Three Decades of Sermons, Decade 3 · Sermon 2
THE MINISTERY OF ANGELLS.
Heb. 1. 14. Are they not all Miniſtring ſpirits, ſent forth to Miniſter for them, who ſhall be heires of ſalvation?
TO draw down the context to the text, we are to Sermon 2. Preached at S. Marye's Oxon. Oct. 3. 1658. Verſ. 3. foreign. Solis radii ſunt ejuſdem naturae cum ſole, ab eodem propagatione diſtinguuntur, avelluntur nunquam: hac Metaphorâ divinam filii naturam convenientiſſime expreſſit Apoſtolus. Et character …icitur expreſſa imago Archetypi. Pareus in loc.take ſpeciall notice of the Excellency and dignity of Chriſt repreſented unto us in this chapter eſpecially Verſ. 3. Who being the brightneſs of his glory, and the expreſs image of his perſon and upholding all things by the Word of his Power, when he had by himſelfe purged our ſinnes, ſat down on the right hand of the Majeſty on High. And by way of Compariſon, the Apoſtle further inhanceth the honour and preheminence of Chriſt. For after he had compared Chriſt with the Angells, he ſets the Crown on Chriſts head, his name is more excellent than theirs. Verſ. 4. 5. Being made ſo much better then the Angells, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name then they. For unto which of the Angells ſaid he at any time, Thou art my ſon, this day have I begotten thee? And againe, I Will be to him a Father, and he ſhall be to me a Son. Chriſt is a Son, the Angells his ſervants, they may not be worſhipped themſelves, but they muſt worſhip Chriſt, Verſ. 6. 7. Let all the Angells of God worſhip him. Of his Angells he ſaith, who maketh his Angells ſpirits, and his Miniſters a flame of fire. And further honour is aſcribed to the Son, which is not to Angells, Verſ. 8. 9. Ʋnto the Son he ſaith, Thy throne O God, is for ever and ever, a ſcepter of righteouſneſſe, is the ſcepter of thy Kingdome. Thou haſt loved righteouſneſſe and hated iniquity: therefore God even thy God hath anointed thee with the oyle of gladneſſe above thy fellowes. And further Chriſt is a Lord and Creatour, the Angells ſervants and creatures: Chriſt is advanced to the Throne, He is the Soveraign Lord of all, Verſ. 13. The Angells miniſtering ſpirits ſubſervient to Chriſt, and at his command: and when commiſſionated by him, helpfull and ſerviceable unto all the children of God. It is demanded by way of interrogation in the Text, Are they not all Miniſtring ſpirits &c. Which ſcripture ſets forth clearly the Protection of Angells, their Miniſtery and ſerviceableneſſe unto the children of God, A point ſeldome taught, yet very uſefull, comfortable, and of ſingular concernment unto all the children of God! And being that its the duty of the Miniſter to declare unto people the whole councell of God, that which hath oft been in my intention, I ſhall now endeavour to handle with all the perſpicuity that I can.
The words contain a queſtion, Are they not all Miniſtring ſpirits? Diviſ.which being reſolved, the anſwer is obvious that the Angells are all Miniſtring ſpirits: More particularly we are to obſerve a Deſcription of Angells.
1. From their nature, Spirits.1. foreign. 2. foreign. 3. foreign. 4. foreign implied foreign expreſt. 5. foreign.
2. From their office, Miniſtring.
3. Their commiſſion, Sent.
4. Whoſe Miniſters they are, 1. Primarily, Chriſts. And ſecondarily, Chriſts children.
5. The univerſality, All: All the Angells. Here's the univerſality of the object, and it is foreign, and univerſality of the ſubject all the Angells: All that are heires, none left out, none exempted from the benefit of the ſervice of all the Angells of God. All that are heires of Salvation, all Chriſts children have intereſt in their protection.
Many ſcruples may be made, and many things require explication, what requires opening ſhall be endeavoured in the enlargement of one intire doctrine whereon I purpoſe to fix. Thus I propound it to you.
That it pleaſeth God to make uſe of the Miniſtery of Angells for Doct. the good of his Children. This is the point I aime at from this Scripture. For the Inlargement whereof, I ſhall propound ſeverall queſtions and give in Anſwers to them, that ſhall conſtitute the doctrinall part of the Text, which done, I ſhall draw inferences for our inſtruction and practice, and thoſe ſhall conſtitute the uſe and application.
For the reſuming the firſt thing propounded.
