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.
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
all the Platonicks held as also Origen and others That the Soul was created before it was put into the Body and as it did good or ill so it was put into a well-tempered or defective Body Austin declares that this was the Platonicks Opinion And Piscator beleives that that Question of the Blind mans sinning related to the Pythagoricall Transmigration of Souls from one body to another after death Now unto all this I answer That although it is very probable that question touching the blind man was according to the Vulgar Opinion of Transmigration yet it from thence followeth not that our Text here was uttered in the like manner in regard of the forementioned circumstances of time place and manner of speaking it For the Disciples being now employed in so solemn Devotions could not probably be supposed guilty of so much Freedom if not Levity at such a time and in such a place as we have observed already Besides that Vulgar opinion of the blind mans sinning before he was born was checked by Christ himself Note Joh. 9.33 Ezek. 18.20 when he said that neither he nor his Parents had sinned that is He had not sinned himself nor his Parents sin should not be charged upon him Diodati on John Christ did put by this discourse saith one as vain and frivolous But this Doctrine of the Guardian-Angel received no check 1. Not from any of the Church there assembled 2. Not from Peter when he came in to whom among other Congratulations t is likely this Conception was declared 3. Not from Luke that relates it though the Evangelists relating a thing doubtfull or fictitious do use to put a spoke in the wheel that turns it off John 11.13 21.23 as in Iohn 21.23 Then went this saying abroad among the brethren that that Disciple should not dye Eccle. 12.7 Luke 23.43 Ezek. 18.2 20. yet Iesus said not unto him he shall not dye but if I will that he tarry till I come what is that to thee Nor 4. from any other Text of Scripture or rationall consequence therfrom But that opinion of the Transmigration of Souls is often confuted in Gods word A third Interpretation is this Atetius in Locum T is said that the Disciples concluded that an Angel by his knocking and voice came to give notice that Peters death was at hand For secret Murthers have been detected by such Revelations and Apparitions as these But this Gloss is rugged and unwarrantable For although the Jews in their Writings make frequent mention of Samael the Angel of Death yet they called him so for inflicting and not fore-telling of Death 4. Calvin Inst lib. 1. cap. 14. Sect. 7. Calvin thinks it was an Angel peculiarly destinated to Peter only for that time of his Imprisonment But in case it was peculiar to Peter how or whence did arise that generall Tenent among the Jews and Christians And if an Angell was appointed to attend him in the time of his Imprisonment why not also at other times when the Apostle might com into the same or like perils unless it can appear that Saint Peter had never need of an Angel but then Psal 91.11 The Angels are charged to keep us in all our waies viz. Which way soever we move or walk in every turn of our life 5. And lastly The opinion which the * Tertullian Origen Bâ—sil Tâ—â—â—doret Hiâ—â—â— Câ—ryâ—osâ—om 〈…〉 Ancient Fathers and most Learned Expositors follow is this That the Primitive Christians beleived that every Elect Servant of Christ hath one particular Angel to guard and guide him And they are so many who give this interpretation that it would be almost endless to muster them as all that have the least acquaintance with Antiquity and the Volumes of the Fathers will confess A small Tast you shall find in this Tract in its proper place Having given the Reader the severall glosses and chief interpretations of this Text we come now to our Doctrinall conclusion from the words Every Elect person hath his Guardian-angel Thesis who by particular Designation is allotted to be his faithfull Keeper and Tutor and vigilant Associat to his lives end I say Elect persons and such only saith Origen as are Praecogniti a Deo Heb. 1.14 They are to attend the Heirs of Salvation All such are dear to God and there be Angels enow to guard them Every Elect person hath the presence and tuition of confirmed Angels to shield him and to stave off evill Spirits from him Every Elect hath one particular Angel that watcheth over him God hath a generall care of the World but a more particular care of his Saints who are his Jewels the Apple of his eye the Signet on his hand This Angel is allotted and assigned by God to his particular charge every