of Angels 〈◊〉 their ministration to him than the Scripture Records yet perhaps no more is meant hereby than that Nathaniel and other Saints shall see or know that the holy Angels are far inferiour to the Son of Man and do administer to him And also that all that good Believers do receive by the ministration of Angels is alone in and through Jesus Christ our Mediator Moreover that God doth not only make use of the ministration of Angels in governing of the World but also in the preservation safety and good of his Church The way to Heaven is full of holy Angels some going to Heaven for Intelligence and â—thers coming from Heaven either to forward proâ—ect or comfort the Saints 1. Angels are but Christ's Messengers he is the â—ead and Lord of all Principalities and Powers 2. They own themselves to be our Fellow-Serâ—ants I am thy Fellow-Servant of thy Brethren 3. They move at his Command and go and come 〈◊〉 his Pleasure 4. And they move at his Word with all Alacrity â—â—ey are speedy and swift in doing the Will of God 5. Moreover they are sent forth to minister unto â—hem that are the Heirs of Salvation Observe DOCT. That in and thro Jesus Christ the holy Angels minister to Believers while in this World In speaking unto this Proposition I shall take this method viz. 1. I shall speak a little to the nature of Angels 2. Open their Work and Office 3. Give you some Reasons why Christ imploys them to minister to the Saints And 4ly Apply it First They are Creatures they were created by God and within the six Days also By him were all things Created whether in Heaven or Earth visible or invisible whether Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things were created by him and for him The Heavens and all the Angels which dwell therein were created by him i.e. by the Son of God Jesus Christ Let them praise the name of the Lord for he commanded and they were Created And this was in the Beginning In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth c. If therefore they had been Created before there should have been a beginning of time work done before that or else Angels were from Eternity and so not Creatures but none is eternal or without beginning but God Besides 't is said that God wrought all his Works in Six Dayes but if it be demanded what day they were created I answer in all likelyhood on the First-day When the Morning Stars sang together and all the Sons of God â—â—oued for Joy Even when God laid the foundation oâ— the Earth when the highest Heavens and first maâ—ter was created of Nothing out of which other things were formed Secondly These excellent Creatures are true Substances and do really exist contrary to the Opinion of the Sadduces who denyed Angels and Spirits that is that they thought by the name of Angels waâ— meant nothing but good or ill Inspirations or Motions or else the Wonders and Apparitions which were wrought of God 1. They were I say created therefore they are Substances and not Accidents in another Subject 2. They are endow'd with Understanding and Will by vâ—rtue of which they were capable of Sinning and of departing from the Truth of obeying or disobeying of God until confirmed by an Immutable Head 3. From their Office this is further evident They appear before God they serve him and we are commanded to make them our Patterns they come to us admonish us teach protect and comfort us 4. Because thâ—y are said to appear to Men as to Abraham Jacob and many others tho not in their own spiritual Form As so considered no mortal Creature doubtless could behold them for that is to render the Invisible World to be Visible Sometimes they have appeared in assumption of Bodies tho not for the doing of their Work but to manifest themselves to be familiar with men Aquinas adds That they might manifest the intelligible Society and Converse which men expect with them in another Life 5. Because Christ is said not to take unto him the nature of Angels and hath a Name given him above them And in the Resurrection we shall be like to them As to their Nature they are Spirits incorporate and immaterial Who maketh his Angels Spirits And again it is said Are they not all ministring Spirits Tertullian and some other ancient Fathers asserted they have proper Bodies tho invisible to us but yet he seems to mean no more than a Substance And as the same Author observes If they have any such Composition as may be called a Body it is certainly of the greatest Fineness and Subtilty a spiritual Body and therefore not like to be of that grosness that either the Air is or those Heavens that are framed out of the same Chaos but nearer the substance of the highest Heavens which seem to be made at the same time Lastly saith he it will be safe to say that in Comparison of God they are Bodies but in comparison of us they