Keach - Houston-Packer Collection BS537 .K4 1779

Book lV. THE HOLY ANGELS COMPARED TO AN HOST oR ARMY. 63 r THE HOLY ANGELS COMPARED TO AN HOST OR ARMY. Jacob wmt on his TVay, and the Angels of God met him, Cm. xxxii. t. And when he Jaw them, he Jaid, 'rhis is God's Hofl: Verfe 2. And he called the Name of that Place Mahanaim, that is, two Hofts or Camps. Andfudde!il)' there was with the Angel a il1ultitude ofthe heavenly Hofl, praifing God, &c. Luke ii. 13. ANGELS, fo named of the Greek, ~'Yro..,, Angelos, in HebrewMalac, Meffen– .L7. o-er or Leoate, one fent or employed in any \Nork, are in thele Scnptures called -God':'Hojl or Army, not that he needeth them to proteCl: himfelf, or fupprefs his Ene– mres, beino in6nitely flronger than all the Armies he himklf hath, and then what is .the Stren<>;'l, and Force of all the Armies of his Enemies? Thcrd~re when God is laid to have Armies, it is either to lignify, Fitft, That he harh all Things at his Command, and is full of Power: Or, Secondly, That although he can do all Things by himfelf, yet he will ufe the Agency of his Creatures to effc:Cl: -his Purpofe. METAPHO R. I. AN Hofl or Army have a Prince or General, who is the Head of them. 11. An Hoflor Army con!Jfls of many Companies, amongft which there are divers Ranks and Orders, and yet all in (ubjetlion to their Prince, and chit£ Leader. PAR ALL EL. I. THE Lord's Hofl, or Army of Angels, have a Prince or General, who is their Head and Leader, viz. the Lord fefus Chrift, who is called the !lead of Principa!iiies tmd Powers. 11. Angels, rhe Lorn's Holt, con!Jfl of many Companies or L<gioos: 'Think~/lthou, that I Call– not p1·ay to my Fatbtr, and he jhallfend me nzore than twelve Legions of Angels? Chrilt lpake in the Roman Phrafc:, who reckoned their Armies bv Legions, as we by Regiments. Six rhoufand DX hundred Gxty ox, was the Number of a Legion; then the Number of twelve Legions was fevt'my nine thoufand nine hundred ninety two, a great Army: But how many more, no Man can fay. Chrift pitched upon a great certain Number, to lhew, faith Mr. Cary!, he could have what Number he pleakd, if he did but call for them. We are come, faith the Apoflle, to an innumerable Company of Angels. The Lord's Camp is very great. 'The Chariots of the Lord are twenty thoufand, even many thoufands of Angels, l'Jid. lxviii. ' 7· We read of many Degrees or Orders of Angels, which fame accoutJt to be nine. 1. Cherubims, that is, Angels of Knowledge, as St. Jerom in terprets the Word; but others from Cherub, a Figure or Image. Others from Chi, a Note of 'Similitude, and a Chaldee Word which lignifies Puerum & Juvenem, a Youth. And fo, as a learned Writer obferves, they were ufually re.prefcoted in the Shape 0f a Man, to lhew them to be intellectual Creatures ; of a young Man, to exprefs their Vioor and Strength ; with vVings, to declare their Agilit)' and Swiftnefs. Thefe we r~d were placed at the Eafl End of the Garden of Eden, with a flaming Sword, Cm iii. 2 4 • and their Figures were appointed to be placed over the Mercy·Seat, in the Tabernacle aod Temple, Exod. xxv. 2. Serapbims, the Angels of Zeal. Their Name is from an Hebrew Word, 'PICI which Ggnifit:s eo burn, or burning, accordmg to that of the Pfalms, He maketh bzs Minijlers a Flame of Fire, Ezck. x. Pfa!. civ. 4· 3· 'Thrones, which are Royal Seats of Kiogs aod Monarchs, in their Magnificence and Glory. 4· Dominions, or Lord01ips. 5· Principalities, denoting fpecial and peculiar J urifdiClion, Col. i. 1 6. 6. Powers, fuch as have Right to execute Authority by God's Appointment and not by his Permiflion o~ly. ' 7· Mighties. 8. Archangels. 9· Angels, &c. 1 'Thef!. iv. r6. 3 Otheu

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