Angel knows his Office and his Place They all act by Commission for God is the God of order and not of confusion This Angel is to be his Keeper his wise Counsellor his faithfull and strong Defender his most loving and friendly Associat Moreover the Angel is not utterly to depart from him till his Pilgrimage and Warfare be ended Now the main Branch which requires confirmation and in treating of which the rest will fall in is this That every Elect person hath one particular Angel to guard him But first to shut out all Prejudice three things will by us all be most easily granted 1. That many rich Mysteries are lockt up in the Nature of Angels which by degrees will break out 2. That we abhor with greatest Detestation the Adoration of Angels 3. That we must not exclude a multitude of Angels from extraordinary attendance for our greater consolation in some streights And these things will eternally stop the mouth of most Arguments against this Truth The first is to satisfie the Ignorant who will stumble at this Point because they are in darkness and never heard it before The second is to silence our Adversaries of Romish Interest who may hope that the Needle of this discourse inclines to draw in the rotten Thred of Adoration The third is to prepare the Godly Learned and Orthodox who chiefly in opposition to Rome have denyed this point That they would be pleased to suspend their Objections and meekly to consider what is here written The first Concession is this 1 Concession that many Mysteries are lockt up in the Nature of Angels which by degrees will break forth Among all the Creatures that God made in the six daies Moses doth not once mention the Angels of Heaven shall we therfore be Sadduces and believe there is no Angel nor Spirit T was a long time before those great Mysteries of the Nature Offices and Degrees of Angels did break forth before the Headship of Jesus Christ over them and their happy confirmation by him after so many fell as Lightning from Heaven was the usuall talk and discourse of the church of God strang things are mentioned
then one at once Aquinas Sic sunt in uno Loco ut non sint in Alio say the Schoolmen They are undoubtedly so in one place as not to be in another * Angeli sunt in loco non circumsrciptive quia non commensurantur loco sed definitive c. Non sunt ubique Bucan loc com de Ang. loc 6. sect 17. That the Angels are in a place is certain out of Scripture They are said sometimes to be in Heaven and sometimes to be on Earth Gabriel was sent into a City of Galilee Luke 1.26 Therefore when Gabriel was in Nazareth he could not be said to be in Ierusalem or any other City Angels are not in a place as bodies by circumscription or contiguity For a Legion was in one man yet they are so here that they are not there The same Angels cannot be in many places at once their motion indeed is very speedy and quick and therefore they are pictured with wings but their motion cannot be in an instant And doth not this make against the ordinary attendance of many Troops of Angels much more of all the Angels upon one single Person seeing all Believers are promised the presence of Angels And if so many or all be present with one what shall become of the rest shall one have many Troops and another farre distant have none Gods elect are not all in a cluster but scattered and dispersed o're the world One in a Family two in a Tribe in all Nations God hath some that feare and serve him 2. Let us consider not only the distance but the great number of Believers In the dayes of Iezabel when the Church was under sore persecution there were seven thousand left that had not bowed the knee to Baal 1 Reg. 19.18 How great then is the number of Believers since the Gospel when the silken Drag-net is sayd to draw in five thousand at a draught Actâ— 4.4 And the number of those that shall rejoyce at Antichrists ruine is said to be an hundred forty and four thousand Apoc. 14.3 11.15 In a word it is said that all Nations shall become the Kingdomes of our Lord and his Christ From all which wee gather that though few be saved in respect of that vast throng and innumerable spawn of the wicked that crowd into Hell yet the quantity of Believers is in it self very considerable and glorious Heb. 11.12 13. Such as dye in the faith are as the stars of the skie in multitude and as the sand which is by the Sea-shoar innumerable Such a Progeny had Abraham Heb. 11. Well the number of Believers on earth being so considerable as to passe all the known rules of Arithmatick to tell them From hence let us gather whether it bear a face of probability that each one of so great a company have many troops of Angels still to