are pure and mighty Spirits To which let me add I see not that the Saints at the Resurrection tho in some things they shall be as the Angels of God yet not that their Bodies shall be such bodies as the Angels have for tho the Saints be made spiritual Bodies yet shall be material i.e. of the same matter they now consist of only refin'd Thirdly Let it be consider'd saith he that as it is God only that is without beginning so it belongs only to him to be without any possibility of change or shadow of change and that the Angels as Creatures are reducable to nothing by the same hand that made them tho not from their own Nature nor shall they ever cease to be no more than the Spirits of all men yet they are in God's hand tho the best pieces of Nature and if he withdraw his hand they all moulder to nothing Angels saith my Author may properly be called Incorruptible and Immortal because they are so by Nature I speak not saith he now of the changableness of their Wills but of their Nature and Substance The Reasons are First Because the Angels are not produced out of the power of Matter or corporal Substance as the Souls of Beasts but only by the word of God and therefore as they have internal principles of Being so they have none of Dissolution for there is the same reason of Being and not Being Secondly Angelical Nature as the Souls also of Men are not compounded of Matter and Form but are simple Forms and Substances subsisting by themselves Now all Corruption Mortality and Death is by the separation of the Form from the Matter as when the Soul is separated from the Body which is Corruption or Death or when the accidental Form is separated from the Subject as White from the Wall or Health from the Man Now whatever wants Matter
But by being Renewed we are capable and do enjoy sweet Fellowship with the Father and the Son Believers walk with God and God with them Jesus Christ and Believers set together dwell together walk together yea sup together and daily visit each other Christ and they mind the same things the interest of Christ and Believers are one and the same Christ Sympathizeth with his Saints in their Afflictions and Rejoyces with them in their Consolations such a high Priest became us But O what an high Advancement is this that such a low base and contemptible Creature as Man is as in himself should be allowed to have Communion and Fellowship with the great and most glorious God of Heaven and Earth and with Jesus Christ the only Potentate and Prince of the Kings of the Earth Seventhly The Saints in Christ are so exalted and lifted up in Grandure and Honour that they are God's choice and precious Jewels or his chiefest Treasure They shall be mine saith the Lord in that day I make up my Jewels They are the Favourites of Heaven the Lord saith They that touch them touch the Apple of his Eye No King hath such a value of his greatest Favourites as God hath for his Saints they are the Persons that the King delights to Honour What is it to be honoured by poor Mortals to this honour If any Man serve me him will my Father honour He honours them here he gives them honourable Titles What are the airy and empty Titles of Earl Marquiss Duke c. that pull up Ambitious Spirits to those high and honourable Titles God confers on believers as Sons of God Heirs of God most excellent or most magnificent He hath made us Kings c. and Princes These are high Titles indeed when conferred upon us by the eternal God My Brethren they are not only hâ—noured with the highest Titles but also beloved with the highest Love I gave Egypt for thy Ransom Ethiopia and Sâ—ba for thee since thou wert precious in my sight thou hast been honourable and I have loved thee He loves them with the love of Complacency he rejoyces over them as the Bridegroom rejoiceth over the Bride Nay he loveth them with the same Love wherewith he loves Jesus Christ And hast loved them as thou hast loved me And as he loveth and honoureth them so he will also cause all Men yea Kings and such that now hate them to bow before them The Sons of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee and all that despised thee shall bow themselves at the soles of thy Feet The Gentiles shall see their Righteousness and all Kings their Glory Thou shalt also be a Crown of Glory in the hand of the Lord and a royal Diadem in the hand of thy God Nay the Lord Jesus himself will honour them Verily I say unto you that he shall gird himself and make them sit down to meat and will come forth and serve them Eighthly and Lastly He honoureth them with his own glorious Train or Noble Retinue He commands his Servants those glorious Courtiers that attend and wait round about his Throne to wait on them to administer unto them and continually to be a Guard unto them that love and fear his Name they ride as