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
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.
and Eminent Deliverance of Saint Peter laid before you And from the whole History we may observe many things As 1. Ten Observations from the whole Story Persecutors rage is not easily satisfied and the blood which they shed is but Oyle to feed the flames of their Revenge Iames being slain Peter is to follow 2. The Churches Enemies are full of policy in the midst of cruelty Peter was not presently muthered for fear of a Tumult They suck in the craft of the old Serpent they lean upon their wisdom and as little Boyes they stand upon their heads and shake their heels against Heaven 3. Close Imprisonment is a sore effect of Persecution and he that peeps through the iron Grates doth best esspy the beauty of Liberty 4. Beleevers can be secure in the midst of dangers You see Peter being in Prison slept sweetly between two Souldiers bound with Chains a good Conscience is surely a continuall Feast It turns a Prison into a Pallace 5. God hath used the Ministry of Angels to effect deliverances for his people You see an Angel delivered Peter 6. When the Lord intends to bestow a Mercy he stirs up his people to wrestle for it So Prayer was made without ceasing by the Church unto God for him 7. Mostly the people of God will have religious Servants see how Rhoda rejoyced at this deliverance 8. Zeal is oftentimes mistaken for Madness They took Rhoda to be frantick So t was said to Paul Much Learning hath made thee mad 9. The Saints will readily own and receive a persecuted Member The Disciples received Peter joyfully although it might have cost them their lives A friend is born for adversity O the miserable condition of man who cannot be truly happy without friends yet cannot certainly know he hath friends till he be miserable 10. And lastly Wicked Persecutors are mightily enraged when their crimson Purposes are disappointed Hered was so highly displeased with this unlookt-for Frustration of his bloody Designs that he caused the Keepers first to be examined in all likely-hood by Tortures and then to be put to death But to come neerer to our Text It is his Angel In these words you may observe with me 1. The Coherence 2. The words themselves First 1 The Coherence opened the Coherence of the Text with the foregoing matter and there are in it three Points observable 1. Whilst Beleevers have been fasting and praying for a Mercy the Lord many times hath sent them a quick and unexpected Return and very gratious answer Here whilst they were praying for Peters deliverance the Return of their prayers stood knocking at the door for entrance Poor Rhoda was accused of madness and they concluded t was an Angel not Peter so quick and unexpected was the answer of their prayers 2. Sometimes the deliverances of Gods people out of imminent and emminent dangers are so wonderfull and attended with such a croud of Improbabilities that they have much ado to beleive though they see and heare them 3. Angels have assumed the shape of men you see they all thought it was an Angel that had put on the Shape Habit Knock and Voice of Peter Of these briefly First 1 Point from the Coherence Dr. Goodwins return of prayers Whilst the Saints have been at prayer the Lord hath many times sent them a quick and unexpected return Thus to assure Hezekiah that his praier was heard God sent the Prophet unto him whilst he was praying and weeping So Isaac going out to meditate and pray in the fields meets his Rebeka then a coming That request for a good Wife being surely the chief earthly thing he was then in treaty with God for As the Ruler in the Gospel found Iohn 4. See Dan. 9.20 21. that in the same hour wherin he desired help for his Son of Christ he began to mend So hath it been often with the people of God He hath answered their prayers in the very hour that they put them up Luther having prayed earnestly to God in his Chamber for the Churches success came down saying We have overcom we have overcom And so accordingly it prov'd But lastly Acts. 12.5.12 Hugo Card. Tom. 4. how plain an instance is this in our Context Whilst the Disciples were praying to God for him Peter knocks at the Gate So true is that sweet and precious Promise Isa 65.24 And it shall come to pass that before they call I will answer and whilst they are yet speaking I will hear By which Hugo layes that parallell Scripture He will be very gracious unto the at the Voice of thy cry Isa 30.19 Qui timide Rogat docet Negare But the fervent supplications of the Saints do peirce the Heavens and have a glorious Eccho from the Clouds Whilst Moses held up his hands Israel prevailed Now this the Lord doth Reas 1 to put the greater honour upon his Ordinance to convince us that he heares and observes our prayers and bottles up all our Tears and that he is not deaf to our desires If Christ stopped not his