attend him 3. Add to this the number of Reprobate and falne Angels that kept not their station whereby the society of Angels is much maimed lessned You read that in one man there was a legion of Devils Luk. 8 30. Vegetius de Re Milit lib. 2. cap. 6. Isidore saith a legion among the Romans was six thousand armed Souldiers but Vegetius saith 6100. Footmen and 726 Hors-men but here a certain number I suppose is put for an uncertain A legion of Devils in him that is very many Our Saviour compares them to the Fowls of the Ayre in the parable of the Sower Luke 8.5 To shew us there be not so many birds flying in the Aire although sometimes the Ayr will be black with them as wicked spirits in the world Satan is the Prince of the Ayre and Beelzebub the chief of Devils to shew us the greatnesse of his Train and multitude of his Subjects Beelzebub signifies the Lord of Flies there be not so many Flies in the world as there be Devils If then the number of faln Angels be so great it must needs follow that the society of Angels is very much broken and maimed and therefore it is not probable that whole troops are allotted to each particular Believer 4. One is often mentioned in Scripture to attend one man There are threescore Places where mention is made of one Angel having to doe with one Believer too many here to be inserted sometimes named as Michael and Gabriel Dan. 10.13 Luke 1.19 On the other side it is a rare thing and in very extraordinary cases that many Angels are recorded to be about one man or one woman shall not these things be carefully heeded When the Lord saith One Angel shall we say many Angels Let us acquiesce in his word and take heed of adding to or diminishing from it 5. One Angel sufficeth for ordinary Attendance The body is actedby One soule which gives it a Naturall life The soule of a Believer by one spirit which gives it a Divine life And one Angel will suffice to guard and defend one man 2 King 19 What havock did one Angel make in defence of Hezekiah 'T was one Angel that shut the Lions mouths insomuch that they touched not Daniel Dan. 6.22 3. â—5 One Angel hindred the violence of the flames that they could not hurt the three Children And one Angel smote off the Chains of Peter and made the prison doors and iron gates to open unto him One Angel saith a Writer * Master Leighs body of Divinity in 4 to lib. 3. cap. 7. p. 90. is able to destroy all the Men Beasts Birds and Fishes and all the Creatures that be in the world by overturning the whole course of Nature if God should permit it One Angel is able to drown the Earth again and cause the waters to over-flow it To pull the Sun Moon and Stars out of their places and make all a Chaos Angels can move and stir the earth Mat. 28.2 Nay one Angel did it Mat 28.2 And behold there was a great Earth-quake For the Angell of the Lord descended from heaven Lastly the very voyce of an Arch-Angel is so loud and terribie that at last it shall awaken all that are dead 1 Thes 4.16 Psal 103.20 1 Thes 4.16 Thus you see an Angel is of incredible power The Angells saith the Psalmist do excell in strength I might say as much of their admirable wisdome Agility and Fidelity But I refer you to those that write of the Nature of Angels See Aquinas Zanchy and Saikeld and to the subtle and large Tracts of the Schoolmen thereupon By this time you see that one Angel sufficeth for our daily and ordinary attendance seeing one Angel hath done and can do such great and wonderfull things 6. Yet further to shew Principio serviunt ipsi Deo eundem concelebrant laudibus sempiternis Adorantes Glorificantes exultantes in Ipso Bullingeri decad 4. Ser. 9. fol. 251. that multitudes of Angels do not in an ordinary course attend one
22. That there appeared an ANGEL unto him from Heaven strengthening him T is probable his name was GABRIEL For even the Servants of Emperors and great Monarchs are renowned and their names Recorded Luke 1 Luke 1.26.30 2.21 The Angel Gabriel came to Mary told her she should conceive a Child Then Luk. 2.21 His name was called JESVS which was so named of the Angel before he was conceived in the Womb. T is likely that this Angel upon Conception was peculiar to Christ Comming here as his Harbinger to take up Quarters for him and declaring from God what his Name should be and how his great Master should be called The people also conceived that Christ had an Angel belonging to him John 12.29 When they heard a voice the people that stood by said it thundred others sayd an Angel spake to him Lastly This Angel for a while forsook his dead body attending his Soul into Paradice and again returned with his Soul at the Resurrection Matt. 28.2 And behold