I may so say in his own Chariots The Chariots of God are twenty thousand even thousands of Angels And these are on this Ladder they ascend and descend upon the Son of Man But more of this hereafter They encamp round about such that fear the Lord and are sent to minister unto them that are heirs of Salvation VSE 1. How may this raise the Hearts of Believers Alas they little think what glory God hath in Jesus Christ conferr'd upon them How would they lift up their Heads and rejoyce did they contemplate on that great Dignity they are raised unto 2. And what Reproof may this be to the ungodly World who slight despise and hate these honourable Ones as if they were the Off-scouring of all things and not worthy to live on the Earth when indeed the world is not worthy of them These precious Sons of Sion comparable to fine Goâ—d are accounted as Earthen Pitchers Moreover it may reprove those for their horrid Folly who esteem and value the vain Honour of Men above the Honour that comes from God That had rather be Great in the Sight of Men than Great and Glorious in the Sight of God 3. This also may cause us to admire Jesus Christ who hath raised us to sucâ— Dignity and Honour his Exaltation Beloved is our Exaltation we had never been raised to this Honour had not he been Abased and then highly Exâ—lted Christ's Exaltation was only a mediatory Exaltation he was not advanced in respect of the essential Glory of his God-head for as so he was always possessed with that so that their could be no Addition of Glory made to that but it was a Glory or Exaltation of his Person as God-man the Glory of Christ as God is the same from everlasting with the Father therefore it was the exaltation of his Person as Mediator as he is our head and blessed Representative he is Exalted that we in him may be Exalted also As he Beloved was raised up from the dead so were we in him and as he was Justifiâ—d so were we in him and as he Ascended up to Heaven so did we Ascend in him and so also assuredly shall all his Elect be raised spiritually from Sin to a state of Grace here and in â—oâ—â—y and Soul to an eternal State of Glory hereafter If Christ be raised we shall be raised because he was raised as our publick Head and is ascended into Heaven as our Fore-runner 4 This may be also for Tryal By this we may know my Brethren who they are that are upon Jacobs Ladder or in Jesus Christ see what Spirits what Hearts what Principles what Ends and Aims you have and what Liâ—eâ— you live Do you dwell on â—igh yet pray labour to ascend higher and higher every day but is your Conversation in Heaven do you mount up as with Eagles Wings 't is thus if you are true Believers Earth is behind your backs and all the things of the World are little in your sight if you are elivated on high But to proceed there is one or two things more concerning this Ladder that I must take notice of Mind well the word behold and behold a Ladder this as I hinted is a word that sometimes calls for Observation and Attention Behold I am at the Door and knock sometimes it calls for Commiseration Behold is there any Sorrow like my Sorrow Sometimes it calls for Imitation Behold the perfect Man Sometimes it calls for Admiration Behold what manner of love is this c. Sometimes it calls for Faith and Dependance Behold the Lamb of God c. I said behold
God but from the Devil 3. Moreover let no person now expect God should speak unto them by Dreams or Visions for tho' he did so frequently before Christ came yet Now in these last days God hath spoken unto us by his Son and we have a more sure Word of Prophecy God now as reverend Perkins notes doth not usually speak to us by Dreams yet he being a free Agent may so do if he please and no doubt sometimes he doth thus speak tho' not commonly for the Instruction and Consolation of his People Yet let aâ—â— take heed they are not deceived by Dreams Lutheâ— observes how many in his time were deluded bâ— Dreams and Visions which they falsly attributeâ— to God as the immediate Author of them and froâ— hence prayed earnestly about two things 1. That God would give him a good Understanding of the Scriptures and of his Mind revealed therein 2. That he would not send him Dreams or Visions Yea saith he I contracted with God that hâ— would not Brethren the holy Scriptures are those sacred Oracles by which God speaks to us and 〈◊〉 them iâ— contained all things which are necessary for us to know as to Faith and Practice being sufficient to make every Man Wise to Salvation thro' Faith in Jesus Christ and Perfect throughly furnished unto all good Works Therefore certainly such that are not satisfied to adhere to the holy Scriptures as a sufficient Rule in all points of Faith and Practice but desire God to speak unto them by Dreams oâ— Visions are deluded by Satan and