eares when he was blasphemed will he stop them when he is intreated If he turned not away his face from those that spat on him can we think he will turn it away from those that pray unto him Again Reas 2 the Lord doth this the more to endear himself to us and engage us in his Service And that the Mercy which is won by prayer may be worn by thankfulness How doth this reprove the sluggish and incredulous prayers or bablings of the most Vse 1 How can they expect God should hear them saith Cyprian Cyprian Ser. Sext. de oratione Dominica when they scarce hear themselves Quae autem segnitia est alienari capi ineptis cogitationibus prophanis dum Dominum deprecaris quasi sit aliud quod magis debeas cogitare quà m quod cum Deo loquaris Quomodo te audiri a Deo postulas cum te ipse non Audias Vis esse Deum memorem tui cum rogas cum tu ipse memor tui non sis Hoc est quando oras Dominum majestatem Dei negligentiâ orationis offendere Hoc est vigilare oculis corde dormire cum debeat Christianus cum dormit oculis Corde vigilare saith divine Cyprian In prayer therfore Sursum Corda rise up and take hold upon God To let fall a Prayer is one thing to poure out the Soul is another thing So then Vse 2 let us carefully hear our selves in prayer and God hears us let us listen and well heed and mind the Answers and Ecchos of our prayers and the inward sealings and whispers of the Spirit after that we have wrestled with the Lord in prayer 1 Sam. 1.16 going to him in the name of Christ Hannah after she had prayed and Eli had seconded her request found such an inward answer to her desires that her spirit was cheered and she looked no more sad So the Psalmist I will
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
Austin Chrysostome and Zanchy say the same from this clear Text of our Saviours But because some endeavour and bend their wits to blunt the edge of this Scripture also and unpin the wheel of this Charret that it may drive the more heavily whilst they escape it I shall answer their Objections and Nicities tending to corrupt this Text. 1. It is thus glossed by some Object 1 Not their Angels as if every one had an Angel but theirs in common As divers Children of a rich great Man may have three or four servants to attend them in common and yet each child may not have his particular servant I answer 1. Sol. 1 This most slender Objection doth sufficiently grant the Deputation of Angels For the objectors do confesse that those Angels mentioned be their Angels not the Angels in generall of Gods Church There is then a peculiar Designation and Deputation of some certaine Angels to their attendance 2. If they be their Angels then it followeth that when all those Disciples were dead except one there still remained one Angel to attend the surviving person Note who was so his Angel that he was not anothers which clearly proves the particular deputation of Angels For if it can so clearly appear that one Disciple out-living the rest had Angels peculiar to him then I pray what false Divinity is this to say each Believer hath one Angel at least to guard him For Omne majus continet in se minus the greater comprehends the lesse We doe not affirme that an Elect hath never more then one Angel For in arduous and difficult cases a whole troop of those Angels that attend the Church in generall or such as worship before the Throne do flye to our relief But this we may say that every Believer hath one at least to be near him It is thus also objected by some Object 2 If these Angels did attend the Disciples on Earth as a shadow the body how do they behold the face of God in heaven 'T is the heaven of Angels to see Gods face who is omni-present Sol. and to be doing and fulfilling his will This doth not eclipse the happinesse of Angels To retain their Primitive excellency To attend on the Church which is part of Christ Mystical To be free from all distraction sinne and misery To see know and love God to do his will readily faithfully and cheerfully Oh this is an heaven to elect Angels whilst they are dispersed busied and employed upon earth Lastly 't is objected Object 3 Let the scope of Christ be well observed what doth he drive and aime at Was he before talking of Angels or their Deputation No but he would not have his Disciples offended despised or injured Now how doth the Doctrine of Angelical deputation contribute any light or vigour to that discouse and design of our Saviour Sol. I answer much every way in foure respects 1 Offend them not do not despise or undervalue them †Ab homine mortali despici vel pro Nihilo duci quos Deus in tanto pretio habet nimis absurdum feret Mart Bucer in Mat. 18.10 Because each of them though never so poor mean in the world and voyd of external pomp and glory or humane assistance hath an Angel of Light glorious in power and wisdome design'd to his particular attendance For as the children of Noble men are discerned