48 BAXTER'S DYING THOUGHTS. 7. 23. They have charge of us, and pitch their tents about us; they bear us up; they rejoice at our repentance; they are the regardful witnesses of our behavior ; theyare ministering spirits for our good ; they are our angels beholding the face of our heavenly Father. They will come with Christ in glorious attendance at the great and joyful day, and, as his executioners, they will separate the just from the unjust. And it is not only the testimony of Scripture bywhich we know their communion with us, but also some degree of experience. Not only of old, did they appear, to the faithful as messengers from God, but of late times there have been testimonies of their minis- tration for us. Of which see Zanchy. de Angelis and .Mr. J. Ambrose, of our communion with angels. Many a mercy doth God give us by their ministry, and they that are now so friendly to us, and suitable to our communion and help, and make up one society with us, do hereby greatly encourage us to hope that we are made for the same region, work, and company, with these our bless- ed, loving friends. They were once in a life of trial, it seems, ea we are now, though not on earth ; Jude 6. 2 Pet. ii. 4. And they that overcame and are confirmed rejoice in our victory and confirmation. It is not an uninhabited world which, is above us, nor such as is beyond our capacity and hope, We are come to an innumerable company of angels, and to the spirits of the perfected just, who together have discreet quantity, or numerical difference, notwithstanding their happy union and communion. IX. And Satan himself, though unwillingly, bath many ways helped my belief of our immortality, and future hopes.* es * * * Fewmen, I think, that observe themselves, have not at sometime had experience of such inward temptations, as show that the author of them is an invincible enemy. All which tells us, 1. That there are individual spirits. 2. Yea, devils that seek man's misery. 3. And that by the way of sin, and consequently that a future happinessormisery must be expected by us all. X. But thegreat and sure prognostics of our immortal happiness isfrom therenewing operations of *Spirit of holiness on the soul. L That sucha renewing work there is, all true believers in some meas- ure feel. 2. And that it is the earnest of heaven, is proved thus. L If it be a change of greatest benefit to a man. 2. And if heaven be the very sum and end of it. 3. And if it overcome all fleshy, worldly opposition. 4. And can be wrought by none but God. 5. And was before promised by Jesus Chnst to all sound believers. 6. And is universally wrought in them all, either only, The particulars of this argument areomitted. Ed.
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