do thereby casâ— great contempt upon the holy Scriptures But no more as to Dreams in general we will now come to this remarkable Dream and Vision Jacob had And behold a Ladder c. II. Observ. The Lord Jesus may fuly be compareâ— to a Ladder that is set upon the Earth and the Toâ— of it reaching to Heaven This Proposition I shall open God assisting And First I shall run a parallel between Jesus Christ and Jacob's Ladder And Shew that Christ may be compared to Jacob's Ladder In respect both of his Person and Offices Now Before I proceed I know not my Brethren why we may not run the Parallel so far as there is a clear Parity and it is consistent with the Analogy of Faith 1. A Ladder is the contrivance of the Wisdom of Man for the reaching attaining or doing of some thing which the Author designed thereby to do So JESUS CHRIST as Mediator GOD-MAN in one Person is the rare and wonderful contrivance of the infinite Wisdom of God for his attaining or accomplishment of his own most glorious design and purpose which is the Glory and Exaltation of his own Name and the Salvation of his Elect who on this Mystical Ladder must ascend to Heaven 2. A Ladder is a proper means or Medium to attain to that thing or accomplish that work which it was contrived or made for and possibly without which Medium it was impossible for the Person to reach to that thing or do that work which he designed and purposed to attain unto or to accomplish and bring to pass So JESUS CHRIST is the only way and means which GOD hath found out to bring us to Heaven The Builders of Babel thought to get up to Heaven by a contrivance of their own even by erecting a mighty Tower the top of which they said should reach to Heaven but they were soon confounded And like to them Mystery-babylon hath sought out other ways to Heaven then by this Mystical Ladder Jesus Christ they think to get Justification and eternal Life by their own good Works and by other Sacrifices then by the one Sacrifice of the Cross which they offer up for the living and the dead but they are but Babel-builders even blind and deceived Wretches whom God hath confounded and will confound Brethren there is no other way nor means to obtain eternal Life but by Jesus Christ alone I am the Way the Truth and the Life no Man cometh unto the Father but by me Jesus Christ went to Heaven as our blessed Head and Representative by his own Blood by his own Blood he entered in once into thy holy Place to shew that there is no other way by which Sinners can go to Heaven this only suiting with the Wisdom of God and every ways answering his own glorious Purpose and Design in manifesting and magnifying the Glory of all his blessed Attributes and making the Law honourable by Christâ— fulfilling all the Precepts thereof and bearing the penalty of it to free us from the Curse thereof Some think to get to Heaven by a Sober Moral Life others by their own Faith and inherent Holiness and Obedience to the precepts of the Gospel but in opposition to all these 〈◊〉 Christ is the Wayâ— it is by his Righteousness alone we are Justified in the sight of God his perfect Obedience to the Law is our Title to eternal Life and by his death who bore Hell pangs for us we are delivered from everlasting Wrath and Condemnation Neither is there Salvation in any other For there is no other Name given under Heaven whereby we must be Saved For either Soul or Body there is no other Person no other Sacrifice no other Righteousness no other way or thing But by this Mystical Ladder Jesus Christ alone by which we can be Saved 3. A Ladder must be long enough to to reach the thing desiâ—ed Now Jesus Christ in respect of his two Natures is prepared so by the Wisdom of God that in his Person he may be said to reach from Earth unto Heaven 1. As touching his Humane Nature which is the Fâ—ot of this Ladder this stands as it were upon the Earth And 2. As touching his divine Nature which is the Top of the Ladder this reacheth unto Heaven and in these two Natures in the Person of Christ we have what is represented by Jacob's Ladder for as these two Natures are in his Person united together Heaven and Earth are united together And now that he is God see John 1.1.2 In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God Christ in respect of his divine Nature is here called the Word he was before the beginning of the Word even 〈◊〉 everlasting or ever the Earth wâ—s He was with God and was God not a Creature he was not Created at the beginning but was the Creator the Maker of Heaven and Earth all things were made by him not as the Instrumental Cause of all things or any Instrument in the Father's hand but as a Principle Efficient Cause of all things Without controversie great is the mystery of Godliness God was manifest in the Flesh. The Word was made Flesh and dweit among us That is the Son of God or second Person in the Trinity The Evangelist as one observes rather saith he was made
