Serm. XXI. of Good Angels. >i 5 9 And yet after all, I know not whence it comes to pats, that this great;Truth, which is fo comfortable to Mankind, is fo very little cónfidered by us. Perhaps the Corruption of fo great a part of the Chriftian Church, in the Point of the Worfliip ofAngels, may have run us fo far into the other Extream, as fcarcely tó, acknowledge any Benefit we receiveby them. But furely we may believe they do us good, without any Obligation to pray to them ; and may own them asthe Minifters of God's Providence, without making them the Objeas of our Wor- fhip. I confefs it feems to me a very odd thing, that the Power of the Devil, and his Influence uponMen, and the particular Vigilancy and Attivity of Evil Spirits to tempt us to fin, fhould be fo readily owned, and fo fenfibly talked of among Chriftians ; and yet the Affrftance of Good Angels fhould be fo little taken notice of and confidered by us. The Scripture fpeaks plainly of both, and the Reafons for believing both are equal : For God forbid but that Good Angels fhould be as officious and forward to do us Good, as the Devil and his Angels are malicious and bufy to' do us Mifchief. And, indeed, it would be very hard with Mankind, if we had not as much Reafon to hòpe for the Affiftance and Protection of Good Spirits, as we have caufe to fear the Malice andFury of the Bad. Good Angels are certainly as powerful, and have as ftrong a Propenfion and Inclination to do good, as the Devil has to do harm ; and the Number of Good Angels is probably much greater than of Evil Spirits. The biggeft Number that are ufed in Scri- pture, are applied to Good Angels. Dan. 7. to. it is faid of the Angels about God's Throne, that thoufand thoufands min redunto him, and ten thoufand times ten thoufand flood before bim. And Revelations g. It. the Number of them is Paid to be ten thoufand times ten thòufand, and thoufands of tboùfands. And the Apoftle to the Hebrews, Chap. I2. 22. calls them an innumerable Company of Angels. What then fhould be the Reafon, that Men fhould be fo apt to own the Snares and Temptations, which the Devil lays before us, in all our Ways ; but take fo little Notice of the Attendanceand good Offices done to us by GoodSpirits ? I can imagine but thefe tiro Reafons, and I am forry I can find no better; That we are more mindful of Injuries than of Benefits.; and are glad to take in others for the Excufe ofour Faults ; but are loth any fhould come in for a Share in the Good that is done by us. And yet methinks it fhould be a very comfortable Con- fideration to us, agamft the Enmity and Cunning of the Devil, and his Angels; that the Holy Angels of God are as intent and induftrious to do us good, and to help forward our Salvation, as Evil Spirits can be to' work our Ruin and de- ftroy us. Secondly, We fhould with great Thankfulnefs acknowledge the great Goodnefs of God to us, who takes fuch Care of us, as to appoint his Angels, and to give them particular Commiffion and Charge concerning us, to proteft and affrft us in all our Ways, and efpecially to promote the great Concernment of our Eternal Happinefs : And that not only fome particular and inferiour Spirits, but the chief Minifters ofthis great King of the World, thofe that fiend in his Pretence, and behold his Face ; and not a few of thefe, but the whole Order of their, are em- ployed about us. So the Apoftle feems to fay, by the Queftion which he puts in the Text, Are they not all min f ring Spirits, Pent forth to minifler ? That is, all, at one time or other. And though they be principally appointed to ininifter to us; in order to our Salvation ; yet we have no Reafon to doubt but God employs them many times for our Temporal Safety, and makes ufe of themmore efpecially in thofegreat Revolutions, in which his Caufe and Religion are more immediately concern'd. In fuch a Cafe, it is not at all incredible, that God fhouldgive his, Angels a particular Charge concerning thole that fight his Battles ; to pitch about their Camps, and fecretly to affift them againft their Enemies, and to ward off, and put by many dangerous Blows and Thrufts, which are made at them ; and won- derfully td preferve them, when the Inftruments of Death fly about them, and do Execution on every fide of them. To what can we aferibe fetch and fo many remarkable
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