The firſt queſtion is, what Angells are? I have read many curious Q. 1. What Angells are.obſervations of Fathers and School-men concerning Angells, which I conceive not fit to communicate, being altogether unwilling to ſtu…e a Sermon with Curioſities and conjectures which tend not to edification. For if Moſes knowing the originall of the world had it not revealed what to write of Angels, if Col. 2. 18. Demiſſio illa animi vitioſa parit cultum ſuperſtitioſum Monentur hoc in loco Coloſſenfes ne decepti ab Impoſtoribus tribuant Angelis cultum divinum. Daven. foreign à Nuntiando.Stephen, who had the heavens opened ſaw not thoſe orders of Angells what they were; if Paul, who was taken up into the third heaven, ſaw yet ſo little of Angells that whoſoever will teach ſo curiouſly of them, he ſaith, they be puft up of a fleſhly mind to ſpeak of things which they never ſaw: Let no man beguile you of your reward, in a voluntary humility and worſhipping of Angells, intruding into thoſe things which he hath not ſeen, vainly puft up by his fleſhly mind. If John in all his revelations had no ſuch knowledge revealed of Angells, then it's a duty to be modeſt and ſober in inquiſitions, to be wiſe unto Sobriety, and to avoyd curious ſpeculations of Schoolmen, and confine our ſelves unto the Word of God; Now what they are, we ſhall ſhew from their names and Nature.
Firſt, from their names, they are Meſſengers, who carry a Their Name.meſſage: they are Gods meſſengers. *This name Angell is attributed unto Chriſt. †Gen. 48. 16The Angell that delivered me from all evill bleſſe the lads, &c. ‖Ex. 23. 20.Behold I ſend an Angell before thee to keep thee in the way and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. † Nomen non naturae ſed officii Aug.*Iſa. 63. 9.In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the Angell of his preſence ſaved them, in his love, and in his pitty he redeemed them, and he bare them and carried them all the daies of old. Chriſt is called foreign Nuntius Dei Steph.the Angell of his preſence, and the Angell of the Covenant. Behold I will ſend my meſſenger, and he ſhall prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom yee ſeeke ſhall ſuddenly come unto his Temple, even the Mal. 3. 1.meſſenger of the Covenant, whom yee delight in.
This name of Angell is aſcribed there unto John Baptiſt, who came in the ſpirit of Elias, and unto Chriſt alſo, and likewiſe to our Miniſters, paſtours and teachrs, Rev. 2. 12. Rev. 3. 1. Angells are took for Spirits, Meſſengers of God imployed for the fulfilling of his will and commands in Heaven or in earth! And ſo in my Text.
For their Nature. Damaſcene giveth this definition of Angells. 2. The Nature of Angells. foreign. &c. Damaſc.A moſt pure and perfect, intellectuall, immateriall and immortall creature., created and appointed to be Gods attendants and meſſengers between God and man. Not that God hath any neceſſity of help or cooperation of his creatures; but that he is pleaſed in his will and pleaſure to imploy thoſe Inſtruments. So I will, and ſo I command; God only can ſay, and we may not queſtion, what he doth.
But to ſet down their Nature more fully, I'le take notice of theſe properties.
1. Angells are Spirits. He maketh his Angells ſpirits, and his Miniſters a flaming fire. In that they are called ſpirits, that declares 1. Angells are ſpirits. Pſal. 104. 4. Spiritus vox naturam declarat, flammae vero …orū potentiam. Gomarus. Facit Deus inſtar ventorum velociſſimos Miniſtros, eoſdemque facit flammam ignis, hoc eſt, celerrime, inſtar fulg… ris exequendi juſſa paratiſſimos. Pareus in loc.their Nature, and flaming fire, that ſhewes their power. Windes and fire are ſwift in their motion, and ſo are Angells. God makes his Miniſters ſwift like wind, and like a flame of fire, that is moſt ready, like lightning, ſpeedily to execute his commands. They are not compounded of matter and forme, for Luk. 8. 30. Many Devills entred into one man, and the Devills themſelves were once Angells of light.
And though we read that they have appeared in bodily ſhapes: yet we muſt know that thoſe bodies were aſſumtitious. They might aſſume a body for a time, for the diſcharge of that particular ſervice they went about.
And whereas we read of their wings, faces, hands, and tongues; all thoſe are to be underſtood Metaphorically. The diſciples were terrified, and afrighted, and ſuppoſed that they had ſeen a ſpirit: And he ſaid unto them, why are ye troubled! and why do thoughts Luk. 24. 37, 38, 39.ariſe in your hearts! Behold my hands and my feet that it is I my ſelf, handle me and ſee, for a ſpirit hath not fleſh and bones as you ſee me have.