me behold me what is that but to believe in him lastly and sometimes for Consolation Now the Word here no doubt calls for Observation for Admiration for Faith and Dependance and also for Consolation Behold a Ladder set upon the Earth and the top of it reacheth to Heaven Of what a length is this Ladder Astronomers according to Reverend Greenhill observe 't is 160. Millions of Miles from Earth to Heaven A wonderful thing An amazing height so it is a wonderful thing to behold Christ Jesus the Way to Heaven Behold with Admiration be Astonished who could have thought of such a way to the Father to be Saved by a dying Jesus by a poor Man hanged on a Tree to be Justified by his Righteousness and by his Death to be delivered from Hell this is a marvelous thing Angels wonder beholding this Person Observe from hence DOCT. II. That the way which God hath found out to save lost Man namely Jesus Christ ought to be beheld with the greatest Care or utmost Diligence and with the greatest Admiration and Wonderment 1. I shall shew wherein in speaking to this Proposition the wonderfulness of this spiritual Ladder doth consist 2. How we should behold Jesus Christ. 3. Shew you why we should behold him 4. For what Sinners should behold Christ or look to him 5. Apply it To the first of these 1. To behold this spiritual Ladder in respect of the Cause or Motive that moved God to make or prepare it 2. In respect of the Wisdom of God that did prepare it 3. In respect of the Matter of which it is made or doth consist 4. In respect of the great and glorious Design of God in making or preparing of it First we may well admire this spiritual Ladder Jesus Christ in respect of thâ— Motive which moved God to prepare it which was his infinite Love Mercy and Goodness to Sinners to shew so great Compassiâ—n towards sinful and râ—bellious Creatures who deservâ—d instead of being raised up to Heaven to be immediately cast down to the lowest Hell What is Man that thou art mindful of him that thou shouldst magnifâ—â— him and set thy heart upon him Sirs it was the love of God the Father I say that tâ—is way was prepared it sprang or proceeded from the greatness of his love God so loved the Wâ—rld if it had not been the product of the Father's Loâ—e it wâ—â—lâ— not be to the praise of 〈◊〉 Grace the love of the Fâ—ther in this case in Moving was as great as the 〈◊〉 in Consenting O how did his Bowels work and move in him O the miraculousness of divine goodness by the law we had broke we were guilty insolently taking up Arms against our Maker plunging ourselves into a Sea of divine Wrath and Vengeance guilty of Millions of Sins meritting Millions of Deaths yet has love would not let him rest until he had found out a way to raise us up from the lowest Hell to the highest Heaven And in making his Son his only begotten Son the way and that by Abasing of him making him so Poor that was so Rich so Low that was so High and Glorious so Cursed that was so Blessed yea Blessedness it self nay so miserable for a time to make our way to Heaven thro' the rending his Flesh and taring his Soul to pieces and pouring forth his most precious Blood and this for such who hated him and were cursed Traitors against him well might the holy Ghost say Behold a ladder behold a new and living way which he hath provided and consecrated thro' the Veil that is to say the Flesh of his own Son O my Brethren the way to enter into the Holiest is by the blood of Jesus Doth not God hereby shew greater Love and Grace than if he had saved lost Sinners on a way of simple Mercy without the Death of his own Son Therefore as one Observes God resolvâ—d to signalize his Love to us he would have it reâ—ch the highest Note and it could not be screw'd up to an higher Peg than to Sacrifice his Son for us with his own Hand it pleased the Lord to Praise him Be astonished both Men and Angels Now may our Meditations swim in this boundless bottomless bankless Ocean of the Fathers Love God spared not his own Son Brethren the Love of the Father was the Motive that moved him to contrive this way to Heaven yea and the fullest the freest and the most amazing Love that ever was shewed free to us but expensive to him it cost him the Blood of his Son more costly than the making of Millions of Worlds he lay in his Bosom and there was none besides him from Eternity to put up a request it was the Result of his own Bowels before the being of any Creature 't was the effect of his Power Tho' our Justification Sanctification and eternal Blessedness be the Fruits and Merits of Christ's Death yet whatsoever is Meritted for us by Christ it is all the Fruits of God's Love Christ did not merit the Fathers