A Light from Christ Leading Unto Christ, Classis 6
The ſixth Claſsis, or Company of Queſtions.
1 Queſtion.
VVHat is the work of Gods Providence, as of the world in generall, ſo of Angels and men in particular?
Anſ. That excellent government by which God doth wiſely, juſtly, and graciouſly preſerve, rule, and order the world, provides for all, and diſpoſeth of all things therein, even the afflictions of his own people, for his own glory, and the good of his Children, Gen. 22.8.13. & 45.5. 1 King. 17.1, &c. Iob 48.41. Pſal. 36.6, 7. Prov. 15.3. Mat. 10.29, 30, 31. 1 Tim. 4.10. Rom. 8.28. Pſal. 119.67, 71. Heb. 12.6, 7, 8.
Queſt. 2. What is the work of Gods Providence concerning Angels; or their ſervice in reſpect to his Children, or to the wicked?
Pſ. 104.4. Heb. 1.14. Pſ 34.8. & 91.10, 11. 2 Kings 6.16, 17, & 19.35.Anſ. They are all miniſtring Spirits, ſent forth for their ſakes that are heires of Salvation; yea, for preſervation of Saints, & deſtruction of the wicked, both in this life, and at the day of Iudgement, Luk. 24.23. Mat. 13.41, 42. & 25.30.31.
Queſt. 3. What elſe is the office of the Elect Angels?
Anſ. They are glorious attendants on Gods Majeſty in heaven,Dan. 7.9. Luk. 2.13, 14. Rev. 5.11, 12. Pſa. 103.20. 2 Pet, 2.11 Iſa. 6.23. delightfully ſinging forth his praiſes, and readily waiting at all times to do his pleaſure.
Queſt. 4. How long have the Angels been provided to do God ſervice? Or when did God make them for his miniſtration?
Anſ. The certain day of their Creation, is not expreſſed in the holy Scriptures;Gen. 1.2, 3. Iob 38.4, 5, 6, 7. Mat. 24.30. But it is moſt likely they were Created the firſt day, when the Heavens were made, wherein they dwell, the Angels being witneſſes at the Creation of the earth, and rejoycing at the excellency of Gods works at the beginning.
Queſt. 5. How many Angels did God make for this ſervice in the beginning?
Anſ. The certain number is not revealed in Scriptures;Dan. 7.10. Mat. 26.53. Heb. 12.22. but it is evidently held forth, that God hath Thouſand thouſands of Angels, and Ten thouſand times ten thouſand, legions and miriades, yea, an innumerable company to attend upon his Majeſty, and do him ſervice.
Queſt. 6. In what ſtate and condition did God create the Angels?
Anſ. They were all very good,Gen. 1.31. perfect in holineſſe and righteouſneſſe,Lu. 9.26 Iob 1.8. Act. 6.15. 2 Cor. 11.14. Iob 39 7. Heb. 12.9 pure and glorious Spirits, Angels of light, after the likeneſſe of God their Father.
Queſt. 7. Are the Angels all alike in nature?
Anſ. In reſpect of their nature they are all alike holy Spirits;Mar, 4.11 Iude v. 9. Iſa. 6.2. Ezek. 10.1, 2. Col. 1.16, &c. Eph. 1.20, &c. Mal. 3.1, 2, 3. but in reſpect of their offices, objects, and ſervices, about which they are converſant, they are held forth in Scripture by divers names, titles, and degrees, as Angels, Archangels, Seraphins, Cherubims, and the like; but the head of all is Chriſt, the Angel of the Covenant.
Queſt. 8. How is the Lord Chriſt the head of the Angels?
H… 8.12.22, &c. Iohn 1.1, 2, 3. 1 Cor. 8.6. Col. 1.16, &c. Eph. 1.20, &c. Phil. 2. 1 Tim. 5.21. Heb. 1.2, &c.Anſ. Not as a head, as Mediator, of or by Redemption, as he is to men; for the Elect Angels never fell: But as head or ſupreme by Creation, Conſervation and Confirmation, in that ſtate of happineſſe and purity in which they were firſt Created: Chriſt the Eternall Son of God upholding all things, and being highly ex…lted above all things as head of the Church, and of all the Sons of God, Angels and men.
Queſt. 9. Have the Angels any care of, or reſpect unto men in particular?