the * Non Christi causa venit Angelus tanquam sine illo non posset exire Sepulchro sed ut fides fieret mulieribus Apostolis Christum resurrexisse saith Calvin Angel of the Lord that is of the Lord Christ descended from Heaven and came and rolled back the Stone from the door and sat upon it his Countenance was like Lightning and his Rayment white as Snow and for feare of him the Keepers did shake and became as dead men I suppose that this was still the first Angel Gabriel that gave attendance at his Conception strengthened him in that Garden-Agony and leaving his Body at Death returned again at his Resurrection still it runs in the singular number the Angel and the Angel of the Lord. This I suppose will also appear probable to others who shall weigh it in the Ballance of Reason without casting in the black Grain of Carping Prejudice into the contrary Scale But however if any one can prove that Christ had every moment upon Earth many Legions of Angels about him which he sayd he could call for but did not We still say this doth not weaken our Assertion that each Beleever hath an Angel For Christ being an extraordinary Person might have extraordinary attendance 6. Quest 6 When an Elect Servant of Christ hath his Tutelar Angel placed by him I answer Answ Some think at the time of Conversion others at Baptisme Some think at our Birth and others at our Conception in the Womb To the two last I incline 1. Origen Tract 5. in Mat. Some think at the time of Conversion Cum fuerint per Regenerationem renati Tutores dati sunt conversis saith Origen on this occasion of which two Reasons are given 1. Because the Angels know not the Decrees nor who are elected and chosen of God Before that Election be declared in Conversion But we answer God can soon reveal it unto thme 2. Because In tempore Infidelitatis Homo est sub Angelis Satanae In the state of Nature a man is under the wrath of God and is vexed with evill Spirits that hurry him to sin and rule in the Children of disobedience I answer Although this cannot be denyed and that Elect Angels do not delight in mens sins nor in communion with the wicked yet God is resolved that all his Elect shall have invisible supports against Satan to preserve them charily as chosen Vessels against the time that he shall manifest himself unto them And then it is sufficient to Angels that God wills their attendance and that hereafter they shall discern some fruit of their care when they come to rejoyce at the conversion of those whom they attend And in the mean time as the Sun is not polluted by looking into Sinks so Angels are not polluted or disquieted with the sin of men 2. Others think the Guardian Angel is placed at Baptisme Origen recounting many opinions doth mention this which is very improbable For then the Penitent Theef who never was Baptiz'd had no Guardian Angel to watch over him And besides it is then in the discretion of Parents who set the time of Baptisme when the Angel shall begin his Office o're the Child The Elect are pretious and dear to God before as after that Ordinance which is a Seal but no cause of Gods love The contempt of it is dangerous but the observation of it is not meritorious Away then with that egregious mistake of Austin that Children dying unbaptized do perish eternally Baptisme is either Flaminis or Fluminis of the Flame or Flood of the Water or its Author Elect Infants cannot want the Baptisme of Fire and of the Spirit Out of Christs side came water and blood and he that hath Christ hath both Sacraments Lastly Millions are baptized with water that neither have Angel here nor Heaven hereafter 3. Most think it is done at the Birth of an Elect God revealing to the Angels who are such by requiring their attendance on them that are his Of this opinion Origen speakes among others The Rhemists say Aquin. Sum Part 1. Quest 113. p. 240. Drex Horolog Hora. 7. cap. 1. p. 165. Aug. Medit. lib. 1. cap. 12. that the Angels charge begins at our Nativity Zanchy saith the same Aquinas saith Statim a Nativitate Drexelius saith Angelus Tutelaris nascentes nos in suam Fidem recipit And Austin saith expresly It is done Abortu Nativitatis At the first comming into the world This also is mentioned in two places of Scripture Gen. 48.15.16 The God which fed me all my life long unto this day Gen. 48.15.16 the Angel which redeemed me from all evill bless or keep the Lads So he mentions Gods feeding him from the Womb and so the Angels keeping him from his Nativity for otherwise it had not been linkt to it Mat. 18.2.5.10 And in his Infancy he was freed from many dangers as well as in his Man-hood But he saith That Angel redeemed or instrumentally kept him