by this that each one hath particular Servants so it is with the people of God You have no reason to despise or vilipend them whom God hath thus owned and honoured 2 Offend them not in any place though alone for in all places God is present with them and a Believers Angel is his faithful Associate 3 Offend them not at any time For though extraordinary guards may with-draw yet their Guardian Angel will not forsake them 4 These particular Angels are placed by God and are daily accountable to him for their charge They always behold the * Id est astare Deo tanquam Regi observantes ejus nutum ut capessant ejus Mandata de ipsis emittendis ad custodiam Puerorum Piscator Annal. Schol. Mat. 18.10 p. 182 185 face of my father which is in heaven So that you see the Doctrine of Angels designation did most directly advance the scope and design of Christ in this place namely why his little ones should not be despised or offended The objections being removed let us be careful how we despise the Doctrine of Angels Deputation For if it be unsafe to despise the Christians so attended it will be more dangerous to contemn the Doctrine whereby they are secured For in slighting this Doctrine take heed least yee be found among the slighters of Christ who delivered it Shall the ipse dixit of Aristotle be of force in our schools How much more the Ipse dixit of Christ in our hearts Let these words of our Saviour I SAY VNTO YOV be as a clap of Thunder most hideous for sound to awaken and startle the contemners of this Truth yet so as that it may be accompanied with harmlesse Lightning and flashes of Divine conviction that they may no longer suspect or question what is here uttered by Truth it self I who am the King and Law-giver of the Church who am Truth it self and so cannot lie or countenance the lies and errors of others Wisdom it selfe and so do not speak rashly Holinesse it self and so do it not partially Power it selfe and so am able to punish those that will not believe me I that am your Redeemer and shall seale all my Sermons and sayings with my blood Finally I that am the Head and Captain of Angels and best know what Orders and Instructions I have given them I SAY I doe not only and inwardly see and know it who know all things but I think it fit to speake and promulgate this truth to you Heathens and Jewes have ever said it but now remember Christ the Eternal Son of God hath confirmed it to you Many things I know that yet ye are not able nor fit to heare but this I will reveal from the Father unto you as a Doctrine doubted by some but of rich consolation to all the Elect. VNTO YOV My dear Disciples I speak it unto you my hearers as before many Witnesses as before those that must record and publish this Truth to the world and all its nations and ages For what is spoken to you in obscure corners see that ye trumpet and proclaim it on the house top THEIR ANGELS DO ALWAYES BEHOLD THE FACE OF MY FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN Which words as you have seen do most clearly hold forth with both hands the particular Deputation of Angels For he saith not The Angels that attend Gods Elect but THEIR Angels Nor is it sayd their Angel as if one were allotted to many but their Angels each of these little ones that belong to me whether little in stature as this Childe here
then one at once Aquinas Sic sunt in uno Loco ut non sint in Alio say the Schoolmen They are undoubtedly so in one place as not to be in another * Angeli sunt in loco non circumsrciptive quia non commensurantur loco sed definitive c. Non sunt ubique Bucan loc com de Ang. loc 6. sect 17. That the Angels are in a place is certain out of Scripture They are said sometimes to be in Heaven and sometimes to be on Earth Gabriel was sent into a City of Galilee Luke 1.26 Therefore when Gabriel was in Nazareth he could not be said to be in Ierusalem or any other City Angels are not in a place as bodies by circumscription or contiguity For a Legion was in one man yet they are so here that they are not there The same Angels cannot be in many places at once their motion indeed is very speedy and quick and therefore they are pictured with wings but their motion cannot be in an instant And doth not this make against the ordinary attendance of many Troops of Angels much more of all the Angels upon one single Person seeing all Believers are promised the presence of Angels And if so many or all be present with one what shall become of the rest shall one have many Troops and another farre distant have none Gods elect are not all in a cluster but scattered and dispersed o're the world One in a Family two in a Tribe in all Nations God hath some that feare and serve him 2. Let us consider not only the distance but the great number of Believers In the dayes of Iezabel when the Church was under sore persecution there were seven thousand left that had not bowed the knee to