Anſ. They are ready at Gods charge for preſervation of Saints; they deſire their good, and rejoyce at the converſion of a ſinner, and delightfully look into the myſtery of mans Redemption, being ready to oppoſe the Devils, and all enemies, and to carry the ſouls of Saints departing into Abrahams boſome, that Paradiſe of heaven, to be with Chriſt for ever, Pſal. 91.11, 12. Dan. 10.13, 21. Zach. 1.12, 13. Joh. 5.4. Luke 15.10. 1 Pet. 1.10, &c. Eph. 3.8, 9, 10. Zach. 3.1.2. Acts 12.7, 8. Rev. 12.7, &c. Gen. 32.2. Mat. 18.10. Luke 26.22. and 23.43.
Queſt. 10. Are Angels to be worſhipped or prayed unto?
Anſ. No, by no means;Iudg. 13.16. Zac. 13.7. Rev. 19.20. & 22.1, 9. Heb. 1.4, &c. It is a ſacrifice and ſervice which belongeth to God himſelf, and to that God-man Chriſt, the Angel of the Covenant, who is Gods fellow; and this worſhip is an honour which the Angels themſelves have refuſed to accept.
Queſt. 11.Mat. 33.1, 2, 3. Gen. 19.1.20. & 31, 11, &c. & 34.24, &c. 48.15, 16. But did not the Patriarchs bow and pray to Angels, and Iacob in particular, Gen. 48.16?
Anſ. That was the Angel of the Covenant, the Lord Chriſt, the ſecond Perſon in Trinity, who appeared to Jacob and other Patriarchs;Heb. 11.18. Iſa 41.8. Col. 2.18. and ſo worſhip was and is due to him, but not to any Created Angel whatſoever.
Queſt. 12. What profit is this knowledge of Angels to the Saints and Servants of God?
Gen. 31.2. 2 King. 6.16. & 19.35. Mat. 26.53, 44. Pſal. 68.17.Anſ. Of great profit and comfort that we may know the greatneſſe of Gods love, and care for his Church; that if all the wicked men and Devils in the world do conſpire againſt Gods Children; yet beſides Gods own infinite power, God hath created Armies of mighty Angels to preſerve his Saints, and to deſtroy the wicked at his pleaſure.
Queſt. 13. You have Anſwered comfortably concerning the Elect: Now what is Gods Providence concerning evil Angels, or Devils, and what they are?
Iob 4.17, &c. & 1.9, &c. Iude 6. Gen. 3.1, 2, 3. 1 Chron. 21.1. Zach. 3.1, 2. Mat. 13.28, 29. Eph. 2.12 2 Tim. 2.26. Ioh. 8 44. Ioh. 3.8. 2 Pet. 2.4. Mat. 25.41. Rev. 20.Anſ. They are thoſe Angels or Spirits in whom God found folly, who kept not their firſt ſtate, but left their own habitation, & ſinned againſt God their maker, for which they were caſt out of heaven, and of glorious Angels, became ugly Devils, enemies to God and Saints, tyrants over wicked men, ruling in them as their God, and drawing them to ſin in this life, for which the Devils are reſerved in chains of darkneſſe, and ſhall be tormented with the wicked in Hell fire for ever.
Queſt 14. What power hath the Devil and his Angels to hurt the Saints?
Anſ. A limited power and retrained, for the Devils are conquered by Chriſt, and can go no further then God gives them leave, for his own glory, and the triall and good of his Saints, Job 1.12. and 2.6. Hebrews 2.14, 15. John 6.11. Colloſſ. 2.14, 15.
Queſt. 15. What benefit can this knowledge bring to the Church and Children of God?
Anſ. Great joy and profit that Chriſt our Saviour hath broken the Serpents head, and hath power of Devils,Gen. 3.15. Rev. 12.10, &c. Mat. 8.28, &c. Luke 11.21, 22. that they cannot hurt ſo much as a Swine, much leſſe one of his Children, without leave and licenſe from Chriſt our Lord and King, who doth and can reſtrain the Devils, and diſpoſſeſſe them at his pleaſure.
Queſt. 16. What other benefit have we?
Anſ. To teach Saints to be watchfull and take heed of Satans temptations, to keep cloſe to Chriſt, who doth and will tread down Satan under our feet ſhortly, Mat. 26.41. 1 Pet. 5.8, 9. Gen. 17.1. Joh. 14.20, 21, 22. Act. 24.15, 16. Rom. 16.20.