Angells are incorporeall, and though we read of their eating and drinking, as the Angells with Abraham, Lot and others, we muſt know that when they aſſumed bodies, God might give them thoſe faculties that belonged to bodies, or they might conſume the foode, and work miraculouſly above mans apprehenſion.
2. Angells are inviſible. By him were all things created that are 2. Angells are inviſible. Col. 1. 16.in heaven, and that are in earth, viſible and inviſible, whether they be Thrones, Dominions, or Principalities, or Powers, all things were created by him and for him. And they acted inviſibly, when they took upon them ſhapes, and aſſumed bodies, for a time indeed they appeared unto men, but as ſpirits they are as Inviſible as a mans ſoule. Who hath ſeen a ſpirit at any time, or the ſoul of man, or an Angell?
3. They are Immortall. Good Angells are ſo, neither can the… 3. They are immortall. Luk. 20. 36.dye any more, for they are equall unto the Angells, and are the children of God, being the children of the reſurrection. Bad Angells are ſo, Then ſhall we ſay to them on his left hand, depart from me Matt. 25 41.ye curſed, into everlaſting fire, prepared for the Devill an his Angells.
4. They neither marry nor are given in marriage. Hence Chryſoſtome 4. They neither marry, nor are given in marriage. Luk. 10. 33.confutes their opinion, who from Gen. 6. 2. by the Sons of God, underſtand the Angells, this muſt needs be a very corrupt expoſition, becauſe they neither marry nor are given in marriage.
5. They are moſt numerous, a great multitude? *Gen. 32. 1, 2.Jacob went 5. They are moſt numerouson his way, and the Angells of God met him, and when Jacob ſaw them, he ſaid, this is Gods hoſt, and he called the name of that place M…hanaim. †Deut. 33. 2.The Lord came from Sinai, and roſe up from Seir unto them, and ſhined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thouſands of Saints, from his right hand went a fiery law for them. ‖Pſ. 68. 17.The Chariots of God are twenty thouſand, even thouſands of Angells, the Lord is among them as in Sinai, the holy place. *Dan. 7. 10.Thouſand thouſands miniſtred unto him, and ten thouſand times ten thouſand ſtood before him; the judgment was ſet, and the bookes were opened. †Rev. 5. 11.I beheld and heard the voice of many Angells round about the Throne, and the beaſts, and the elders, and the number of them was ten thouſand times ten thouſands, and thouſand of thouſands.
They have great celerity and agility. They moove with all expedition. And though they are not repletivè in loco, we cannot aſcribe an Ubiquity of preſence to them, becauſe they are created ſubſtances, yet Philoſophers ſay, they moove in a point and in an inſtant. And this aſſertion is conſonant to Scripture, otherwiſe I ſhould not meddle with it: For we read in Daniel, Whileſt I was ſpeaking in prayer, even the man Gabriell, whom I had ſeen in a viſion at the beginning being cauſed to flie ſwiftly touched me about the evening oblation. Hence we read of Cherubims in Scripture, that they have winges. Hereupon Picturedrawers Exod. 37. 9.paint Angells with their winges diſplaid, which diſcovers both their ignorance and ſuperſtition. What are Images but teachers of lies? And (as the book of Homilies obſerves) no more A Booke of Homilies printed in Q Elizabeths time.adorne a Church then Brothel-houſes a Common-wealth. They have winges aſcribed unto them, for our apprehenſion and according unto our capacity, not that they have really winges, but thereby to ſet forth their ſwiftneſſe, celerity and agility, to do what God commands them.
7. They are of great ſtrength and power. We read of the 7. Angells are of great ſtrength. Pſal. 103. 20. 2 Theſ. 1. 7. foreign.ſtrength of good Angells. Bleſſe the Lord, ye his Angells, that excell in ſtrength, that do his commandments, hearkning unto the voice of his Word. They are called the powers of Chriſt. To you who are troubled, reſt with us, when the Lord Jeſus ſhall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angells. And bad Angells are of great ſtrength: The Devill is the ſtrong man armed, compared to a roaring Lion, a Dragon, a Leviathan. And bad Angells are called powers, and principalities, ſpirituall wickedn…ſſes in high places! Eph. 2. 2.Wherein in time paſt ye walked according to the courſe of this world, according to the Prince of the power of the aire, the ſpirit that now Eph. 6. 12.worketh in the children of diſobedience. We wreſtle not againſt fleſh and blood, but againſt principalities, againſt powers, againſt the rulers of the darkneſſe of this world, againſt ſpirituall wickedneſſe in high places.
The ſecond queſtion is, How many ſorts of Angells there are? Q. 2. How many ſorts of Angells are there. V. Salkeld of the Nature of Angells.I anſwer there are good and bad, Angells of light, and Angells of darkneſſe. For good Angells, School-men and others make nine diſtinct orders of them, and they ranke them into 3 Hierarchies.
