CHAP. IX.-OF THE SPECIAL GOVERNMENT OF ANGELS.

THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT OF PROVIDENCE has been hitherto the subject of consideration. THE SPECIAL GOVERNMENT is that which embraces with peculiar regard angels and men, as beings far superior to the rest of the creation.

Angels are either good or evil, Luke ix. 26. viii. 2. for it appears that many of them revolted from God of their own accord before the fall of man. John viii. 44. "he abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him: when he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own, for he is a liar and the father of it." 2 Peter ii. 4. God spared not the angels that sinned." Jude 6. "the angels which kept not their first estate." 1 John iii. 8. "the devil sinneth from the beginning." Psal. cvi. 37. "they sacrificed unto devils."

Some are of opinion that the good angels are now upheld, not so much by their own strength, as by the grace of God." 1 Tim. v. 21." the elect angels," that is, who have not revolted.o Eph. i. 10.." that he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth." Job iv. 18. "his angels he charged with folly." See also xv. 15. Hence arises, in their opinion, the delighted interest which the angels take in the mystery of man's salvation;' Pet. i. 12. "which things the angels desire to look into." Eph. iii. 10. "that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God." Luke ii. 13, 14. ". a multitude of heavenly host praising God," namely, on account of the birth of Christ. xv. 10. "there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.' They assign the same reason for their wor

See this whole question discussed in Thomas Aquinas, 1. Qu. 62. Art. 3-6.

9 Milton employs the word elect in opposition to the apostate angels, in the description of the first battle in heaven:

.but those elect

Angels, contented with their fame in Heav'n,
Seek not the praise of men: the other sort,

In might though wond'rous-, &c. Paradise Lost, VI. 374.

A Nor less think we in heav'n of thee on earth
Than of our fellow servant, and enquire
Gladly into the ways of God with man.

VIII. 224.

shipping Christ. Heb. i. 6. " let all the angels of God worship him." Matt. iv. 11. "angels came and ministered unto him.” Philipp. ii. 10. "at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven”— 2 Thess. i. 7. "the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels." 1 Pet. iii. 22. "angels being made subject unto him." Rev. v. 11, 12. "worthy is the Lamb that was slain." It seems, however, more agreeable to reason, to suppose that the good angels are upheld by their own strength no less than man himself was before his fall;—that they are called elect, in the sense of beloved, or excellent ;-that it is not from any interest of their own, but from their love to mankind, that they desire to look into the mystery of our salvation;-that they are not comprehended in the covenant of reconciliation;-that, finally, they are included under Christ as their head, not as their Redeemer.2

For the rest, they are represented as standing dispersed around the throne of God in the capacity of ministering agents. Deut. xxxiii. 2. "he came with ten thousands of saints." 1 Kings xxii. 19. "I saw Jehovah sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left." Job i. 6. "there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah." See also ii. 1. Dan. vii. 10." ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him." Matt. xviii. 10. "their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven." "Luke i. 19. "I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God." Praising God. Job xxxviii. 7. "all the sons of God shouted for joy." Psal. cxlviii. 2. "praise ye him, all his angels." Neh. ix. 6. "the host of heaven worshippeth thee." Isai. vi. 3. one cried unto another and said, Holy, holy, holy." See also Rev. iv. 8. vii. 11. " the angels fall before the throne on their faces.'

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They are obedient to God in all respects. Gen. xxviii. 12. "behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it."

2 When the great ensign of Messiah blaz'd,

3

. Michael soon reduc'd

His army, circumfus'd on either wing,

Under their head embodied all in one. Paradise Lost, VI. 775.

. Ye behold him, and with songs

And choral symphonies, day without night,

Circle his throne rejoicing.

V. 161.

Psal. ciii. 10. "his angels...... that do his commandments." Zech. i. 10. "these are they whom Jehovah hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth."

Their ministry relates especially to believers. Heb. i. 14. "are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" Psal. xxxiv. 7. "the angel of Jehovah encampeth round about them that fear him." xci. 11. "he shall give his angels charge over thee." Isa. lxiii. 9. "the angel of his presence saved them." Matt. xviii. 10. "their angels do always behold the face of my Father." xiii. 41. the Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend." xxiv. 31. "they shall gather together his elect from the four winds." Acts xii. 15. "it is his angel." 1 Cor. xi. 13. "for this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels," namely, as some think, (and numerous examples in confirmation of their opinion are not wanting) those angels whose office it was to be present at the religious assemblies of believers.5

Seven of these, in particular, are described as traversing the earth in the execution of their ministry. Zech. iv. 10. "those

4 The tutelary care of angels is incidentally alluded to in Paradise Lost:

.except whom

God and good angels guarded by special grace.