from all evill The other place is that of our Saviours Mat. 18. Jesus called a little Child to him and set him in the midst of them saying whosoever shall receive one such little Child in my name receiveth me Take heed that you despise not one of these little Ones For I say unto you that in Heaven their Angels do alwayes behold the face of my Father * Dr. Prideaux and Perkins on Mat. 18.10 Expositors agree that by Children our Saviour means not only his Disciples little in Gifts or in the eye of the World But also little Children even Babes and Sucklings Such a little Go-by-ground as he set before them Leigh in Nov. Test Even Infants have their Angels Angels saith one are their Rockers and Kings Sons must have their Guard saith Dyke Some think that Angels do help them to speak and go Elect Infants are in Covenant with God he hath not denyed them his Angels and shall we deny them his Seal Infants
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
debilitavit patefecit insidias fraudem detexit saith Rivius Hee hath reveal'd their sleight and repel'd their might The Angels do watch over us saith Greenham yet all see it not Greenhams Workes p. 3. and when they see it t is by the effect of their Ministrie They watch over us and preserve us from many dangers of soule and body 4. The Angels have been used to declare and trumpet out the will of God to his People The Angel reveased to Mary the Incarnation of Christ an Angel admonished Hagar of her duty an Angel instructed John that God only is to be worshipped The name Angel signifies Messenger because God hath by their Ministration conveyed many Messages to Men. Nay 5. The Angels do not only declare what is good Dr. Sibbs Mystery of Godlinesse p. 108. but they advise us to it So Dr. Sibbs if the Devils can suggest sinne Angels are stronger and wiser then Devils whatsoever they can do in evill the elect Angels can in good therefore they suggest many thoughts that are good Lombard saith of the guardian Angel Lombard lib. 2. dist 11. Hortatur ad Bonum He doth admonish and perswade us on all occasions to that which is good The way how this is done is very mysterious let us not pry into that 6. They encourage and comfort us in doing our duty So an Angel comforted Hagar another comforted Paul in the storm at Sea 2 Râ—g 1.3 and an Angel encouraged and strengthened Eliah to his worke And although now they doe not appeare in bodily shapes yet the same offices are by them although more spiritually and mysteriously performed to us Mendoza in Reg. vel 1 cap. 1. sect 2. p. 244. Nay Mendoza saith they further excite quicken the soul in Prayer But we shall not proceed so far least we think of them above that which is written 7. The Angel guardian helps us in our sufferings and afflictions Thus the Angels have appeared unto the Martyrs a little before their death to cheer and encourage them When Christ was in an Agony just before he was betrayed the presence of an Angel did strengthen him Lu 22.43 And Peters Angel appeared to him in the prison and delivered him When the child Moses was layd among the flags and Joseph put into a pit then did their guardian Angel stand them in good stead or else the one had been destroyed of Water and the other starved to death or made a prey to wild Beasts 8. And lastly at Death the Angel guardian conveys the believing * Hoc munus non frustra Angelis assignat Christus quos scimus datos esse fidelibus Ministros ut eorum saluti sua studia operasque impendant Calvin in Luc. 16.22 soul into Abrahams bosome through the Devils Territories and in spight of him for he is the Prince of the Ayre Some think that to the Angel guardian are joyned certain other Angels to scour and cleer the passage for us They are our convoy to Blisse And in this march they are continually fighting for us and thus with much speed and triumph they convey us into our Fathers house which is the last office this Angel shall do for us unles it be to call gather our very bodies to Judgment at the last day And in heaven we shall have perfect knowledg of that Angel that was our keeper as also of all other Angels and Saints there Some may say Object If Angels do all this for us guesse very much at our hearts make powerful impressions on our Fancy and Imagination impede and hinder evill actions declare and perswade Gods will hearten and encourage us in service and sufferings and convey us at last into our haven of Heaven Then what will you leave unto God and the holy spirit of Grace We leave unto God all in all Solut. which is 1. The Commission 2. The Inspiration 3. The Benediction From him they have their warrant message and blessing Angels are but his servants