1. Cherubims, Seraphims, and Thrones.
2. Dominations, Vertues, and Powers.
In the 3. ranke, Principalities, Archangells, and Angells.
I dare not follow the School-mens ſteps too cloſe, but ſhall endeavour above all to keep cloſe to Scripture. That there are different degrees of Angells, ſome higher in dignity then others ſeems probable, but that there are thoſe nine diſtinct orders, and that ſome are ſent and not others, the Angells of the lower rank and not others are imployed, is an ungrounded conjecture, beſides the rule of Scripture, and we may not be wiſe abou… what is written. We read of Seraphims and Cherubims to cover the mercy ſeat: Iſa. 6. 6. Eph. 1. 21.We read of Principalities, Rules, Powers, Dominions, Thrones. The Apoſtle ventured not to reckon them all up: How dare the Schoolmen ſo peremptorily determine? Auguſtine giveth his judgment Eſſe ſedes dominationes, &c. Auguſt.thus: I do (ſaith he) firmely believe that there be ſeats, powers, and principalities: yet I hold with undoubted faith, that they differ in ſort, but how they differ, I know not: neither do I think that by ſuch ignorance I incurre any danger. Queſtionleſſe there's an Angell foreign above them all in degree and dignity, to whom all the Angells muſt pay homage and worſhip, and that is the Archangell, (for we read not of Archangells in Scripture) Michaell the Archangell, when contending with the Devill, he Jude 9.diſputed about the body of Moſes, durſt not bring againſt him a rayling accuſation, but ſaid, The Lord rebuke thee. The 1 Theſ. 4. 16.Lord himſelfe ſhall deſcend from heaven with a ſhout, with the voyce of an Archangell, and with the trump of God, and the dead in Chriſt ſhall riſe firſt. This is meant of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt: All thrones, powers, dominions muſt yeild ſubjection unto him: He hath a name above every name. He is Soveraign Lord of all.
Now for the bad Angells. We read of the Devill and his Angells, and Beelzebub, the Prince of the Devills, which implyes Order and degree according to a common acceptation: though ſome rather underſtand it ſpoken of their power, and this is more probable. To be over-curiouſly inquiſitive in theſe things I dare not. The well is deep and we have not wherewith to draw.
I deſcend to a third queſtion which is more profitable to know. Q 3. What are the offices of Angells? 1. To behold the face of God. Math. 18. 10. Iſa. 6. 2.And that is, what are the offices of the Angells? I mean the good Angells, for my text only ſpeaks of them. They are theſe.
1. To behold the face of God. Take heed that ye deſpiſe not one of theſe little ones: for I ſay unto you that their Angells do alwaies behold the face of my Father which is in Heaven. Though ſometimes we read, they cover their faces. Above it ſtood the Seraphims, each one had ſix winges, with twaine he covered his face, with twaine he covered his feet, and with twaine he did flie. They are not able to behold the infinite luſtre, and ſplendour of his Majeſty; but in Scripture account, to be as the Angells in heaven ſets forth a ſtate of bleſſedneſſe. In the reſurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the Angells of God heaven: Mat. 22. 30.And bleſſedneſſe conſiſts in the injoyment of the bleſſed viſion.
2. To execute the commands of God. Bleſſe the Lord, ye his 2. To execute Gods will. Pſal. 103. 20. Mat. 6. 10.Angells, that excell in ſtrength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his Word. Bleſſe the Lord all ye his hoſts, the Miniſters of his that do his pleaſure. And we pray thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
3. To celebrate the praiſes of God. *Iſa. 6. 3.One cried unto another, and 3. To praiſe God.ſaid, holy, holy, holy, Lord of hoſts, the whole earth is full of his glory. †Luk. 2. 13, 14.And ſuddenly there was with the Angell a multitude of the heavenly hoſt, praiſing God, & ſaying glory to God in the higheſt; and on earth peace, good will towards men. ‖Rev. 4. 8, 9.The foure beaſts had each of them ſix winges about him, & they were full o… eyes within, & they reſt not day or night, ſaying, holy, holy, holy Lord God Almighty, which was, & is & is to come.
4. To make it their work to preſerve Gods glory. And I fell 4. To make it their worke to preſerve Gods glory. Rev. 19. 10.at his feet to worſhip him, and he ſaid unto me, ſee thou do it not, I am thy fellow-ſervant, and of thy brethren, that have the teſtimony of Jeſus, worſhip God, for the teſtimony of Jeſus is the Spirit of Prophecy. The Angell would not beare with Gods diſhonour, and would not permit John to worſhip him.