II. 1032.

5 This is the interpretation of Grotius, Hammond, (who quotes from the Fathers in support of his opinion,) Wolf, Doddridge, Pearce, &c. But Milton probably alluded to Tremellius, whose version he principally used, and whose note is as follows: 'Hujus autem rei testes sunt et observatores angeli in ecclesia Dei, ab externo ordine internam Dei gratiam et pietatem membrorum optime recognoscentes. Psal. xxxiv. 8. et xci. 11. Matt. xviii. 10. John i. 52. Eph. iii. 10. 1 Tim. v. 21. Heb. i. 14. 1 Pet. i. 12. These seem to have been the numerous examples' referred to

above.

• Th' Arch-Angel Uriel, one of the sev'n

Who in God's presence, nearest to his throne,

Stand ready at command, and are his eyes

That run through all the heav'ns, or down to th' earth

seven are the eyes of Jehovah which run to and fro through the whole earth." Rev. v. 6. "which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth." See also i. 4. and iv. 5.

It appears also probable that there are certain angels appointed to preside over nations, kingdoms, and particular districts. Dan. iv. 13, 17. "this matter is by the decree of the watchers." xii. 1. "Michael .... the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people." x. 13. "I remained there with the kings of Persia." 2 Pet. ii. 11. "whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord." Gen. iii. 24. "to keep the way of the tree of life."

They are sometimes sent from heaven as messengers of the divine vengeance, to punish the sins of men. They destroy cities and nations. Gen. xix. 13. 2 Sam. xxiv. 16. 1 Chron. xxi. 16. “ David saw the angel of Jehovah.... having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem." They lay waste whole armies with unexpected destruction. 2 Kings xix. 35. Compare also other passages to the same effect. Hence they are frequently represented as making their appearance in the shape of an armed host. Gen. xxxii. 1, 2. "this is God's host." Josh. v. 15. " the captain of the host of Jehovah." 2 Kings vi. 17. "the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire." Psal. Ixviii. 17. " the chariots of God are twenty thousand." Luke ii. 13" a multitude of the heavenly host.' Angels are also described Isai. vi. Hos. i. 7. Matt. xxviii. 2, 3. Rev. x. 1.

There appears to be one who presides over the rest of the good angels, to whom the name of Michael is often given. Josh. vi. 14. "as captain of the host of Jehovah am I come.' Dan xi. 11. "Michael one of the chief princes, came to help me.". xii. 1. "Michael shall stand up, the great prince." Rev. xii. 7, 8. "Michael and his angels fought against the dragon." It is generally thought that Michael is Christ." But Christ vanquished the devil, and trampled him under foot singly;

Bear his swift errands over moist and dry,
O'er sea and land.

Paradise Lost, III. 648.

VI. 44.

7 Go, Michael, of celestial armies prince. This opinion is maintained by Horsley, with his usual clearness of

reasoning, in his sermon on Dan. iv. 17.

Michael, the leader of the angels, is introduced in the capacity of a hostile commander waging war with the prince of the devils, the armies on both sides being drawn out in battle array, and separating after a doubtful conflict. Rev. xii. 7, 8. Jude also says of the same angel, "when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, he durst not bring against him a railing accusation,"-which would be an improper expression to use with reference to Christ, especially if he be God. 1 Thess. iv. 16. " the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with the voice of the archangel." Besides, it seems strange that an apostle of Christ, in revealing things till then so new and unheard-of concerning his master, should express himself thus obscurely, and should even shadow the person of Christ under a difference of name.

The good angels do not look into all the secret things of God, as the Papists pretend; some things indeed they know by revelation, and others by means of the excellent intelligence with which they are gifted; there is much, however, of which they are ignorant. An angel is introduced inquiring Dan. viii. 13. “how long shall be the vision?" xii. 6. "how long shall it be to the end of these wonders?" Matt. xxiv. 36." of that day knoweth no man, no not even the angels in heaven." Eph. iii. 10. " to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God." Rev. v. 3. "no man in heaven was able to open the book."

The evil angels are reserved for punishment. Matt. viii. 29. "art thou come hither to torment us before the time?" 2 Pet. ii. 4. "God cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment." Jude 6. " he hath reserved them in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.' 1 Cor. vi. 3. "know ye not that we shall judge angels ?" Matt. xxv. 41. lasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." Rev. xx. 10. "they shall be tormented for ever and ever."

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ever

9 So in the description of the first fight in Paradise Lost, which is borrowed from the prophecy in the Apocalypse quoted above, 'long time in even scale the battle hung,' till at last Michael, 'the prince of angels,' engages in single combat with the Adversary.

from each hand with speed retir'd,

Where erst was thickest fight, th' angelic throng,
And left large field. VI. 307.