Baal 1 Reg. 19.18 How great then is the number of Believers since the Gospel when the silken Drag-net is sayd to draw in five thousand at a draught Actâ— 4.4 And the number of those that shall rejoyce at Antichrists ruine is said to be an hundred forty and four thousand Apoc. 14.3 11.15 In a word it is said that all Nations shall become the Kingdomes of our Lord and his Christ From all which wee gather that though few be saved in respect of that vast throng and innumerable spawn of the wicked that crowd into Hell yet the quantity of Believers is in it self very considerable and glorious Heb. 11.12 13. Such as dye in the faith are as the stars of the skie in multitude and as the sand which is by the Sea-shoar innumerable Such a Progeny had Abraham Heb. 11. Well the number of Believers on earth being so considerable as to passe all the known rules of Arithmatick to tell them From hence let us gather whether it bear a face of probability that each one of so great a company have many troops of Angels still to attend him 3. Add to this the number of Reprobate and falne Angels that kept not their station whereby the society of Angels is much maimed lessned You read that in one man there was a legion of Devils Luk. 8 30. Vegetius de Re Milit lib. 2. cap. 6. Isidore saith a legion among the Romans was six thousand armed Souldiers but Vegetius saith 6100. Footmen and 726 Hors-men but here a certain number I suppose is put for an uncertain A legion of Devils in him that is very many Our Saviour compares them to the Fowls of the Ayre in the parable of the Sower Luke 8.5 To shew us there be not so many birds flying in the Aire although sometimes the Ayr will be black with them as wicked spirits in the world Satan is the Prince of the Ayre and Beelzebub the chief of Devils to shew us the greatnesse of his Train and multitude of his Subjects Beelzebub signifies the Lord of Flies there be not so many Flies in the world as there be Devils If then the number of faln Angels be so great it must needs follow that the society of Angels is very much broken and maimed and therefore it is not probable that whole troops are allotted to each particular Believer 4. One is often mentioned in Scripture to attend one man There are threescore Places where mention is made of one Angel having to doe with one Believer too many here to be inserted sometimes named as Michael and Gabriel Dan. 10.13 Luke 1.19 On the other side it is a rare thing and in very extraordinary cases that many Angels are recorded to be about one man or one woman shall not these things be carefully heeded When the Lord saith One Angel shall we say many Angels Let us acquiesce in his word and take heed of adding to or diminishing from it 5. One Angel sufficeth for ordinary Attendance The body is actedby One soule which gives it a Naturall life The soule of a Believer by one spirit which gives it a Divine life And one Angel will suffice to guard and defend one man 2 King 19 What havock did one Angel make in defence of Hezekiah 'T was one Angel that shut the Lions mouths insomuch that they touched not Daniel Dan. 6.22 3. â—5 One Angel hindred the violence of the flames that they could not hurt the three Children And one Angel smote off the Chains of Peter and made the prison doors and iron gates to open unto him One Angel saith a Writer * Master Leighs body of Divinity in 4 to lib. 3. cap. 7. p. 90. is able to destroy all the Men Beasts Birds and Fishes and all the Creatures that be in the world by overturning the whole course of Nature if God should permit it One Angel is able to drown the Earth again and cause the waters to over-flow it To pull the Sun Moon and Stars out of their places and make all a Chaos Angels can move and stir the earth Mat. 28.2 Nay one Angel did it Mat 28.2 And behold there was a great Earth-quake For the Angell of the Lord descended from heaven Lastly the very voyce of an Arch-Angel is so loud and terribie that at last it shall awaken all that are dead 1 Thes 4.16 Psal 103.20 1 Thes 4.16 Thus you see an Angel is of incredible power The Angells saith the Psalmist do excell in strength I might say as much of their admirable wisdome Agility and Fidelity But I refer you to those that write of the Nature of Angels See Aquinas Zanchy and Saikeld and to the subtle and large Tracts of the Schoolmen thereupon By this time you see that one Angel sufficeth for our daily and ordinary attendance seeing one Angel hath done and can do such great and wonderfull things 6. Yet further to shew Principio serviunt ipsi Deo eundem concelebrant laudibus sempiternis Adorantes Glorificantes exultantes in Ipso Bullingeri decad 4. Ser. 9. fol. 251. that multitudes of Angels do not in an ordinary course attend one
