A Manual of Practical Divinity, Treatise · Chapter 10
CHAP. X. The Miniſtry of Angels, and their ſerviceableneſs to the Church.
THough curious and unſcriptural Notions about the Angels are to be avoided: yet theſe things that the Scriptures reveal of them and their Miniſtry, are very profitable to be known. The Angels are called ſpirits, and a flame of fire, Heb. 1.7. They are active and quick at the Lords work; they are as a flame of fire not only for their terribleneſs but for their quikneſs; how quick fire goes out of a Gun, and how quick is a flaſh of lightning! The Angels were very forward to perform their ſervice to the Lord Jeſus; an Angel brought news to Mary that ſhe ſhould be the mother of our Lord, Luke 1.27.28. An Angel at Chriſts birth told the Shepherds the glad tidings of Chriſts coming into the world, and a multitude of them praiſed God, ſaying, Glory be to God in the Higheſt, on earth peace, and good will to men, Luke 2.9,13,14.
They had command to worſhip the Lord Jeſus, Heb. 1.6. When he bringeth in the firſt begotten into the world, he ſaith, And let all the Angels of God worſhip him; but why muſt all the Angels of God worſhip Chriſt when he came into this world, and was made fleſh? (1.) To own and acknowledge Chriſt to be God now in that mean eſtate, the form of a ſervant that he had put himſelf into; for worſhip only belongs to him that is God. (2) To acknowledge the benefit of confirmation that they have by the Lord Jeſus, by whom they are made immutably happy. (3.) To ſhew an example unto men to worſhip and honor Chriſt, when as the Angels that are more excellent creatures do it. (4.) To ſhew their admiration of that glorious and wonderful way of Salvation by Jeſus Chriſt.
And then at Chriſts death, the Angels came and miniſtred unto him, and ſtrengthened him. And as the Angels were forward to do ſervice to Chriſt: ſo they are to miniſter to the Saints; for the Lord hath made them miniſtring ſpirits to them that ſhall be Heirs of Salvation, The Lord makes uſe of them to keep his people out of many dangers, Pſalm 21.11,12. He hath given his Angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy wayes; they ſhall bear thee up leſt at any time thou ſhouldſt daſh thy foot againſt a ſtone; indeed God is ſo careful of his people, that he would not truſt all the Angels in heaven wholly with the ſafety of his people, but hath given them unto Chriſt to be their Leader and Commander and bring them unto Glory, who will loſe none of all that the father hath given him; who hath Infinite Power and Wiſdom to manage all their concernments; but the Angels are Miniſters under Chriſt to be helpful to the Saints as the Paſtors of Churches are Overſeers, and have the charge of the flock under him alſo; And ſo the Angels lift up the Saints many times as Nurſes do little children, that they don't daſh their feet againſt a ſtone, whom every little thing would throw down; They have their Orders from Chriſt whoſe Miniſters they are to do his pleaſure; therefore Chriſt is ſaid to ſit between the Cherubins, Pſal 99.1. to ſhew how he hath the Angels fit to ſend upon his Deſigns: and how often doth he ſend them to encamp round about the Saints in their dangers and deliver them? and becauſe of the Angels ſerviceableneſs to the Saints, they are called their Angels, Matth. 18.10.
The Lord giveth them great Power for to perform this ſervice and Miniſtry to the Saints; we ſee that the Angel, Act. 20.7,10. that was ſent to fetch Peter out of priſon, he did but touch him and his chains fell off, and when they came to the Iron gate it preſently opened; the Lord giveth the Angels power over the fierceſt creatures, that when Daniel was thrown into the Lions Den, the Lord ſent an Angel and ſhut the Lions mouthes, that they ſhould not hurt him, Dan. 6.32.
And as they ſerve the Saints in other things, ſo in deſtroying of their enemies; as an Angel ſmote Herod with death, Act. 10.23. Yea 1 Kings, 19.35. in that great ſtrait that Hezekiah and the people of God were in, when that huge Army of the Aſſyrians came againſt them, the Lord, the text ſaith ſent an Angel that ſmote in one night on kundred fourſcore and five thouſand of them, whom they left all dead corpſes. Its a wonderful Execution.
When Lazarus died, he was carried by the Angels into Abrahams boſom, Luke 16. As they do rejoyce in the converſion of a ſoul, ſo in the finiſhing of our courſe; and are joyful to bring us home to our Fathers houſe: yea, the Scripture tels us that the Lord will ſend the Angels at the laſt day to gather his people together from the four Winds, who will know them all in the utmoſt corners of the earth, having been miniſtring ſpirits unto them.