5. To be ſervants unto Chriſt. When he bringeth in the firſt begotten 5. to be Chriſts ſervants. Heo. 1. 6. Pſal. 97. 7. Luk. 1. 19.into the world, (he ſaith) let all the Angells of God worſhip him. Confounded be all they that ſerve graven Images, that boaſt themſelves of Idolls; worſhip him all ye Gods. They brought the meſſage of Chriſts incarnation. I am Gabriell that ſtand in the preſence of God, and am ſent to ſpeak unto thee, and to tell thee theſe glad tidings. They miniſtred unto him. *Mat. 4. 11.Then the Devill leaved him, and behold Angells came and miniſtred unto him. †Luk. 22. 43.And there appeared an Angell from Heaven unto him and ſtrengthening him. Chriſt is the head of them, and they are his ſervants: ye are compleat in him, who is Col. 2. 10.the head of all Principality and Power.
6. Angells are ſerviceable unto men, not one, but all▪ not any foreign. (i. e.) Miniſtratores quos vulgò ſolemus officiarias vocare. Beza. Numb. 20. 16 2 King. 6. 16.a…e exempted, They are all miniſtring ſpirits in the text. And theſe ſingular ſervices which they have done, and will do for Gods children, are upon record. They deliver them from dangers, When we cried unto the Lord, he heard our voice, and ſent an Angell, and hath brought us forth out of Egypt, and behold we are in Kadeſh, a Cittie in the uttermoſt of thy border. Feare not (ſaith the Prophet) for they they that be with us are more then they that are with them, Who were they but Gods Angells for the Prophets ſafe-guard.
1. The Angell of the Lord incampeth about them that feare him, 1. The Angell of the Lord incampeth about the righteous.and delivereth them. *Dan. 3. 28.Then Nebuchadnezzar ſpake and ſaid, bleſſed be the God of Shadrach, Meſhach and Abednego, who hath ſent his Angell and delivered his ſervants that truſted in him, aad hath changed the Kings word and yeelded their bodies, that they might not ſerve or worſhip any God, except their own God. And Daniel makes this acknowledgment, My God hath ſent his Angell, and hath ſhut ‖ Pſal. 91. 11.the Lyons mouth, that they have not hurt me, for aſmuch, as before him innocency was found in me, and alſo before thee; O King, I have done no hurt. †Dan. 6. 22.He ſhall give his Angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all his waies. Angels are Protectors & Guardians commiſſionated by God Dan. 10. 13.to protect Gods children. The Prince of the Kingdome of Perſia, withſtood me one and twenty daies, but lo Michael, one of the chiefe Princes came to help me, and I remained there with the King of Perſia, Michael is generally interpreted to be Chriſt the only Archangell.
2. The Angells are of marvellous wiſdome to direct, counſell, 2. Angels are of marveilous wiſdome. Gen. 24. 7.and adviſe the children of God. The Lord God of heaven which took me from my fathers houſe, and from the Land of my kindred, and which ſpake unto me, and ſware unto me, ſaying, unto thy ſeed will I give this Land, he ſhall ſend his Angell before thee, and thou ſhalt take a wife to my ſon from thence. The Lord before whom I walk will ſend his Angell with thee, and proſper thy way, and thou ſhalt take a wife for my ſon of my kindred, and of my Fathers houſe.
3. They comfort Gods children. Gen. 32. 2. This is Gods hoſt ſaid 3. Angells comfort Gods children. 1 King. 19. 5, 6, 7.Jacob, as Elias lay and ſlept under a juniper tree, behold then an Angell touched him, and ſaid unto him, ariſe and eate. And he looked, and behold there was a cake baken on the coales, and a cruſe of water at his head, and he did eat and drinke, and laid him down again. And the Angell of the Lord came a ſecond time and touched him, and ſaid ariſe and eat, becauſe the journey is to great for thee.
4. They puniſh their enemies. *Gen. 19. 11They ſmote the men that were at 4. Angells puniſh the ſaints enemies.the dore with blindneſſe, both ſmall and great, ſo that they wearied themſelves to find the dore. †2 King 19. 35.And it came to paſſe that night, that the Angell of the Lord went out, and ſmote in the campe of the Aſſyrians an hundred fourſcore and five thouſand, and when they aroſe early in the morning, behold they were all dead corpſes. Herod was made a ſignall ſpectacle of pride, as is on record. ‖Acts 12. 23And immediatly an Angell of the Lord ſmote him, becauſe he gave not God the glory & he was Rev. 12. 7.eaten of wormes, and gave up the ghoſt. They ſtand for Chriſt and his Church, againſt Satan and his Angells. And there was war in heaven, Michael and his Angells fought againſt the Dragon, and the Dragon fought and his Angells.