Love nor did he merit the Office of being a Mediator no this sprung only from the Love of God to us Christ did not I say dye to procure the Fathers Love tho' thereby he makes us more lovely unto him by washing us from our natural Filthiness and by the fruits of his Death thro' the Spirit by stamping his Image upon our Souls Brethren God could not shew greâ—ter Love to us as Abraham could not to God than by the Offering up his own Son Isaac whom he so dâ—arly loved Secondly Admire this Sacred Ladder in respect of the Wisdom of God in contriving of this way to Heaven As it exceeds the Art and Wisdom of Men to make a Ladder to reach up to Heaven so it far surpasseth the Wisdom of Men or Angels to contrive such a way to Heaven that God may be glorified in all his Attributes to the highest Perfections and yet we Saved Sin Punished and yet the Sinner Justified Besides God had lost the glory of his work in making of Man and this World for his sake and Satan would have insulted over him had he not contrived a way to restore him It would have been to the Disparagement of his Wisdom who pronounced all the Works he had made to be Good and when he had made Man very Good to see himself so soon disappointed and his work marr'd I mean the noblest part thereof all other Creatures being made for Man's use and so for lower and baser and more unworthy ends Brethren Christ the way not in vain called the Wisdom of God because in him God displays the highest acts of his divine Wisdom the holy Angels are amazâ—d at this Wisdom they pry into this depth this profound mystery of God manifested in the Flesh. There is a wonderful Mystery in our way to Heaven by Jesus Christ as well as in the Fellowship of this Mystery or in the
from the Center of the Earth which is Three thousand to the Surface up to the Sun is above Four Millions of Miles to the Firmament where the sixed Stars are above Fourscore Millions of Miles and from thence to the place of the blessed Saints and Angels are more Millions than from the Earth to the Firmament so that according to their Account it must be many Millions of Miles from Heaven to Earth O then what was the height or length of this Ladder in my Text the Foot stood upon the Earth and the Toâ— reâ—â—hed to Heaven And O what is the swiftness of an Angel that can come from Heaven to the Earth in a moment Reverend Greenâ—ill notes That a â—ullet â—ut of a Musket flies swiftly i. e. it hâ—ts the Lâ—rd or Mark before the Report is heard and will fly 180 Miles in one hour according to its motion The Sun moves swifter 160000 Miles in one hour The fixed Stars about the Equinoctial 42 Millions each hour and yet saith he the Motion of an Angel is swifter being a Spirit and passing through the Air without opposition No Creature in Heaven and Earth moves faster than an Angel Thus Greenhill 6. Angels are endowed with much Wisdom and Knowledg as the Woman of Tekoah intimated to David touching his great Wisdom For as an Angel of God so is my Lord the King My Lord is wise according to the Wisdom of an Angel of God To know all things that are in the Earth They have no doubt great understanding Hence said to have the face of a Man The face of a Man 1. Signifieth according to Greenhill and divers others that the Administration of the Angels is with Knowledg and Equity The face of a Man saith he is put to shew the Excellency of Reason which must have the introduction into and the management of all Actions else they are not Humane nor Angelical 2. By the face of a Man is noted their Humanity and Love to Mankind Angels are of a loving Nature and most careful of Men especially of Believers or such that are actually espoused to their great Master Jesus Christ. 7. Angels are very strong and couragious and hence said every one to have the face of a Lâ—on a Creature of great courage and strength What is stronger than a Lion 8. They are also very faithful and unwearied in their work and mighty patient Creatures hence said to have the face of an Oxâ— a patient faithful and an unwearied Servant to their Master 9. And tho Angels are Creatures of great Glory and Dignity yet are very humble never thinking any thing to be too mean or tâ—o low for them to do when commanded to do it no tho it be to wait upon a poor Beggar as Lazarus whilâ— he lived and to carry his Soul to Heaven when he died 10. And they always wait for their Commission will not do any thing without God's Command hence said to wait fâ—r his Word These are they whom the Lord hath sent to walk to and fro through the Earth Therefore are they set before us as our pattern that the Will of God may be done on Earth by us as it is done in heaven by them Quest. 