the will he can melt and bend and form and turn it which way he pleaseth and put a new Bias on the heart that it shall run and wind heaven-ward He hath a Throne in every mans soule he can tame and rule and govern the whole Man till it stoop and buckle to his work Angels are but Ministring spirits and cannot prevail without his blessing as all other helps and ordinances and means cannot of themselves do us good 2. By way of affirmation Lawrence of Angels p. 49. we say that Angels although invisibly and insensibly do guard and counsell the soule They are of wonderfull use to us and the things communicated to our inward man are ordinarily the administration of Angels The evill Angels have not so much power to hurt the soule as good Angels to support defend and do it good The Sun and Stars produce their effects upon the earth and the Minerals and deepest bowels thereof Why should not the blessed Angels have effects upon our hearts Psal 104.4 Psal 104 Who maketh his Angels spirits his Ministers a flaming fire This say some is in relation to their working on us by some measure of enlightning and warming the heart But how far doth the Ministration of Angels relate and reach unto the soule 1. Dr. Goodwins Child of light walking in darknesse Chap. 8. In generall they do guesse very much at our thoughts affections and desires Counsell in the heart of a man is like deep water but a man of understanding will draw it out saith Solomon Prov. 20.5 Now all those methods and Advantages which one man hath of knowing another Angels have over us most eminently they can goe one room neerer to the soul because they are spirits they do very much consider and study us To some men is given discerning of spirits That is the discovery and finding out the sincerity or hollowness of the heart How much more is this given unto Angels If the Wise that hath been forty years in thy bosome is able in great measure to know thee to guess at thy thoughts and trace thee in thy wayes And know when thy tongue and heart do not agree how much more thy Angel Guardian that hath ever been with thee Angels do heare our Vocall confessions in private Prayers eying us when most retired observing us in all Places Postures Companies and Employments which no other Friend or Foe can do Our neerest Relations are sometimes distant from us The Angels can soone collect by observation and laying things together what passion is prevalent and stirring in us And if men by a slight cast or * Si quis corporis oculos consideret eos admodum csse Garrulos quamvis sine voce comperiet Affectus evulgant Drexelius de Recta Intentione lib. 2. cap. 9 glaunce of our eye throw off the Arme or other bodily Gesture doe soon understand us before in words wee uncase our mind and unmask our Thoughts question not but Angels are much quicker in reading of us and spying out the design of our hearts Angels may know our thoughts or affections either certainly by divine Revelation or probably and conjecturally which seldome misseth by externall signes They are extreamly ingenuous in guessing Great is their naturall wisdome Lawrence of Angels p. 32. long and vast also their experience If Physitians by the pulse and temper can spell your affections and passions and tell you that you are in Love or take care the Angels knowing so much by Nature and having the kernell of all Arts and Sciences after more then five thousand yeares experience cannot but easily pierce into things that men who are but of yesterday and full of infirmities understand not Angels dâ— pry into our bodily humours and view as by a glasse the interiour senses As for instance Anger is thus defined Ebullitio sanguinis circa Cor. Anger is blood perplext into a Froth whilest malice is the wisdom of a Wrath. Anger then is easily espyed by Angels malice not so unless by the effects Men read our Faces and by sudden Paleness do judg of our Anger they understand the Language of our sighs and blushes But Angels can trace us much further they see the most secret boylings of the blood in Lust anger or fear although the Countenance bewray us not but be cloathed with a contrary Temper Where men smile and laugh very loud Note Angels can see through those Tiffany Pretensions and subtle Vailes if the hearts be Pensive for Salomon saith in Laughter the heart may be sad Because though they do not absolutely know our hearts yet our Thoughts do soon make impressions on the body which Angels presently discern And if our Angel Guardian could not thus guesse at us how could he apply himself to us in a sutable way We say when Diseases are known they are halfe cured 2 Angels cannot only read but coyn impressions on our fancy and imagination They have secret wayes of treating and dealing with us No time is free waking and sleeping they have the key and can come to us when the senses are lock'd and barrd as appears by our dreams