5. They reſiſt the wicked, and their attemps. Balaam found 5. Angells reſiſt wicked men. Num. 22. 22. 6. Angels carry the Saints ſouls into heaven. Luk. 16. 22. 7. They gather the elect unto Chriſt. Mat. 24. 31. Mar. 13. 27. Q. 4. Whether every Saint hath a peculiar Angell his keeper? Mat. 18. 10.it ſo, And Gods anger was kindled becauſe he went, and an Angell of the Lord ſtood in the way for an Adverſary againſt him.
6. They carry the ſoules of Gods children into heaven. And it came to paſſe that the begger died, and was carried by the Angells into Abrahams boſome: the rich man alſo died and was buried &c.
7. They gather the elect unto Chriſt at the laſt day. He ſhall ſend his Angells with a great ſound of a trumpet, and they ſhall gather together his elect from the foure windes, from one end of heaven to the other.
The fourth queſtion is, whether every Saint hath a peculiar Angell to be his keeper and Protectour?
That every Saint hath a peculiar Angell to keep him is the opinion of Fathers, School-men, and many Proteſtants: but although I am farre from a haſty cenſure, yet I cannot aſſent unto their opinion, becauſe here in the text, it's laid down univerſally, All. There are two Scriptures ſpecially urged in behalfe of this opinion: The one is Mat. 18. 10. Take heed that yee deſpiſe not one of theſe little ones, for I ſay unto you that their Angells do alwaies behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. The other is Act. 12. 15. They ſaid unto her; thou art mad, but ſhe conſtantly Act. 12. 15.affirmed that it was even ſo: then ſaid they, it is his Angell.
To the former place I anſwer; the meaning is, that men ought Anſ. not to contemne poore believers, ſeeing God hath ſo farre honoured them, as to give them his own Angells, to be their Guardians and Miniſters. And though they are called their Angells, it followes not hence that each Saint hath a peculiar Angell appropriated to himſelfe: but their Angells are appointed over a…l Gods children, and are as ſerviceable unto them, as if every one Angell had charge over one particular Saint, & Individuum. So that one Angell may protect many: as, The Angell of Pſal. 34. 7.the Lord encampeth round about them that feare him and delivereth them. One Angell may protect many, and many Angells may protect one. The meaning of this Scripture Calvin makes to be this That they are not to be contemned, whoſe Angells are neere and readyNon impunè contemni eos, quorum Angeli propinqui ſunt & familiares, ut vindictam exigant. Calv.
to take revenge. The Angells will take revenge upon thoſe who afflict the children of God.
But there is more matter of doubt from Act. 12. 15. Then ſaid Queſt. they it is his Angell.
For anſw…r, 1. The word foreign is rendred a Meſſenger Anſ. and ſo ſome rather render it: It's his Meſſenger.
2. It's ſpoken according to a vulgar opinion. There is an antient opinion that there is a good and a bad Genius. Empedocles the Philoſopher taught that every man had two Angells, one good another bad, And Grecians uſed to ſay that every man hath his own Angell to be the foreign of all his life. And Plutarch records, when Brutus was …laine, the night before, one appeared unto him and ſaid, I am thine evill Angell, oh Brutus. But among the Jewes themſelves there were frequent apparitions of dead perſons and phantaſmes (which queſtionleſſe were diabolicall) and they were thought by the vulgar ſort to be the ſpirits, of the perſons, whom they repreſented, and they had a conjecture that there was ſome good, or ſome bad, according to the diverſitie of the perſons, and their forepaſſed life. Now it ſhould ſeem that theſe people amazed as it were, at an unlooked for chance, followed the popular opinion and would thereby inferre that Peters death was inevitable, ſeeing his ſpirit did already begin to appeare.
3. This may be underſtood, It is his Angell, that is ſome Angell that God had ſent for his deliverance, which was fully effected, For the Angell of the Lord took away Peters chayne, and delivered Acts. 12. 17.him out of Priſon.
The fifth queſtion is, what is the knowledge of Angells?Q. 5. What is the knowledg of Angells.
1. We muſt premiſe that they are not omniſcient. Of that day and houre knoweth no man, no not the Angells of Heaven, but my Father Mat. 24. 14.only. They increaſe in knowledge, ſaith the Apoſtle Paul, Mat. 13. 32. Eph. 3. 10.To the intent that now unto the Principalities, and Powers, in heavenly places might be knowne by the Church, the manifold wiſdome of God. And likewiſe the Apoſtle Peter concurres, Ʋnto whom it was 1 Pet. 1. 12.revealed that not unto themſelves: but unto us they did Miniſter the things which are now reported unto you, by them that have preached the Goſpell unto you, with the holy Ghoſt ſent down from heaven, which things the Angells deſire to look into.