〈◊〉 service are the holy Angels imployed in 〈…〉 Almigâ—â—y 1. God useth them in the Government of the World as it may be seen in Ezek. 1.1 2 3 4 5 6 c. The Jews thought that the Angels only governed Jerusalem and that neither God nor his Angels did appear â—r rule any-where else But to take away this conceit God appears to Ezekiel in Babylâ—â— to convince him that he and his Angels do govern there and man quarters of the World as well as in Sioâ— And that tho God rules the World is granted yet the Angels under him are imployed in this Work is evident I argue thus It is plain that God gives or admits the Evil Angels to rule as a Prince the Devil is called the Prince of the Power of the Aâ—â— that now worâ—eth in the hearts of the Childâ—â—â— of disobedience The Devil saith Reveâ—â—â—d Greenhill hath great power in the Air to â—aise Winds to cause Storms Thunder and Lightning Now if the Evil Angels be as Gods and Princes in this World have Power in the Air and Hearts of wicked Men then it must needs follow that the Good Angels are as Gods and Princes and have as much power in the World and Hearts of good Men otherwise the Devils should gain by their fall more than ever they had by their standing And it is not credible that wicked and damned Spirits should have more honourable Titles and larger Power than the good are imployed in 2. More particularly they are imployed to inform us of God's Will nay and God of our Ways tho it is true he knows all things and need not that they tell him no more than he doth need that we acquaint him with our evil hearts and many wants yet he will hear how Matters are from them and from us also They acquaint us with the Mind and Will of God Angels told Abraham and Lot what God would do with Sodom and Angels told Eliâ—ah what to say to the Messengers of the King of Samaria also an Angel told the Apostles that Christ should return in the same manner as they saw him go up to Heaven and sent an Angel to testify those things in the Churches Also an Angel told Daniel what things should come to pass in the World even to the end thereof and also gave him Wisdom Skill and Understanding And an Angel informed Joseph of the Mind of God touching Mary Moreover the Angels go up the Ladder as well as down in and by Christ they ascend to God as well as descend to Men they beheld all the Earth sat still and was at rest Thus God for his honour not of necessity imployeth Angels 3. They are imployed to withstand and oppose the Enemies of Christ and his Church And hence it appears they meddle with Kings and Kingdoms and in the great Affairs thereof and as their Power is great so they sometimes exercise it in the destruction of wicked Men Knowest thou whether I come unto thee and now will I return and fight with the King of Persia. And this Angel Gabriel opposed as my Author notes the cruel Edict of Cambyses King of Persia who laboured to keep the Jews in Captivity longer and to oppress them sorer than others had done Moreover it is said that Michael and his Angels fought against the Dragon and his Angels 4. To execute Judgment upon the Wicked they destroyed Sodom and the First-born of Egypt is said to be done by a destroying Angel the destroying Angel smote the People with the Pestilence in David's time Also an Angel smote of the Assyrians in one night 185000 it was an Anâ—el that smote Herod so that he was eaten of Worms 5. The Angels
my Commandments Simon Son of Jona lovest thou me Yea Lord feed my Sheep I will leave this Charge with none else as if he should so say but such that love me they that love not Christ will not love his Saints 2. To hearken to Christ's Commands the Angels wait to hear what Service God will put them upon but many Professors make the Word to wait for them they come not early to the Assembly to wait for the Word 3. To do the Will of God with speed and all alacrity Angels are swift to do God's Will they are said to have Wings so we should get upon the Wings of Faith 4. To do it chearfully and with utmost Zeal the Angels are like a Flame of Fire all fill'd with burning Zeal and Fervour 5. Also to do the Will of God universally to leave no Precept undone and then we shall with David not be ashamed even when we have respect to all God's Commandments 6. To do God's Will continually never to faint nor be weary for thus the Angels do God's Commands they obey always and thus did David I have inclined mine Heart to perform thy Statutes always to the end Again he saith So shall I keep thy Law continually for ever and ever Thirdly This may administer Terror to the Wicked the holy Angels are against you As they mark the Saints for Preservation so they have Commission oft-times to destroy the Ungodly Slay utterly Old and Young c. and begin at my Sanctuary Fourthly It may be of use by way of Exhortation 1. To walk so as Christians and Members of Churches that the Angels may rejoyce and discharge their Work with Joy and not