They need not saith one goe about and fetch the compass of our eares and eyes as we are fain to doe Therefore our communion is exceeding great with the Angels Do we not waking and sleeping see impressions in our Fancy of things that we thought we had forgotten This is done by the Angels good and evill who can make Composition rare and wonderfull of what they find in us Though they cannot say the Schoolmen put in any thing that is purely De novo yet they strangely and strongly work on the matter which they find 3. The good Angels doe often obstruct impede evill actions as our good endeavours are often hindred by Satan so are our evill by the Angels elect else were not our protection equall to our danger A good Angel opposed Balaam in an evill way and spake in the mouth of an Asse to resist the madnesse of his Master If an heavenly spirit saith * Bishop Halls Contemplat one obstruct the courses of the evill and stand in the way of a Sorcerers sin how much more ready are all those spirituall Powers to stop Miscarriages of Gods dearest children When thou art going Remigiis Dedalis to dishonour the Lord and hast a full gale of opportunity to sin thy Angel Guardian doth often prove a Remora invisibly to stop thy design How often would the Saints relaps and fall into mischief if their Angels did not pull them back hedg and block up their way unto evill by with-holding the occasions of sinne Traps Decad of Angels Michael opposed Satan about the body of Moses so do the Angels still oppose the Kingdom of Darknesse about the bodies and soules of the Saints Rivius de Praesidio Angelico p. 723. whilst they live and after death When Satan hath besieged us our guardian Angel vim oppugnantis repulit vires
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
harken what the Lord will speak Psal 85.8 for he will speak Peace unto his people Any mercy that comes as an answer of prayer is a double mercy but that which comes in the time of prayer is a trebble Favour and heaps a multitude of inviolable bonds upon us Of this we have had many experiences in these daies April 7. 1654. one very lately For on our day of Humiliation for the late Drought it rained very sweetly t was like a shour of Rose-water coming as an immediate answer and in the very time of seeking God 2 Point from the Coherence Secondly Somtimes the deliverances of Gods people out of imminent emminent dangers are so wonderfull and attended with such a Train of Miracles and Improbabilities that they have much ado to believe them although they hear and see them The Disciples took that for the Eve of Peters Execution and they well knew he was guarded with four Quaternions of Souldiers was bound with two Chains and that if he could escape out of Prison and pass the first and second watch there was yet a Gate and that of Iron that would obstruct his aime Therfore when he was delivered and stood knocking at the Gate through incredulity they let him stand so long that he might have been re-taken at the door and the ship sink in the Havens mouth Rhoda though she heard his voice is charged with madness for saying so Calvin in Locum and at last they said it was his Angel in Summe any thing rather then the Apostle Hinc colligimus Petri liberationē minime fuisse ab illis speratam saith Calvin on the Text They little dreamt of Peters deliverance When the three Children were preserved in the hot fiery Furnace and Daniel safe in the Lions Den their Enemies who saw it could hardly beleeve it Nay Beleevers as well as others have been at a loss in this thing when Christ that great Answer of prayer was come in the Flesh how few did beleive in him when he came to his Disciples in the Ship to save them from the Tempest they cryed out for fear supposing he was a Spirit And when he was risen from the dead the Apostle Thomas though he saw him and conferred with him could not beleive but must put his Fingers into the prints of the Nails The Jews when they had long prayed for the return of the Babylonian Captivity Psal 126.1 at the receipt of that mercy they were as men in a Dream Admonemur sic succurrere Deum pijs dum affliguntur ut ex improviso liberentur se non liberari sed somnium videre Putent Musculus in explan Psal 126.1 P. 1005 Gen. 45.26 27. saith Musculus on that place So Jacob when he was told that his Son Ioseph liv'd and had great power in Aegypt Old Jacobs heart fainted for he beleived it not but when he saw the Waggon which Joseph had sent for him his Spirit revived Thus in our Text the Disciples could hardly credite the Deliverance of Peter or Testimony of Rheda that heard his voice and knew it full well Nay Peter himself had little faith in this respect For first Act. 12.6.11 He was fast asleep just before it was begun and was very far from plotting or hoping this escape 2. When he was perfectly awakened and in the midst of his deliverance himself saw