Believer It is evident from the Scripture That the mayn Host or chiefe body of the Angels are in Heaven above waiting before the Throne yeelding personal attendance on their Head and our Husband Christ Jesus continually lauding and praysing God skreening their faces with their wings and crying Holy Holy Holy standing ready prest to execute his Will Therefore there is in * Mat. 22.30 2 Thes 1.7 Scripture so frequent mention of the Angels of Heaven Heaven is the Palace and Throne of God Angels are his guards Elect Angels do continue there unlesse they be sent and otherwise employed by God to execute his will upon Earth or in the Aire or in the deep waters Iacob in a vision saw a Ladder reaching up to Heaven and Angels continually ascending and descending on it That Heaven is a PLACE we need not doubt for the body of Christ is there And that the main host and corporation of Angels in that place wil evidently appear from the sacred Text Dan. 7.10 Dan. 7.10 The Ancient of days did sit his throne was like the fiery flame A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him Thousand thousands ministred unto him and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him It seems that Daniel in a Vision saw the glory of God in Heaven and his full Court of Angels about his Throne The like expressions are in Rev. 5.11 And I beheld and heard the voyce of many Angels round about the Throne c. Now if the main knot and corporation of Angels be in Heaven then it is not probable that each Believer should have Troops upon earth Or that all the blessed Angels watch over every Believer as some have affirmed 7. Rev. 12.7 opened And lastly let us grant that many Angels attend each particular Saint Yet it would not be a vain or fruitlesse Doctrin that one of them is chiefly intrusted with his preservation to place conduct and excite the rest as need shall require for 't is certain the good Angels fight with the evill in our behalf Rev. 12.7 Aug. Hom. 9. in Apoc. Michael and his Angels fought against the Dragon and his angels 1. Austin Tertullian Tertul. de carne Christi and our Modern Writers do by Michael understand Christ Jesus the head of all Principalities and Powers The Noble Captaine of our salvation 2. Brightman and Trap on Rev. 12.7 Some by Michael and his Angels understand Constantine and his Armies as learned Brightman and others 3. Others affirm that Michael is to be taken literally For Michael the Arch-Angel being commanded of the rest in the vision which is not altogether improbable 1. Because Michael is stiled an Arch-Angel in the ninth verse of St. Iudes Epistle 2. 'T is likely an Angel there was called an Arch-Angel as being Captain in the skirmish with Satan So saith Basil very fully to our purpose Basil advers Eunemium lib. 3. A celestial spirit is called an Arch-Angell when being accompanied with many other Angels in the work of the Lord he is guide and leader to the rest for inter Angelos est Ordo among the Angels and especially in Battail there is very great Order 3. Mark well the opposition Michael and his Angels against the Dragon and his Angels Who questions but the DRAGON is Beelzebub the chief the Prince of Devills Therefore also by MICHAEL may be meant an Arch-Angel since it is plain there are Degrees among the blessed Spirits And if there be Order in Hell sure there is no confusion in Heaven I might mention other places where an Angel in chief is mentioned Josh 5.14 and other good Angels with him see only two places Josh 5.14 15. There you see the Captain of the Lords Host appeared and spake to Ioshuah Gods host of Angels that came to the relief of Ioshua had over them a Commander or Chieftain and this Captain appeared and spake to Ioshua See also Luke 2. Luk. 2.9.13 at the ninth verse The Angel of the Lord appeared unto the Shepheards to convey unto them the news of a Saviour Now observe when the message of this chiefe Angel or Ambassadour was ended Then suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the heavenly host praysing God and singing ver 13. One Angel sang of Christ as the chief Musitian and a full Quire bore the burden of the Song Glory to God in the highest on earth peace and good will towards men Luk. 2.16 It is said that the Angels went into Heaven that is the Quire of them went but 't is likely the first Angel continued with one of the Shepheards to conduct them to the place where the babe lay So then if a man have many Angels about him 't is a comfort that one who is chiefe will be his guardian to guide counsell and order the Angels that are sent and to abide with him when the rest are disbanded and depart Perhaps for some other expedition as Providence shall dispose or else to joyne in the Halelujahs above I have been the larger in answering the second doubt because I find that it is generally urged against our point by the Antagonists thereof A believer hath many Angels hath all the Angels what need we confine his safety to One Thirdly Quest 3 Some may aske is not this a Popish and Antichristian point maintained chiefly by Jesuites