i6,z8 THE HOLY ANGELS coMPARED TO WATCHERS. BooldV. 5· They are employed as Soldiers to guard them; hence call;cl God's Hofl, Pfa!, .xxxiv. 7· 2 Ki11gs vi. 17. 6. They are Encouragers of the Saints in their Duties: .Attd the Angel Jaid unto .Elijah, Go down with him, be not afraid, &c. 2 Kings i. I 5· 7· They ar.e employed to refcue, and put the Godly out of Danger; as appears in the Cafe of Lot. So concerning Danid, when he was in the Lion's Den, the Angels !hut the Mouths .of the Lions, to that they did Daniel no harm. The Angel of the Lord opened the Prifon-door, and brought Peter forth, and deli11ered him out of the .Hands of his -Enemies, Gm. xix. t 6. Dan. vi. 22. Afls v. '9· 8. As Prophets and In!huctors, to teach the Saints. And I heard a Man's Voice be– .tween the.Banks of Ulai, which cal!ed, and faid, Gabriel, make this Man underfland ·this Vifron, &c. .And he Jaid, I will make thee know what jhall be in the !aft Day, &c. Dan. viii. . 16• . and ix. 22. They open and reveal hidden Myll:eries to the Saints. 9· They rejoice with the Godly at the Converlion of Sinners. Likewife I Jay unto .)OU, There is Joy in the Erefence of the Angels of God in Heaven, over one Sinner that repenteth., Luke xv. ,Io. IO. They have a Charge to convey the Souls of the Godly, when they die, through the TerritOries of the Prince of.Darknefs, viz. the Air, and carry them fafe to Heaven. And it came ·to pafs that the Beggar died, and was carried by the .Angels into Abraham's Bofom, Luke xvi. 2 2. 1 I. To gather all the Elect together at the !all: Day. 12. To fe.parate the Evil from the Good, the Chaff from the Wheat. So foal/ it be at the End of the World, the .Angels jhall come, and ftwr the Wicked from the Jufl, Matt. xiii. 49· · . ThirdLy; They have a Charge committed to them, in reference to wicked Men, •· To blind and infatuate them, that they cannot fee how to effect that Mifchief they would otherwife do. 2. To ll:op them in their Career, that they cannot purf~e their wicked Purpofes and Deligns; as appears in Balaam's Caf,, Numb. xxii. 26. 3· To dell:r6y and cut off the Ungodly, when they combine againfr the Church• .One Angel fmote in th7 Camp of the .A.fljriam a Multitude of Men, 2 Kings xix. 35· METAPHOR. Ilf. Watchers give warning of .aP,proaching Dangers. 1V. Watchers are v.ry ufeful, ,and often times made a .great Blet: fing to Towns and Cities; many i!"minent Dangers by their means have been prevented. PARALLEL. Ill. So the Angels gave.warning to .Abraham and Lot, of the approaching Judgment that fell upon Sodom and Gomorah, and the Cities about them, Gen. xix. IV. Angels are a great Blelling to the Church ancl City of God, and every particular Member thereof. How fecure was the Prophet, whilfc he had thofe fiery Chariots and Horfemen round about him! • tzyejl. Bllt fome may fay, Why doth God in the Prefervat-ion of his People maki: ufe of the Miniftration of Angels ? .Anfw. Not fur any Neceflity, he is all-fufficient of himfelf to do all Things for them: But to declare his abundant Love to, and Care of his Children, in making more excellent Creatures than themfelv,es to be their Keepers. Objefl. But God's People often fall into Danger, and many Inconveniences; how then are they Jttended and kept by Angels? Anfw. They are delivered by them from many Evils and Dangers that they know not of: For as we have many Devils about us, continually to do us Mifchief; fo w~ have a Multitude of blelfed Angels continually about us, to keep .and protect us, Pfal. xci. II. 2. lf at any time God's Children fall into Danger, it is becaufe they are out of their way, or rather God's way, and then the good Angels have no Charge over them. 3· If they fuffer in the Cuftody of the Angels, it is that they may be exercifed,.' tried, and made better thereby: For the Angels keep them from Evil, or keep them in Evil, and at laft deliver them out of Evil; fo that they are made Gainers by all, .according to that .Promife, Rom. viii. 28. ,.1 V. Angels
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=