not ground of beleiving it For Luke saith Act. 12.6.11 He followed the Angel and wist not that it was true which was done by him but thought he saw a Vision and when he was come to himself he praised God This may be so Reas 1 because God is often mysterious in his working and many times he seems to destroy when he comes to deliver As in the case of Ioseph sold and put into a Pit The Israelites entring into the Red-Sea and Christ being destroyed and murthered of the Jews when all the hopes of the Disciples were buried with Christ We thought that this had been he that should have redeemed Israel The Lord useth very strange Methods of deliverance Psal 65.5 As one that had an Ulcer in his body being sadly yet sweetly wounded by his Enemy had his Ulcer opened and his life saved Hag. 2.7 By terrible things in Righteousness will thou answer us Psal 99.8 I will shake all Nations and the desire of Nations shall come Thou answeredsts and forgavest them although thou tookest vengeance of their Inventions When God comes to deliver a people Psal 97.2 Gen. 32.24 and execute vengeance on his Enemies it may be clouds and darkness are round about him Although he answered the prayer of Iacob yet first he put his Thigh out of joynt Again Reas 2 much of this wonder may be charged upon our great unbelief we are apt to measure the All-sufficience power and purposes of God by visible Appearances by humane Probabilities and rationall Expectations But the vast circle of his power and goodness excells the Epicicle of our faith Vnde quod nunc factum est illis videtur incredibile ut magis ad celebrandam Dei virtutem excitentur Calvin in Locum saith Calvin on the Text Ionah was in two deeps yet at the bottom of the Sea and entomb'd in the Whale he despaired not he ceased not to call upon God for deliverance The use What ever our streights be oh let us never cease to besiege Heaven with our prayers and lett our Bullets be Tears our Guns Groans In the lowest ebb of affairs let us know a spring tide of comfort may be at hand Eph. 3.20 God can and will do for his people aboue all that they can ask or think For as the Heavens are higher then the Earth so are Gods thoughts above our thoughts Thirdly 3 Point from the Coherence Elect Angels have assumed the shape of men Here you see the Disciples took Peter to be an Angel in his shape It is his Angel Now that the Angels have appeared in visible forms of men Iudg. 6. 13 Chap. and for a while so conversed with Mortals walking eating and drinking and talking familiarly of the matters wherabout they were sent is full evident in Sacred Records Abraham entertained Angels unawares so also did Lot Daniel Hagar Zachary the Virgin Mary Saint Iohn in the Revelation Peter in the Prison Angels have appeared in Dreams in Visions and lastly in assumption of bodies as here to Peter But how could this be Qu. 1 I answer Ans 1 1. Some have thought there hath been no Assumption of bodies but only an appearance to our Fancy and strong imagination But this cannot be so because they did eat and drink and were seen of many as well as of one Ans 2 2. The Learned hold they took reall bodies formed by Divine Power into the similitude of men Angels were united to those bodies not as mans Soul to his body nor as Christ to our Nature but they
of Angels as their Languages Names Songs Battels their converse w th one another visions of God their Motions Number and Ranks What means the receiving of the Law by the Deposition of Angels Or the Angels striving with the Divell about Moses his body Their desire to pry into our Redemption by Christ and the making known by the Church somwhat unto them In a word the Voice of the Angel at the last day All this is hinted unto us in * 1 Cor. 13.1 Col. 1.16 Job 38 7. Matth. 18.10 Isa 6.2 3. Heb 12.22 Act. 7.53 Judges 9. 1 Pet. 1.12 Eph. 3.10 1 Thes 4.15 the Scripture Here are great Deeps wherin the hugest Elephants may swim and Leviathans tumble And in the exposition wherof the most Learned are like lisping Children God will peece-meal and in his due time discover all to us very much here and the rest in Heaven Then all Mists as well as Tears shall be wip'd from our eyes Now we see darkly we know but in part Melius est dubitare de occultis quam litigare de incertis Pliny the younger was swallowed up of a smoaking burning Gulph approaching too neer to find out the cause of the Eruption Let us hear what Learned Hiensius saith on the Mysterious Book of the Revelation Dan. Hiensius in Sacr. Exercitat ad Nov. Test lib. 20 cap. 4. p. 597. Non quaedam Ignorare tantum sed Ignorare quaedam velle Humilitatis Christianae Partem non exiguam existimamus Ne parum reverenter abdita Scrutemur This should cool in us the uncomly Itch of Curiosity in Divine things But on the other side we must be desirous to know what God hath revealed in his word and in order therunto to beleive that we know nothing to be sensible of our darkness and blindness in Spirituall things 1 Cor. 8.2 The Lord knows we have weak Eyes stammering Tongues and trembling Quills if we go about to speak or write of the deep and sublime things of God And such without all peradventure is the Doctrine of Angels 2. 