and Papists and rejected by Protestants and sober men To this we answer Answ 1. There are many points in Divinity wherein the Romanists and wee doe agree We do not think the worse of Foundationall Truths if we find them owned by the Pseudocatholick Church But rather we say these things are so Our enemies themselves being Iudges They have the main body of truth so are called Christians only the pearl of divine Truth is hid in the endlesse rubbish of humane Traditions But whilst we have their Blindnesse Idolatry and Superstition let 's not extend our hatred to their persons but pitty and pray for them nor to the many Truths which they hold but cleave to them still A man will not reject a piece of Gold though he find it on the Dunghill and a Mother will love and take up her Child although bemired in the street among rude Play-fellows So it must be here we must love and embrace the truth whersoever we find it 2. Tertullian Clemens Alexandrinus Origen and many others who approved of the Guardian Angel and breathed in the three first Centuries after Christ could not be infected with Popery which then had no being For as wee prove the Sabbath to be more then Ceremonial for being constituted observed from the beginning Gen. 2.2 Exod. 16.23 30. before the promulgation of the Law So it is as easie to prove that the Doctrine of Angels Deputation is not Popish because it was maintained by the Primitive Christians as the Text declares And by the ancient Fathers that breathed in the purest ayre of Primitive times before
the plague of Popery brake out 3. It hath been and is maintained by divers of the Orthodox since the man of Sin was revealed Not only Chrysostome Austin Bernard and others of the Fathers but also by our Modern Divines and soundest Protestants as Bullinger Peter Martyr Beza Zanchy Bucan and by divers yet living Let not this Doctrine therfore any longer be clogged and branded with the odious name of Popery 'T is the subtlety of Satan thus to disfigure the Truth and beget a prejudice in us For as Errors do often pass when they have the trimming of Truth so Truth is often pelted under the Vizard of errour Fourthly Quest 4 some ask whether Adam in the state of Innocency had an Angel Guardian Here are two questions 1. Whether Adam had a tutelar Angel 2. If so whether before or after his Fall To the first Answer 1 I answer All Gods elect have such communion with Angels And 't is most likely that Adam was elected and saved Dr. VVillet on Gen. 3.47 because the Promise was made to him concerning Christ Gen. 3.15 That the seed of the woman should break the Serpents head From whence Dr. Willet concludes That though our first Parents finned yet they were restored and saved by faith in the Messiah and not utterly condemned * Danaeus super Aug. de Haeresibus cap. 25. p. 107. which was the uncharitable heresie of the Tatianes saith Danaeus concerning whom thus he writes Primus eorum Maximus proprius error Quod Adamum Primum Hominem Damnatum Nec ex-lapsu suo saluti restitutum putant Docent But Irenaeus hath * Irenaeus lib. 2. cap. 39. Resutat Tacianos well confuted them And generally the Auncient Fathers doe think more charitably of our first Parents hoping and affirming that they were saved from three Texts of Scripture viz. Gen. 3.15 That there should be enmity between the seed of the Woman and the Serpent Luke 3.38 Adam is called the Son of God but surely after his fall and before faith he was the child of Hell and Perdition 2 Cor. 15.45 The first Adam was made a living Soul the last Adam was made a quickning Spirit We may here mention as an humane testimony Wisdom 10.1 Where it is sayd See Coll. of Doway's Annotaâ—ions Tom 2. p. 356. that Wisdom preserved the first Father of the World and brought him out of his Offence So then if Adam was elected and saved as t is probable by that which hath been sayd what should hinder but that he as well as others had a Guardian-Angell To the second part of the Querie Answ 2 whether this Angel did attend him in the time of Innocency in Paradice Aquinas is for the Affirmative Tho Aquinas Parte prima Qust 113. p. 239. Homo in statu Innocentiae non patiebatur aliquod Pereculum ab interiori quia interius erant Omnia Ordinata Sed imminebat periculum ei ab exteriori propter insidias Daemonum ut rei probavit eventus ideo indigebat custodia Angelorum Though there was an Harmony within yet there were Tempters without Though he stood he might fall He had a Posse non Mori but never a Non posse Mori His danger was great because many Angels were become Apostates and would still be laying snares for him as the issue declared This Guardian-Angel peradventure counselled him when he had sinned to hide and cloath himself Glorious was the Communion between man in Innocency and Elect Angels Fifthly Quest 5 Some do ask whether Jesus Christ had a Guardian Angel The School-men answer warily in this Point Answer Tho Aquinas ut ante in Artic. 