Cesterns are they not Fountaines God only can renew and sanctifie the soul and blesse all the means and methods of our good why should ascribing to Angels some work upon the soule derogate from Christ more then their tuition of our bodyes for we deny not to Christ the care also of our outward man So then let the Ministry of Angels as to our bodies and soules raise and elevate our thoughts to admire adore the great Lord and Master of those Servants and breed in us a high esteem of these heavenly Tutors That having gained them wee may converse with and suck all the good we possibly can from them Ninthly Quest 9 The next question may be this are our Angels greived at our falls and miseries Doe they sympathize with us Mourn with them that mourn Are they touched grieved when we fall into sin or when trouble falls upon us I answ Answer with Hugo Hugo Cardinalis Tom. 7. p. 246. Angelus scire potest infirma nostra sed non compati quia nec Pati The Angel may know our infirmities but cannot suffer with us because he cannot suffer at all The Schoolmen therefore do upon good grounds deny the fellow-feeling of Angels by suffering and grieving with us in our tryals For though they unfeignedly desire our good yet they cannot dis-roab themselves of their own happinesse Rev. 21.4 When we come to Heaven there is no more death nor wayling Revel 21. No man in heaven shall mourn or sigh for the damnation of his dearest friends So also the Angels instated in so much happiness are not capable of griefe and sorrow Tho Aquinas Prima parte Quest 113. Artic. 7. The Reason saith Thomas is this They are brimfull of happinesse and their wils are so clearly wheelâ—d about by the supream will of God without which nothing comes to pass that they cannot grieve or mourn for that which God is resolv'd shall work together for the good of Believers 'T is sufficient they earnestly wish and desire our good and do rejoyce at our conversion let us not be troubled that they grieve not at our Deviation Note Excessive griefe hath made friends to be uselsse to us and piniond their arms that they have not bin able to help us Angels will strive to pull us out of evill that is better then if they sate still to sigh and mourn over us Christ is said to be Toucht with the feeling of our infirmities Nay in all our afflictions he is afflicted Not that he can suffer or mourn in heaven but that such is our Union with him and his Remembrance of our frailty because he hath our flesh that he is ready to own and help us in our streights In this respect Angels also may be sayd to sympathize with us for they will stand by us and support us in a time of need 10. Quest 10 How Believers can fall into dangers that are still thus attended by the wise and powerful
care of their Angels Mephibosheth a child of five yeares old sonne to a good Father and afterwards a good man himselfe was lamed by a fall from his fleeing Nurse Innumerable examples might be brought of the same kind Are the Angels of Believers absent impotent or sullen and careless when Believers do thus miscarry under their hands and such mischances befals them One answers Answer No mischances can befall them that are godly Fuller of Christs Temptations p. 100 101. Not chances because all things are ordered by divine Providence Nor mischances because all things worke for their good Therefore we say 1. The promise of Angels protection Mat. 4.6 Mat. 4. as all temporall promises runs with this tacite Reservation and condition Alwayes prouided that God in his infinite wisdome for Reasons best known to himself doe not judge the contrary more conducing to his glory and our inward good Hee seeth that many times Afflictions humble us awaken us do us good †Schola crucis schola lucis teaching us his will and our duty 2. Angels are to keep us in all our wayes Psalm 91.11 It is not sayd Our wandrings And who in this wilderness-condition is free from wandring Who can say I have made my heart cleane Sinn must have sorrow here or for ever Your sinnes have hindred good things from you 3. God is above the Angels and they all move and act by Divine Appointment As the Primum mobile moves all the other Sphears so Angels and all creatures are swayed moved and ordered by the Lord Note he can countermand Angelical protection and give Instructions to those powers in some cases to suspend their Attendance and care of us Hee also gives scope to evill Angels to molest us lengthening out their chaine certaine links by enlarging their Commission to exercise and prove us as in the famous cases of Iob Paul Satan was permitted to destroy the goods children health of the one to buffet the mind and conscience of the