2 Concession Whilst we plead for those glorious Creatures those loving and lovely Spirits and their care which is extended towards us from our Souls we do abhor and detest as most impious the Adoration of Angels with a desire it may be as heartily as themselves also do it For as nothing pleaseth them more then our conversion and gracious conversation Rev. 19.10 22.9 so nothing is more abominable to them then to be adored Origen spake to fvourably of it but the Lord hath most expresly forbidden it Psal 50.15 Col. 2.18 Col. 2.18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshiping of Angels Divine Adoration is neither due nor pleasing unto them nor honourable to God nor any way profitable to our selves Mendoza in Reg. Vol. 2. p. 25. Tertullian in Mendoza observes that some men namely Magistrates are called Gods But so are not Angels who yet are more excellent and all to hinder our Adoration of them Matth. 4.10 Heb. 1.13 Take heed therfore Christians that yee do not so cry up Angels as to derogate from Christ in the least 3. 3 Concession When I say one Angel chiefly and constantly attends the elect Person in an ordinary course It cannot be denyed but in an extraordinary way * Psal 34.7 Exod. 14.19 One Angel may attend many Saints as the Noble Generall and Valliant Captain of the Huge Troop of their particular Angels as we shall shew hereafter And also that many Angels may attend * Psal 91.11 Luke 16.23 2 Reg. 16.17 One in some Eminent and Arduous Imployment for our greater consolation But from hence to conclude that a Beleever hath not one constant or usuall Guide carrieth with it such a kind of Argumentation Note One Generall belongs to many Regiments and Companies therfore no Souldier hath a Captain in particular or on the other side thus One Generall hath an whole Army round about him to defend him therfore he hath not an Alter Fgo or Animae Dimidium that above all the rest doth watch over him will stick to him and dye with or for him if need require Have not young Studients besides their generall Officers as Chancellor Vice-chancellor Proctors President Vice-president Bucan Loc. Com. de Ang. Loc. 6. pag. 70. Deanes particular Tutors to read to them and watch over them And thus it is in the Doctrine of Angels Many Angels look to the Church and belong to each particular Beleever And yet saith Bucan Cal. Instit lib. 1. cap 14. one Angel may be his ordinary Tutor and more especiall Guardian So that Calvins Pro certo Habendum is still very true This saith he is to be held for a certainty That not only one Angel hath care for every one of us but that all of them with a common consent do watch over our Salvation and Good I have given you the Preparatory Concessions and am come at last to demonstrate our Thesis and to prove that every elect Child of God hath one particular Angel to tutor and defend him We shal prove this Point by the Dim Light of Nature clear Beams of Scripture and the consent of many Ancient and Modern Writers untainted with Popish Leven First this may be proved by the Dim Light of Nature where I must shew you 1. 1 The Point proved by the dim Light of Nature 1 That the Light of Nature is Well to be heeded That the light of Nature is well to be heeded though not rested in 2. What the light of Nature hath taught us in this Point For the former it will appear by these Mediums 1. It is a Relict or Remnant of the Image of God Although this Light be not able to prepare us for Grace or bring us unto Christ And although compared with Faith it is but as a Gloworm to the Sun Yet though the Taper be small and burn very dim * See Melanchton de Lege Peccato Antony Eurges vindiciae Legis 7. Lect. p. 67. Rom. 1.20 Act. 17.27 Psal 19.1 Act. 14.17 some Light and Irradiation flows from it enough to leave men without excuse and wherby we may guess at our Primitive knowledge in Paradice Even as the bigness of Hercules body was gathered by his Foot of a Lion by the Claw a Stocke of Divine knowledg p. 11. And the ruines of some stately Pallace do serve to declare its former Magnificence Much is read of God by the Light of Nature and in the volume of the Creatures 2. The Light of Nature is necessary though not sufficient in civill and morall things b Burges ut ante 72.73 For reason makes men in a Passive capacity of Grace of which a Stone or Beast is not receptive or capable 3. Many Points in Divinity do not cross the Truth of Nature as Grotius and c Grotius de veâ—â—t Relig. Christianae
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
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.
