BookiV. THE HOLY ANGELS coMPARED To WATCHERS. 6z'j his the Opinion of fame of the Learned, that every particular Saint hath an Angel to take care of hm1; which they gather from that Palfage, 'fake heedye defpife not one of theft little Ones; for I Jay unto you, 'Ibat in Heaven their Angels always behold the Face ofmy Father, &c. Malt. xviii. 10. And from that in ABs xii. I5· 'Ihen JaiJ they, It is his Angel. But others rather conclude; That the Samts have many Angels to watch over them, and continually 'to minifter to them. That the Godly are under the Guardianfhip of the holy Angels; is not doubted or qudlioned by any worthy Writer. THE HOLy ANGELS COMPARED TO wATCHERS. !Jaw i11 the Vijions of my Head, and behold a Watcher, Dan. iv. 13. 'Ibis Matter is by the Decree of the Watchers, and the Demand by the Word of the Holy Oiles, Verfe 17. METAPHOR. I. A Watcher or Watchman imports luch as fleep not, or but little ; their Bufincfs is to watch, which they cannot do un– lefs they keep themlelves awake. PARALLEL. I. ANGELS are hot fubjetl: to fleep, as Men are; they always are awake, beholding the Evil and the Good, hence faid to be full of Eyes, Ezek. i. 1 8. 11. \Natthers import fuch as !I. Angels have a gre<t Charge committed to have a Ch arge cdmmitted to them, them, they are employed about great and weighty of great impoitance, which they Affairs, and that, Firft, in reference unto God; · are contmual!v to look after. The Secondly, in reference unto Saints; Thirdly, in Apoftle fpeal{ing of the Care of reference unto wicked Men. Mmifters, fai th,'I hey w11tch for your Firft, ih reference unto God, Souls, &c. Heb. xiii. '7· 1. They are his Couniers, artehding upon him . continually for his Honor, and to fer forth his Magnificence. I Jaw the Lord fitting 011 his 'lhrone, and all the Hoft of Heaven ftand" ing by him, on his Rigbt.hand, and on his Left-hand. . 2. They wait for his Word, and do receive Commandment from him. · 3· They oft-times declare God's Mind and Will to Men. Thus they were em– ployed to give the Law on Mount Sinai, and to reveal God's Mind to Abraham, to Hagar, to Lot, to Elijah, to the Virgin Mary, to the Shepherds, to the Apoftles, to Philip, to Paul, to John, &c. I Kings xxii. Ig. Afls vii. 33· Gen. xvi. 7· and xix, I2. 2 Kings i. 3· Luke i. 26. Afls x. 3· i. 11. viii. 26. and xxvii, 24. Rev. i. 1. 4· To govern the Kingdoms of the World; for it is not to be doubted, but God makes ufe of them upon this account. Hence thev are called Princes, yea, glortous Princes, and are much above the Kings and Potentates of the Earth, Dan. x. I 3· Ecc/ef. V. 8. 5· They are God's Warriors, tO execute his Decrees, whether of Mercy, as 2 Kings vi. I7· or of Judgment, 2Sam. xxiv. 17. Kings xix. 35· Rev. xvi. 7· · 6. They are continually employed in praifing of God, crying, Holy, holy, hol)', is the Lord of Hqfls, lfa. vi. 3· Rev. iv. 8. and vii. 1 r, Ii. Secondly; In reference to the Church and People of God, they have a great Charge commttted to them, and much Bufinefs and Work to do. He bath given his Angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways, PJal. xci. 11. · 1. They are as Nurfes, to bear up and to keep the Godly from Hurt: 'Ihey Jhalt bear thee up in thew Hands, leaft thou dajh thy Foot againft a Stone, PJal. xci. 12. 2. They are as Stewards, to provide for the Godly in their Need. How gracioufiy was Elijah fed by Angels, with a Cake baked on the Coals, and a Crufe of Water, when he was faint, and ready to die! 2 Kings xix. 4, 5· 3· They are employed as Phyficians, as appears by that Palfage, John v·. 4• 4• As Comfo:tcrs in Trouble. How fweetly was poor Hagar comforted by an An– gel, when fhe fatd, I will not fee the Death of the Lad! Gen. xxi. I 7. The like was the Prophet lfaiah, lfa. vi. 6, 7· Nay, our blelfed Savior refufed not to receive Com– fort from the Angels who miniftered to him, when he was in his bloody Agony in th~ Garden, Luke xxii, 43· 2 5· They I
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