other and give him a thorn in the flesh 4. When believers do thus lie under the lash of a Father Angelical attendance doth mitigate the evil that they do not succumbere despair and utterly miscarry As if a Limb be bruised that the Life be spared Let us hear the Apostle 2 Cor. 4.8 9. We are troubled on every side yet not distressed we are perplexed but not in despair Persecuted but not forsaken 1 Cor. 6.9 cast down but not destroyed and elsewhere as dying yet behold we live Angels are not alwayes to keep us from Primum ac praecipuum genus consolationis est Animum tristem consolari etiamsi Res Adversae adhuc durent Musculus in Psal 94.19 p. 729. but sometimes in troubles which saith Musculus is the chiefest Point of consolation So * 2 Cor. 1.3 Rom. 5.5 Saint Paul He comforteth us in all our tribulations again As the sufferings of Christ abound in us so our consolations also abound in Christ Now these Cordials and Consolations in and under sufferings are chiefly administred by God the holy Spirit Instrumentally also by Angels Christ could have prayed that many Legions of Angels should have kept him from suffering this he did not yet the Angels Ministred unto him in the Wilderness in the Agony and other sufferings of his from time to time 5. Beleevers are so defended by God and Elect Angels that whatsoever temporall things they suffer they shall not eternally miscarry though the miseries and crosses of this life prevail against them yet the Gates of Hell shall not Though the Lions do roar God will not cast them his Children to feed them that Tormenting Flame shall not touch one hair of their head Is this all their Consolation that the Oven of Hell is heating but not for them No Heaven is preparing and perfuming for them Though thy Angel therfore do suffer thee to trip he will support and raise thee up again He is not to leave thee till thou art safe within Heavens Gate 6. And lastly This objection that Beleevers have not their Guardian Angels because of their sinnings and sufferings is not so considerable if you remember that each Beleever also is acted by the holy Ghost who is intempled in the Saints and yet the people of God have many failings and infirmities sin in them is dejected but not ejected The body is acted by a Raitionall Soul yet in the time of fancy and sleep it cannot counsell and watch over us The Sun is ever in the Heavens yet somtimes his face is ecclipst or muffled with Clouds Though our Angel be never so wise faithfull and Potent yet the Lord of Angels and men may suspend and ecclipse his Protection for a time that we may the more depend upon himself Note As the Nurse gets behind the Skreen that the Infant may go into the Mothers armes without crying If Angels do not help us t is that we may call upon God for aid Eleventhly Qu. 11 It may be asked if the Tutelar Angel doth at any time really and utterly depart and leave those destitute and forelorn with whose Guardianship they are intrusted T is sayd of Peters Angel Acts 12.10 when the Iron Gate was opened and one street passed That forthwith the Angel departed from him I answer Answ that departing of the Angel was only his disappearing or laying down that bodily shape that was assumed Mat. ult ult So Christ is said to leave and not to leave the World We affirm therfore that good Angels are our constant Associates till death Though their Influence may be susspended yet their presence is continued and they never throughout our life do utterly and totally sorsake us Mat. 18.10 Their Angels do alwayes behold my Fathers face They are their Angels not for a spirit or in a good Mood but alwayes theirs alwayes expecting new commands for their good And Psal 91.11 They are charged to keep us and be with us in all our wayes As a shaddow followeth the body without leaving it or lagging behind so do the Angels accompany Beleevers in all their walks and wayes Oates on Jude 9. p. 216. Oates in his Comment on Jude writeth thus The Angels attend on us ride and journey with us T is most necessary and evident that they never totally forsake us in our Pilgrimage in this wayfaring and warfaring condition Satan goeth about seeking whom to devoure If therfore he should find us alone and without the tuition of Angels we were but one morsel for him He spareth the wicked because they are his and must do him service As God is sayd to leave us for a time when sins and afflictions overtake us So the Angels his Messengers and Ministers may be sayd to withdraw when some hurt befals us to return again for our greater advantage but it is certain * Heb. 13.5 Psal 27.10 that God never leaves nor forsakes us therfore nor the Angels really or totally