 28. dele and.