2. The knowledge Angells have is by intuition, and not diſcourſe as men have.
3. Their wiſdome and knowledge is excellent. So ſaid the woman of Tekoah, My Lord is wiſe, according to the wiſdome of an Angell 2 Sam. 14. 20.of God, to know all things that are in earth.
4. They are Creatures of great experience. Even bad Angells have great knowledge. They have had long experience, and have made many obſervations of the Actions of men.
5. God oftimes communicates unto good Angells the affaires of men. I cannot, neither will I ſay, that the Angells know mens thoughts for: That's Gods ſole Prerogative. Neither can I ſay, that the Angells know all our actions. But they know very much, becauſe God communicates them unto them, and they rejoyce in Luk. 15. 7, 10the converſion of a ſinner, and bad Angells know much of a mans waies. The Devill obſerves and takes notice of our failings, and though he knows not our thoughts: yet he'l gueſſe neer the matter, and by circumſtances and carriages put together, he will eaſily find out which is the boſome and conſtitution ſinne, and ſo forme his temptation accordingly.Q. 6. Whether Chriſt died for Angells? Anſ. 1. Heb. 2. 16.
The ſixt and laſt queſtion is, whether Chriſt died for Angells?
I anſwer, Negatively. For firſt, he took not upon him their Nature. Verily he took not upon him the Nature of Angells, but the ſeed of Abraham.
2. God left the Apoſtate Angells without recovery. What their ſinne was, whether pride, or any other ſinne, (though moſt are of opinion that pride was the chiefeſt ſinne of them) we will not curiouſly inquire. But that they were Apoſtates from God, and ſo became eternally miſerable, is evident from Scripture: And Jude. 6.the Angells which kept not their firſt eſtate, but left their own habitation, he hath reſerved in everlaſting chaines under darkneſſe unto the judgment of the great day. They it ſeems fell from their primitive condition once and irrecoverably.
3. We affirme that Chriſts death is of great benefit unto the elect Angells. For thereby they are confirmed in their happy eſtate. Chriſts death eſtabliſhed the holy Angells in their ſtate of bleſſedneſſe.
The Apoſtle plainly proves our Aſſertion, That in the diſpenſation Eph. 1. 10.of the fulneſſe of times, he might gather together into one all things in Chriſt, both which are in Heaven and which are on earth, even in him. Far above all Principality, Power, Might, and Dominion, verſ. 21.and every name that is named, not only in this world, but that which is to come, And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be verſ. 22.the head over all things to the Church, which is his body, the fulneſſe verſ. 23. Eph. 3. 10. Col. 1. 20.of him that filleth all in all. To the intent that now, the Principalities, and Powers, in heavenly places, might be knowne by the Church, the manifold wiſdome of God. And (having made peace through the blood of his croſſe) by him to reconcile all things unto himſelfe: by him, I Col. 2. 10.ſay, whether they be things in heaven, or things on earth. And ye are compleat in him, who is the head of all Principality, and Power. I purpoſely wave many curious queſtions, wherein Popiſh writers abound. Wherefore in the laſt place, I ſhall make a practicall improvement of the whole, and apply only three inferences, for Information, Inſtruction, and Conſolation.
For Information.1. For Information.
1. What excellent, knowing, glorious creatures the holy Angells are, and if they be ſo excellent, how much more is Jeſus Chriſt their Lord? Great is the knowledge of theſe glorious creatures, but what they have is derivative from their Creatour.
2. Be informed that it is unlawfull to worſhip them. See thou do Col. 2. 18.it not, ſaith the Angell to John, for I am thy fellow-ſervant. And in the place fore cited, Let no man beguile you of your reward, and in voluntary humility, and worſhiping of Angells, intruding into thoſe things he hath not ſeen, vainly puft up by his fleſhly mind.
3. Be informed of the ſingular benefit of the Angells miniſtry. The Angell of the Lord encampeth about them that feare him, and delivereth Pſal. 34. 11. Joſh. 5. 14, 15them. The Angell ſtood for Joſhua: It came to paſſe when Joſhua was by Jerico, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold there ſtood a man over againſt him, with his ſword drawn in his hands, and Joſhua went unto him and ſaid, Art thou for us, or for our Adverſaries? And he ſaid, nay, but as a captaine of the ho…t of the Lord am I now come. And Joſhua fell on his face to the earth and did worſhip and ſaid unto him, what ſaith my Lord unto his ſervant? And he ſaid, looſe thy ſhooe from off thy feet: for the place whereon thou ſtandeſt is holy.