motions of all causes and creatures here below is not casual or disorderly as to God Both the wheels and Cherubims are full of eyes they see and know their way and the work they have to do The glorious eye of Divine Providence that never slumbers And the eyes of * Deus enim per Angelos Regit Moderatur Orbem Sicut Dominus per aurigam Regit Moderatur Equos Currum Corn. A. Lapide ad Apoc. 7.1 p. 143. Angels are over and in all creatures and all Motions and in all the sudden windings and mysterious turnings of the wheels Things appear to us to be casuall and disorderly but There be eyes in the wheels No motion is injudicious or out of course to God These eys of Angels do sparkle with Divine lustre they are cleare open and intent nothing escapes their observation Lastly see the beauty of Divine providence All the wheels and Cherubims were full of eyes The bodies backs hands and wings of the Cherubims are sayd to be full of eyes So also Rev. 4.8 They are full of eyes within Mans eyes adde not so much glory and beauty to his face as these eyes do to Angels the wheels The Peacocks Train which is full of eyes how beautifull and glorious is it when expanded and shaken in the Sun It is far short of the beauty and glory of elect Angels who as it was feigned of Argus are full of eyes glistering like stars And the same is affirmed of the wheels viz. the Acts of Divine Providence in the world How blind then and sottishly perverse are we that have not an eye to see these eyes and patiently to wait and hope and expect great things from God when his set time is come Well let the serious beliefe of this Truth that Republicks and Kingdoms are over-ruled and disposed by Angels silence and hush all our peevish and mutinous complaints amidst all our changes and after all our sufferings By considering there have been eyes in the wheels and that all the crosse and rugged providences of our God shall work together for the good of his Church and People As for Cities that they also have their Angels why should we doubt when Jerusalem was destroying a voyce was heard Fly to Pella Fly to Pella Who doubts but this was the last summons of her Guardian Angel calling and bidding the faithful to depart with him †See Paul Bain on Ephes pag. 374. Let us see Isa 37.35 36. I will defend this City Ierusalem to save it for my owne Names sake Then the Angell of the Lord went forth and smote the Assyrians Mark The Angell It was one Angel and he went forth namely out of Jerusalem to slay her Enemies This then was the Angel Guardian of that City Ierusalem as is most probable Great and populous Cities are as it were the eyes of the earth as Athens and Sparta were sayd to be of Greece and there is no question but Divine Providence hath a special eye upon them for their preservation and that Angels take care for them Witnesse that excellent Government and exact order that is in those gallant Cities which else would crumble into confusion and desolation in one hour Let London therefore lift up her head and not be cast downe at the foolish Prophesies of her Astrologers But know and follow the things that belong to our peace The Lord hath much honoured that City and made it an Asylum and City of * Jam Seges est ubi Troia fuit Refuge to his persecuted Ministers and People in our late Troubles many thousands are therin to God as the Aple of his eye And therfore we have reason to hope that the Lord will not remove her good Angel from her Indeed Magnificent Cities rebelling against God have been brought to desolation As in the case of * Jam Seges est ubi Troia fuit Troy (a) Theatre of Gods Iudgments cap. 50. p. 407.408 Niniveh Babylon and Carthage Yea that great and everlasting City of Rome as one calls it shall become as other Presumptious Cities A dwelling for Hedghogs an habitation of Owls and Vultures Thorns shall grow in her Palaces and Nettles in her strong Holds The voice of Harpers and Musitians shall no more be heard in those dwellings But as Rome was not built so neither will it be pulled down in a day The Lord is now as it were undermining the Walls of that Idolatrous City and Nest of Images And our Song shortly will be this Babylon is fallen is fallen Amen Halelujah Those evil Angels that are in and over Rome shall not be able to shield her from the wrath of God and