.~piritual Per[e_f1_i_on_.__________6_:_4.:...3_ cr;onetoanoJhtr, Holy,hoiJ. holy, LordGodofHofls, tluwhole Earthisf,./1 of th] G/or7: His fcp;_ra~:enydr~~~~~~~n:hee~~ ~~~~i;~~~sr:~:~:e~~j:aaf~~e~ at ~~~~r n~o~l~~~~y p~~0S~~,i~~i~~: ,Jy binds them to his Ser~ic_e. ~derived. Being has ~ep~ndant_operarions. . 3 . They are confirm cl 10 rhetr flare of ever-Aourdbmg FeliCity, by pecul1ar Grace. In rhe morning of the Creation Heaven ~in'd wi~h innumerable Sra~s, the Angels of Light, of whom a vaA: number are by thetr Rebellion become wan~enng Stars, to JVhom iJreftrv'd the blaaknefsof darknefsfor ever. How dreadful was thetr Fall? Prom what Felicity into what Woe? Now the good Angels are m a fupernatural flate, wtthout the leatldanger of Change and Separation from t he bleifed Prefcnce of God. The Grace of Confirmation renews their obligation to the Divine GooiJnefs; they arc not fc~fe in them~ folves, but their fidelity is fecur'd by the continual influence of the Holy Spirit. In them :~ ~~~j~~~~~~:~~ rx~~~~,r~vfe~r~~et~o~sn;ta;h~ o£:~:ira~je~~~~;~bl?~;d~::~er;;c~~:~ are not fully difcovered : But we are aifur'd, they continually magnify and celebrate the Per feil ionsof God. In this lower World, they are minillring Spirits to the Heirs of SalVAtion, the adopted Children of God. The higheft Angels are not exempted from this Service, nor the loweA: Saints excluded from the benefit of ic. Howmany unforefeen and inevitable dangers, as to Human prevention, do they prevent? The evil Angels would dellroy the Saints, from a Principle of Revenge and Defpite againtl the high and everlatl- ~~J~~~~e;h:~!:;;t::~~~~~:JJJ!~o~;t:?~o?,r~f *f1~0 ~~v~;~~~~ to~;l;l~ft:h:~~::~~ Excellency, and their Natural Excellency, their Lutlre and Power are ltifen'd. But of what Power they have w do Mifch1ef, there are terrible Proofs recorded in Scripture: Tbey raifed the Storm that overchrew the Houfe, wherein 'Job's Children were fuddenly detlroy'd; and firuck his Body with loarhfome and tormenting Botls. The good Angels inlpire holy thoughts, and excite holy affeCtions in the Saints: For certainly they have an infpiring Faculty •for Good , as the Devils ha\'C for Evil. Satan put it into ']t~d.u his Hea rt to betray Chrill. They execute Vengeance upon the wicl<ed : The Angel of the Lord dejlroyed m one ni!(h! a h11ndred fo11r{core and five tho11{and of the A/- /jrian ArmJ. When the Saints leave the World, the A~gels guard them through the Air, the dominions of Satan, and fecure them from the fpmtual F!Jaraoh, who purfues them intheir p tifage to the Calel!ialCanaan. Atth'e latl day they fhallgather the Eleff from alltiJC qtmters of the World, before the Tribunal of Chri(l; and after the judgment is patl, they fba/1 cajl the Wicked into ev<ri•JI· ing Pire. The perfeCtion of thei: Obedience is figni6ed: They obey God readily without delay or relufrancy .Delay ts a vtrtual dental of Obedtence.The Angel told Z,_"hariar,l •m G.briel that Jland i1Jthe prefmce of God: It implies hi ; prepared d1fpofit ion to recci'e and perform all his Commands.' I is faid,thq hearken tot he votctofhit Word: the fir(l fi5nificarion of his Will puts them in motion. They entirely obey him ; thereis no ailay,no mixture of Contraries in their Principl es, nothing fufpends or breaks the intirenefs of their a8 ivity in God's , Service. They obey him with all their Powers, and the utmo(l efficacy of them. 'Tis faid, He makes his Ant,els Sptrits, his Mmijlers t~jlame of fire: to fignifie their ce~e r~ty and vigour in doing God's Will. They fly like the Wind,to refCue the Saints from immtnent detlrufrive Evils; and like a flame of fire, are quick and terrible to con fume the wicked. They fully perform his Commands: The two Angels that were fent to preferve Lot from the deftruilion of Sodom, while he lt ngred, they took him by the Hand, and brought him out of t he City, :and would not detlroy it nil he wasfafe. They fr eel y and chearfully obey God, e(\cemmg hiS Servtce thm Glory and FehCJty. They are fiild Thrones andDominiM~·l:~~;1,'~~~\~~1,tr:,~/o~~f t~i'~~~~~~~ p~a[~~ ~na';.~it~;ho~/'{,ig~;f{~~a\~:t\~~ and Happmds to obey God. They wtth as much diitgence and deltght watch over the meane£! Saints, though never fo obfcure and defpicable in the World, as thofe who are in Royal. Dignity; becaufe they in it obey the orders of God. They are fteddy and uniform m the1r Dmy, above all temptatiOns from Hopes or Fears that may ilacken their Endeavours, and uortring the bent of their Refolutions in hlsService. There is an eternal conftancy in their Obedience. It may be faid, this Example is above our leve l in the prefcnt tlate: Our win~s ar~ broke! we flag, and cannot reach fo high a flight. \ye fometi~~sconceive more clear! y, fomeumes ~ore darldy of our Dury : \V c ar.e fometi~Ks dc~lmmg, fomerimes re~iving and rerurmng to our Duty: We do not praB.ICe Obedience with chat degree of dil1g( nee as't is commanded. The weakne!S of the Fldh comrouls the will ingnefs of the Spirit. How
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