This was the Lord Jeſus, the Angell of the Covenant, for a Created Angell would have refuſed adoration. An Angell preſerved the three Children from the flame and burning of the fiery furnace, and ſhut the Lyons mouth. An Angell praiſed for the Church, in Zechary that Angell was Chriſt. Then the Angell Zech. 1. 12.of the Lord anſwered and ſaid, O Lord of hoſts how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jeruſalem, and on the Cities of Judah, againſt which thou haſt had Indignation theſe threeſcore and ten yeares? An Angell delivered Hezekiah, and ſmote Senacherib: An Angell delivered Peter: An Angell brought the good newes of Chriſts incarnation. The Angells of God preſerve us in our beds, in our houſes, in our journyes, in our undertakings. The Angells will carry our ſoules to Heaven.
By way of Inſtruction.Ʋſe 2. of Inſtruction. Pſal. 91. 11.
1. Labour to walk in Gods waies. For he ſhall give his Angells charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy waies: Whileſt we are in our lawfull waies (not in our wanderings) we have a promiſe of Protection.
2. Pray to God for the Protection of Angells. We may not pray to Angells, we may not worſhip them: but we may pray to God to vouchſafe their miniſtry to us, to make our waies proſperous, to ſend us an Angell (as Abraham believed,) and cauſe his Angells to pitcht their Tents about us, as Gods meſſengers to defend, Gen. 24. 7.and reſcue us out of dangers.
3. We ſhould ſo live as remembring we are in the preſence of God and Angells, that Gods eyes are over us, that the Angells obſerve o…r carriage, and what decorum we keep in the duties we performe. For this cauſe ought the woman to have power on her head, becauſe of the Angells. Though men (as Diodati obſerves) 1 Cor. 11. 10.would give conſent and connive at this diſorder: yet the Angells, who are continuall Guardians in their Aſſemblies would be offended at it. For I think (ſaith the Apoſtle) that God hath ſet forth us the Apoſtles 1 Cor. 4. 9. 16.laſt, as it were, men appointed to death. For we are made a ſpectacle unto the world, to Angells, and to men. Wherefore I beſeech you be yee followers of me.
For Conſolation.Ʋſe 3. for Conſolation.
This ſerves for comfort to Gods children, that the Angells are their Miniſters.
1. In their lives, they have them under God their protectors, the Lord bids them protect, preſerve, ſuccour, comfort, relieve ſuch a one, he is in diſtreſſe, he is my ſervant: The very Angells 1 King. 19. 7, 8.were purveyers unto Eliah. The Angells miniſtred unto Chriſt, they ſtrengthened him, when he was in the garden, when he ſuffered in his humane Nature. So the children of God find it to their comfort that the Angells refreſh, comfort, ſupport and protect them in their greateſt extremities.
2. When they die, the Angells carry their ſoules into Heaven.
3. At the day of judgment, they gather the elect unto Chriſt. Mar. 13. 27.He will ſend his Angells to gather his elect from the four winds, from the uttermoſt part of the earth, to the uttermoſt part of Heaven. By all that hath been ſaid, we are to underſtand the happineſſe of all the Saints, who are here in the text called heires of ſalvation. God gives them his Son, and that's the height of mercy: God gives them his Angells for their Guardians, ſo thoſe two Scriptures are abundantly fulfilled. Pſal. 34. 9. O feare the Lord, ye his Saints, Pſal. 34. 9. Rom. 8. 32.for there is no want to them that feare him. And Rom. 8. 32. He that ſpared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how ſhall he not but with him freely give us all things. And theſe Scriptures bring a full meaſure of comfort unto the children of God.—Having Chriſt the Saints have all, he protects and defends them, he is Lord over all, and commands all creatures ſervices for the good of his people. This Doctrine of the Miniſtry of Angells, is too much Idolized by ſome, which fall to the worſhiping of them. This is flat Idolatry; foreign, is abhominable: And this Doctrine is too much ſlighted by others, who are not thankfull to God for the Protection of Angells. Both theſe extreames are to be avoided, and our duty is to look upon Angells as fellow ſervants, and begge of God their Miniſtry: And for all deliverances we ſhould returne unto God the praiſe and glory of all, in the language of the Pſalmiſt, Pſal. 115. verſ. 1. which ſhall be my concluſion, Not unto us, O Lord not unto us, but unto thy name give glory Pſal. 115. 1.for thy mercy and truths ſake.