the power of his Angels And so much of the third thing that 't is very probable that not only Persons but Communities have their Angels Fourthly 4 That wicked men have their evill Angels Tertullian saith That those Lemures were Daemones It may inform us that wicked men have their evil Angels to draw them on all occasions into sin and mischief For Eadem Ratio contrariorum If good men are under the Tuition of Angels Reprobates are under the power of Devils The Heathen did not only speak of Lares that were good Angels but also of the Lemures or evil Spirits that vexed and pursued men and stirred them up unto evil Satan is evermore Gods Ape and in Imitation of his Providence o're the Elect In a sutable way will he apply himself to his Vassals and Vessels of Wrath. This evil Angel is permitted by God but placed by Satan the Prince of Devils And I shall easily confess with Bucan that as one evil Angel hath molested and plagued many men and many evil Angels even a Legion have tormented one * Bucan de Angel Loc. 6. p. 71. So it is not absolutely expressed in the word that every evil man hath an evil Angel set over him And yet it is probable that Satan possessing the Castle of a wicked heart will never utterly and willingly withdraw but leave at least one evil Spirit to secure it 1 Sam. 16. Thus a Devil entred into Judas and Saul was often vexed with an unclean Spirit You shall hear what a late * Mr. Lawrence of Angels p. 80.81 Writer saith to this discourse Some distinguish the Ministry of Devils as to Vices Therfore you read of an unclean a lying a dumb and a seducing Devil others divide their Ministry according to the Object of it Persons Families Societies and States and therfore (b) Dan. 8.20.21 quote those places in Daniel where mention is made of the Kings of Persia and Grecia which opposed Michael their Prince And so also they take that place of Saint (c) 2 Cor. 12.7 Paul There was given to me a Messenger of Satan to buffet me And that curse of the (d) Psal 109.6 Psalmist Let Satan stand at his right hand There is no doubt of Satans wil for this Method which he seeth so
advantagious for the Saints in the other Ministry of which we have treated If his power fail him not if God permit it he wants not Diligence Malice Wisdom and Instruments for that Work Wicked men and Reprobates are (e) Eph. 2.2 2 Cor. 4.4 2. Tim. 2.26 then in a very sad condition voyd of the favour of God and presence of his holy Angels but grievously molested and captivated by evil Spirits The Devil works in them mightily they are hood-winkt and besotted and blinded by the God of this World led captive by his will having no power so much as to groan or wish for deliverance But now if Satan direct his Angels to Beleevers they dare not they cannot long abide with them Their good Angel expels and chases them away they soon retire routed and confounded Here also I might declare how wicked men have been hanted with evil spirits in most strange and fearfull * See Baxters Rest Edit 2. p. 271. Apparitions Sozomen writes of Apelles a famous Egyptian Smith who was tempted to uncleanness by a Divel in the shape of a woman Ludovicus Vives saith among the Indians in America nothing is more common then to see and hear Spirits in bodily shapes day and night And Sleidan tells of a Popes Legat that was feared into a deadly sickness by a strange Apparition in his Chamber We read also in the Scriptures of divers that have been actually possessed of Divels Zanchius 3. Tom. lib. 4. cap. 10. Zanchy thinks it was the very substance of Divels that entred men Camerarius and others do shew us that in * See Theatre of Gods Iudgments 431. to 437. former times of darkness these things were very usuall although now blessed be God the very * Camerarius his Historicall observat lib. 4. cap. 15. p. 288. Relation therof is so terrible unto us The Divel makes a secret compact with a World but an open one with Witches and such as have familiar Spirits but especially some one resorts to them A Witch gives an Angel of Darkness full power over Body and Soul for ever Satan doth not thirst for a few drops of blood from the body but hereby doth contrive and seal the ruine of the Soul He doth not only as Porphiry imagined aime at Honour and Principality and to have some to worship him in the world but