with Grief Walk reverently in respect of the Angels even as one observes in your Bed-Chambers the Thoughts of the Presence of the Angels should hinder us from doing that which is a shame or dishonour to us but much more the Thoughts of God's Presence 2. Bless God for the Ministration of Angels O! see what Love he hath to his own People and what Honour he hath conferred upon them 3. Have a reverend Esteem and Respect for the Angels and strive to converse with them and be like to them Object But say some What do you leave to Christ and the Holy Spirit to do if Angels do â—o much for us Answ. 1. What will you leave to the Angels to do saith one if they do not Teach Guide Protect and Minister unto us 2. What the Angels do Christ doth they are his Servants he uses them as Instruments in his Hand 3. We leave to Christ to do all by the Inspiration of the Holy Ghost yet he makes use of the Angels of the Churches as well as the Angels of Heaven Object But you may say Christ needs not the Ministration of Angels Answ. No more doth he need the Ministration of Mâ—n nor the Use of Ordinances yet he is pleased to make use of both for the Good of his Church Fifthly This may administer much Comfort to Believers Reprobates tho Princes on Earth have no such Guards to attend them as you have Are they not all Ministring Spirits sent forth to minâ—ster to them that shall be Heirs of Salvation O! what a Glorious Retinue have you Your Way is full of Angels who go to and fro therein The Wicked are left to the wide World but Christ is pleased to give his Saints Tutors Governours and Guardians to Preserve Protect and Wait upon them the Holy Angels welâ— know their Charge who they are to keep and bâ—ar up in their Hands and save from danger 2. See how dear and precious you are to God yea how honourable in his Sight every Elect Person is He hath his Guard Multitudes of Angels to attend him at all times for your sakes they have râ—ceived their Charge their Commission He hath given his Angels charge over thee You are weak but they are strong you sleep sometimes but they are always awake and sleep not Sirs God sends his own Guards to watch over you to protect and keep you he knows what a Multitude of Devils would gladly destroy you and therefore as you have heard he has sent a Multitude of Angels to defend and save you you have not only Ministers on Earth the Angels of the Churches but the Angels of Heaven to be your Servants And the End why God sends them and imploys them is expressed not that we should worship them no no they disclaim this utterly See thou do it not saith the Angel I am thy Fellow-Servant and of thy Brethren the Prophets that have the Testimony of Jesus Worship God it is to keep us in all his Ways and they exactly and diligently observe their Charge They shall bear thee up in their Hands lest at any time thou dash thy Foot against a Stone These O Child of God accompany thee minister unto thee incamp round about thee go before thee and wait upon thee but take heed you go not out of God's Ways it is in all his Ways they are to keep thee do not venture on the Devil's Ground the Angels are always upon this Ladder that reacheth to Heaven which goes through Satan's Territories the Air where there are Multitudes of Devils who strive to push thee down as thou climbest up but these do boldly resist them and defend thee continually against those Evil Spirits Admiration Do Angels minister to us then ye Saints wonder Behold the Angels of God ascending and descending O what hath Christ done to procure such Guardians such Helps such Guides for us poor feeble Travellers Never fear tho the Ladder be high Angels have Wings they can soon be with us they descend to bring them up that are given to Christ and they ascend with such that are going up You must fly by Faith and Prayer up with them from Step to Step from Faâ—th to Faith from Strength to Strength from Glory to Glory until you come to the end of your Journey O ye Darlings of Heaven Tho others regard you not but reproach you slight you despise you yet matter it not the mighty Angels have you by the Hand they love you they know you are the Spouse of their Sovereign his blessed Bride whom they serve and therefore they honour you O what a degree of Glory ye Princely Ones are you raised to Moreover What Love is this what Grandure is here conferr'd upon vile sinful Creatures as we are Have we such a Guard Doth Christ's chief Courtiers above wait upon us below Must we ride in the King 's own Chariot to Heaven Do Angels wait on the Heirs of Salvation Heirs of Glory Come then ye Holy and High-born Nobles and take state upon you and say We are not for dunghil Earth not base slaves of Sin nor of this World nor of the Devil We are Princes nobly descended born from above and have the Guard of the King