4. Christus Ratione Passibilitatis erat Victor secundum hoc non debebatur ei Angelus custos tanquam superior sed magis minister tanquam inferior Christ in regard of his Humanity and sufferings was a Pilgrim upon earth yet the Angel that therfore attended him was not his Superior or Ruler Hugo Cardin Tom. 6. fol. 262. but meerly his obedient Vassall trusty Squire and diligent Servant Therfore when the Angel is sayd to strengthen him Hugo doth thus expound it Confortans eum id est Ad modum confortantis se habens Forte aliqua verba consolatoria dicendo after a manner he is sayd to strengthen him perhaps by speaking comfortable words to him Now here we shall endeavour to prove two things unto you 1. That the Angels were much about Christ 2. That one Angel especially did belong to him 1. Mat. 4.11 26.53 John 20.12 Mat. 13.41 1 Tim. 3.16 For the former it is evident Elect Angels were very busie about Christ in the dayes of his Pilgrimage their Ministrations was used upon all occasions They did comfort him in the Desert after his Temptations in the Garden after his Agony They were busie about the Sepulcher and gave attendance at his Resurrection They treated with divers about Christ they brought news of his Birth to the Shepheards of his Resurrection to the Women and of his Ascention to the Disciples Upon all occasions the Heavenly Host came and ministred unto him of which divers Reasons may be given 1. Jesus Christ is their Head and Generall all Angels Arch-angels Seraphins and Cherubins are subject unto Christ 2. Where the King is there is the Court kept though in the meanest Village 3. By attending on Christ in the Flesh they declared his Divinity From the greatest abasements of Christ certain sparkles of Glory and Divinity flew out 4. They came to comfort and strengthen his Humanity when the Divinity was hid and ecclipst in his Sufferings which were very great not only from men but God See Luke 22.43 T was the Humane Nature that received strengthening here from an Angel The * Fuller of Christs Temptations Angel saith one being in a Calme Christ in the Tempest of an Agony no wonder if the Meaner give support to the Superior 5. The Angels attend Christ * Col. 1.20 2.10 Eph. 1.10 3.10 1 Pet. 1.12 because of their Interest in his Mediation for in that Glass they read their confirmation in grace and happiness So that now there is no fear nor possibility of their Apostacy and falling This makes them to pry into the Mysteries of Christs Mediation 6. By Christs †Incarnato Christo Angeli Deum laudaverunt quia viderunt Numerum corum impleri Hugo Cord. Tom. 1 p. 447. Col. 2. Redemption The vacant and empty Rooms of fallen Angels will be supplyed by Saints saith Hugo to make their maimed Society compleat For Christ saith that Beleevers shall be as the Angels of Heaven So the order of Angels will be replenished and the Gap filled up not with Thorns and Rubbish but very pretious Jewels You see there are many reasons why the Angels were so officious about Christ Jesus 2. For the latter that one Angel did especially belong to Christ may appear probable to us Luke 22.43 It is sayd Luke
18.10 The Angels of Christs little Ones are said to behold the face of God in Heaven viz. Their communion with God is not eclipst God filleâ—h every place with his presence This made Mount Tabor so glorious at the Transfiguration of Christ We say then that Elect Angels not only sometimes when they be in Heaven but alwayes saith Christ namely when on Earth also THEIR Angels by reason of particular attendance do still continue to behold the face of God Elect Angels even whilest they are on Earth with us have a fulness of Gods presence and joy some way (o) Leighs Body of Divin lib. 3. cap. 7. answerable to that in heaven which makes them no loosers by this Employment Seeing it is an Heaven to Angels to be doing the (p) Dr. Gouge his Guide to God p. 79. will of God and seeing his face and rejoycing in his Service For although they go up and down in their Ministry here below yet this they perform without Regret or Distraction and their happiness is not therby obstructed As the Souls in Heaven are not hindred from happiness by desiring their bodies again so Angels continue happy though they be a while from Heaven their usuall home Note And as Noble-men do joyfully go Ambassadors into a meaner Country then their own not so much disliking the coldness of the Climat as approving the honor of the Embassage and high employment wherein they do serve their Prince and publick good So Angels do not greive but rejoyce to come as Ambassadors and Agents from Heaven to Earth as knowing they must shortly return in Triumph to their Native Country In the mean time they here below do fully enjoy the face and favour of God and are freed from all manner of distraction and misery Et si foris exeunt internis contemplationis gaudiis non