he undermines the Salvation of many Souls And every Witch is a sworn Vassal and Factor of Hell And so much of the second Use Thirdly Use 3 here will be matter of Admonition unto many Duties 1. To banish all slavish and base fears 2. Not to despise the poorest and meanest Spirit 3. To make sure of Christ the head of Angels 4. To depend on God chiefly 5. Greive not your Guardian Angell 6. Let us imitate the Angels in owning and protecting and cherishing the Saints this chiefly speaks to Magistrates and Ministers First 1 Banish all slavish and base fears Let the people of God be admonished to banish all slavish improfitable and sinfull fears seeing Elect Angels are their Keepers Alexander the Great was observed to sleep very soundly one night when the Enemy was neer him and being asked how he could do it he answered Weems of the Cerem Law cap. 9. p. 39. because Parmenio waked So may the people of God lay them down in peace and safety because the Vigilant Angels that keep them are still awake None sleep so soundly and securely as the people of God King Salomon slept with sixty valliant men by his side having Swords because of fear in the night But one Angel is stronger then such a Guard Angels keep the Elect from * Gen. 19.16 18.12 25.7 32.1 2. Psal 34.7 91.11 1 Reg. 19.7 2 Reg. 6.16 Exod. 26.1 34.24 many dangers of Soul and body both in the Curtains of the Tabernacle and Wall of the Temple Cherubins were painted up and down To signifie what Protection we may expect in Gods Service from the blessed Angels If the Pestilence rage in the City Angels often keep it from the Tabernacles of the Righteous yea the Angels and Stars in their courses do sight for us against the Churches Enemies Fear not men Diseases Poverty Death or Divels But learn to fear the mighty Jehovah Let him be your Dread Timor Timore ut clavus clavo pellitur Fear is expelled by fear as one Nail is driven out by another Mat. 10.28 Fear not man whose breath is in his Nostrils and who can but kill the Body with Permission not touch an hair of your head without leave from Heaven But fear him who is able the next Moment To cast thy body and soul into Hell-flames Away then with idle pannick and unprofitable fears to which many are prone Zeno Diog. Laert being askt why he feared the barking of a Dog returned this answer Perdifficile est hominem prorsus exuere No man is so stout but somtimes he shews himself to be a man in weakness There are more things saith * Saepius opinione laboramus quam Re. Seneca in Epist 13. Psal 56. 2 Reg. 6.16 Seneca that do affright then assault us What David sayd to Abiathar that thy Angel-Guardian saith to thee Abide thou with me and fear not for with me thou shalt be in safe-guard Hear the Psalmist I trust in the Lord and fear not what man can do unto me Feare not thou Worme Jacob I will help thee saith the Lord. All his attributes all his Angels are engaged for our good When Elisha prayed and saw the Mountain full of Horses and Charriots of fire he soon revived his Servants by saying Fear not for they that are with us are more then those that are against us So then the presence and tuition of Angels should banish and discard all unworthy and degenerate fears which shrivel up the sinews of good Endeavours to secure our selves Secondly 2 Despise not the meanest Saint Mat. 18.10 Despise not the poorest and meanest of Gods Children So our Saviour applies this Doctrine of Angellical Deputation Mat. 18. Despise not one of these little ones for in Heaven their Angels do alwayes behold the face of my Father q. d. Take heed that you do not slight and undervalue the blessed Heirs of Salvation on whom the Lord hath cast so much honour as to send Angels to be their Tutors and on whom Elect Angels do not disdain to attend Despise not then the little ones of Christ Not such as are little in years and stature scornfully to think them unworthy of the Seal Not such as are little in the world love Grace in Russet before Vice in Velver God is no Respecter of persons Nor lastly such as are little in gifts and graces You may not despise the day of small things The very filings of Gold are pretious And besides true Grace cannot be at a stand O despise not these little Ones of Christ Dr. Sibbs Fountain opened p.
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