are frustrated through their interference, and of which we shall remain in ignorance until we arrive at that state where our perceptions will be perfected, where we shall take a retrospect of all the way in which we were led through this state of trial and danger. Those who talk of chance in these occurrences are those who set at nought the mystery of providence, and the ministers of it. The attendance of angels is constant and particular. "The angels of God ascend and descend;" they are messengers of love constantly in motion, the couriers of mercy; they also "encamp round about," to be ready for every emergency; it would be a reflection upon their vigilance, if an enemy unseen were to obtain an advantage over any one of their charge; and we are told, the devil is a lurking enemy, "lying in wait," therefore need they be on the alert. Nor does it follow, because the heirs of salvation have such noble protection, a more than royal guard, that they should remain indifferent, and inactive, and unwatchful; on the contrary, they are expected to stand on the look out, as sentinels; to be clad in the whole panoply of heaven ready for combat, and that, not only against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places, and against every deadly foe to their present peace and their future happiness; and it behoves them to remember that it does not become a warrior to fall asleep in an enemy's country. Their attendance is for the purpose of observation. "We are made a spectacle unto the world, to angels, and to men." The keen perceptions of such perfect beings as the angels of God must render them nice observers of the thoughts of the hearts, and the work ings of the imaginations of the children of men. As evil is either to be attributed to the corruption of human nature, or the instigation of demoniacal agency, so good must originate and spring, either from the immediate operation of the Holy Spirit upon the heart, or from the secondary influence of those celestial attendants who, being constituted pure and holy, necessarily rejoice in the promotion of everything that is good and holy in mankind. Their observation is increased even to inquisitiveness respecting the accomplishment of prophecy, the establishing of the gospel throughout all parts of the earth, and the operations of the Holy Ghost in convincing sinners, and bringing them to repentance: "These things the angels desire to look into." There is joy in heaven when a sinner is brought to repentThe driving out of the strong man armed, and the final conquest over the enemy of souls in every believer, are as often subjects for songs of triumph in the heavenly world, as the implanting of the graces of the Spirit in the heart, and the growing meetness of Christians for the presence of God, are subjects for hymns of praise. ance. There is also a beauty in holiness which is cause for admiration, and this may be assigned as one of many reasons for their continued observation; for we all know that it is natural to turn the eye constantly towards the object of admiration. These considerations, together with the knowledge that neither perfection nor imperfection can pass unnoticed by such vigilant observers, should induce believers strictly to watch the thoughts of their hearts, and to curb the imagination at the commencement of its excursive flights. Evil thoughts would not so frequently grow into crimes of magnitude, if a check were more habitually given to the first risings of moral turpitude in the heart. Their attendance is to effect deliverance. "The angels of the Lord encamp round about those who fear him, to deliver them." They are appointed to remove all obstructions that oppose the Christian's progress. When Abraham bound his servant under an oath to take of his kindred a wife for his son Isaac, he encouraged him to execute the commission by the assurance that the Lord God who had blessed him in all things would send his angel before him as a pioneer; and he did send him, and made a straight path for his feet: "And it came to pass, that when Abraham's servant saw that the Lord had prospered his way, he bowed himself to the earth and worshipped." It does not become the believer to imagine difficulties where they do not appear; and where they do, he should not despair, provided he meets them in the way of duty. But there are cases that require discrimination; for God sometimes" hedges up a man's way with thorns;" at other times, “ he builds a wall." How, it may be asked, is the believer to distinguish which is the way! ? I reply; notice the situation of the children of Israel when they were pursued by an exasperated enemy. On one side of them was Pihahiroth, a range of stupendous and impassable rocks, on the other side the fortresses Migdol and Baal Zephon on the frontiers of Egypt, and the Red Sea directly before them. Their situation was peculiar, and as Mr. Matthew Henry remarks, there was but one way open for them, and that was upwards. Christian, sometimes it is your strength" to stand still," and that you may not err for lack of knowledge, consult the oracles of God, and judge of your case by the principles there laid down. If circumstances prove at all doubtful, bearing in any point upon your duty, or your character as a Christian; or if it appears that no glory can accrue to God by your persevering in a path that is replete with difficulties, it must be abandoned altogether; for therein the angels cannot interfere to effect deliverance: but, on the contrary, if it seems to involve the glory of God, and the advancement of the Christian character and graces, however adverse the circumstances, then the case must be carried to the throne of grace, with renewed importunity for divine assistance. "Go forward," and deliverance will be effected. Miracles have been wrought by these celestial messengers, when the relief or deliverance of God's chosen ones was to be the result; and, did space admit, instances might readily be produced from the sacred text. Their attendance is to administer comfort. They are swift-winged messengers of love, and, doubtless, sympathize with the objects of their charge in all their distresses. Notice the tenderness of a parent towards a sick and helpless infant; or the conduct of a nurse towards an invalid, who, though a stranger, yet, by long continued attendance, feels towards the object of her charge a considerable degree of sympathy, tenderness, and care; and surely, if any circumstances can combine to excite or elicit feelings of interest and commiseration in such imperfect beings as ourselves, we do much injustice to angelic beings who are perfected in love by supposing them incapable of similar feelings with ourselves; besides, a presumptive argument may be drawn in favour of this position from the consideration that comfort is cheerfully administered by those whose hearts are knit together in love; and as it is impossible that good angels can constantly attend upon the righteous without loving them, so it is impossible that they can love and yet withhold comfort. The angel who talked with the prophet Zechariah in a vision by night communed with the Lord of Hosts, and the Lord answered the angel" with good and comfortable words," which the angel imparted to the prophet. Their attendanceis for the purpose of defence. David acknowledges to God-" Thou hast been my defence in trouble;" and we are taught that our defence is the munition of rocks. This is looking to the first cause, and does not interfere with, or prevent our looking also at the means: "He gives his angels charge concerning us;" they are his instruments. "He bids those spirits pitch their tents They afford protection from dangers seen and unseen; and when we reflect upon their wisdom, power, and vigilance, we do not sufficiently honour them if we suppose that the many perils from which we are de livered is the effect of any other cause than their agency and foresight. Leaving the unknown and unnumbered natural evils, from which they are the instruments of our defence, let us confine our thoughts to the security they afford from moral evil, which partly originates in the machinations of evil spirits; vile thoughts and bad notions being injected into our depraved and corrupt hearts. I apprehend ministering angels to be constantly occupied in thwarting the malicious designs which are formed against the children of God; and I suppose them to maintain a perpetual warfare with "the prince of the power of the air;" not a warfare of continued combat, but vigilant |