Privantur Gregory saith Gregory most truly Although for a time they leave their own home they want not the inward joyes of contemplation Luke 2.13 A full Quire of Angels sang Carols over a few ragged Shepheards and their Flocks which declares that their absence from Heaven and their attending poor Worms upon Earth doth not cut them off from their heavenly contemplations and sweet rejoycings in God As a General rejoyceth to be in the Field Note and glorieth in his Spoyl and Ensigns of Victory so do the Angels in skirmishing and routing the evil Spirits Christ himself was well pleased with being on Earth accounting it meat and drink to do the will and business of his Father He submited to a mean life and cursed death for our sakes and was emptied of all Glory for us Therfore let us conclude Elect Angels do not repent their Attendance on us Princes are not alwayes in their Palaces somtimes they make excursions into Forrests Note Villages and desolate Places and at last retire home with renewed satisfaction So Angels short excursions on Earth do but set out unto them the Glory of those Celestiall Habitations Having answered all the Objections that I ever yet met withall or can possibly think of The way is now sufficiently layd out that we may pass unto the profitable Inferences of this Discourse for our further instruction and edification First Vse 1 here will be matter of confutation as to certain Romish additions and mistakes about this very Point of the Guardian-Angel Although I do not remember that Conradus Vorstius in his Index errorum Ecclesiae Romanae Or Amesius in his Bellarminus enervatus do touch at the Errors of the Romish Synagogue in relation to Angels or their Deputation yet Dr. Dr. Andr. Willet Vis Synapsis Papismi Willet who omits nothing in his Synopsis Paptismi doth write particularly of them although so smartly and vehemently as withall to reject the Guardianship of Angels the Romish Errors wherabout are these four 1. The Papists say that Michael is the Prâ—tector and Keeper of the whole Church of Christ This we reject for Jesus Christ is the HEAD of Angels the Protector and Defender of his Spouse the Church All power is given unto him in Heaven and Earth He is the Crowned King of aints T is true there are Degrees among Angels some are Angels and others Arch-angels but Christ not Michael is the Head of them all and sole Saviour and King of his Church 2. Romanists do hold that every man hath his Guardian-Angel from God So Clictoveus Cuique Hominum sigillatim and Designatus est Angelus Doway Expos Gen. 18.16 And our Doway men affirm the very same We beleive say they that this Priviledge belongs not to Gods Elect only But Heb. 1 14. t is most expresly affirmed that Angels are to attend the Heirs of Salvation Scil. Such Positively and exclusively Such and no other not Reprobate Heirs of Perdition Good Angels may have treated with evil men as with Baalam And so the holy Spirit doth often suggest good things to them but all this is for their conviction and greater confusion at the last We cannot from hence affirm that either the holy Spirit or elect Angels do abide with and watch over them 3. The Pontificians hold that each man hath two Angels allotâ—ed him by God one to vex and punish him Bucan Loc. Com. de Angelis Loc. 6. Sect. 35. p. 74. the other to guard and comfort him But this is absurd God appoints not an evil Angel constantly to attend his Elect and if Satan Depute him the Elect Angel set by God will continually expel and vanquish him So that though the evil Angels do very often assault the Righteous yet no one evil Angel can quietly and constantly be neer unto him that fears God Therfore Satan bad particular Commission to molest Iob for a time and to give a BUFFET to Saint Paul Now a Buffet is a sudden blow or surprise No evil Angel can long be neer Gods Elect because Michael is stronger then the Dragon There is no communion between Light and Darkness Christ and Belial Elect Angels and Reprobate and there is not a syllable in the Book of God that speaks of two Angels the one good the other bad about a Child of Light 4. And lastly most of them hold Invocation and Adoration to be due unto the Guardian-Angel and many Arguments they urge to this end here take the chief First Arg. 1 Joshuah fell down before the Angel and worshiped Josh 5.14 We say Origen 6. Homil. in Josh he Worshipt non an Angel but Christ their Captain But Origen thus expounds it Joshua non adorasset nisi Agnovisset Deum He would not have Ador'd if he had not known him to be God Secondly Arg. 2 Baalam adored the Angel Numb 22.31 1. We say this might be an exceeding great Reverence and no Adoration 1 Reg. 1.23 as Nathan bowed down to David where the same word Shacha is used 2. T is but a weak Argument that is taken from the example of a false Prophet and Sorcerer that was
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