Men, when they for fake thefe earthly Manfions, into the Bofom of Abraham, as our Saviour tells us, in the Parable of Lazarus; and he himself, as you heard, had an Angel came to ftrengthen or comfort him in his agony in the Garden, a little before his Death: and therefore why should we think that they who have been our Companions all our Life, fhould defert, us at the laft Gafp, and not rather be most careful of us, and lend us their brotherly Affiftance, both before, and in, and after our Departure hence? Nay, if they rejoyce at the Converfion of a Sinner, as our Saviour Chrift tells us, Luke 15. 10. we may conclude, that they are much more joyed to fee his Perfeverance to the End, and to behold him induring Pain patiently, and at laft to fee him refign up his Soul to God ftedfaft in the Faith and Love of Chrift Jefus, and will do them all the good Offices they can, and, when they have left the Body, convey them fafe unto their Refting-place.

But I muft fay no more of this, because there remains a little to be faid concerning the Second General Head, which I propounded in the Beginning; that is, of the Perfons who are under fuch Care of the Angels expreffed here in the Word Theirs, which refers to what went before concerning the Disciples of Chrift. To these my Text limits my Difcourfe, who profefs the Religion of our Saviour, and indeed we are not told what they do for others. The Apostle alfo thus limits it, Heb. 1. ult. Are they not mi

niftring

niftring Spirits fent forth to minifter for them that are Heirs of Salvation? Briefly then,

PART II.

IT is plain in the firft Place, that the whole Chriftian Church is under the favour and protection of Angels. As Daniel faw an Angel which told him that Michael took care of the Concerns of the People of God, profeffing the Jewish Religion; fo St. John, I told you, faw him and his Angels taking part with the Chriftian Church, as the Dragon and his Partakers did with the Idolaters.

Secondly, Particular Churches, the antient Christians thought, to have a particular Angel to watch over them; for thus St. Bafil, I remember, comforts the Presbyters of Nicopolis, who by a Faction were thrust out of the Walls of the City, that they remained under the Pro tection of Heaven, and λos & cnEpift. 191. κλησίας ἔφυρος συναπῆλθεν ὑμῖν· the Angel, the Guardian of the Church is come away from them together with you. The like I might cite out of Gregory Nazianzen, who fpeaks of the Angels to whom the Church of Conftantinople were particularly committed, and concludes his Speech in this manner, when he was leaving it, aipele ano, Orat. 32. p. c. farewel ye Angels, the Prefidents of this Church, and of my Prefence here, and Peregrination hence, if fo be that my Affairs are in the Hand of God.

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528.

And

And Thirdly, all the particular Members of Chrift's Church are under their Care, even the weakest and most infirm Perfons, when they have need of their Aid. That our Lord means by little Ones, fuch as were but newly entred into the Church, Novices, and new-born Babes; or fuch as had inade but a small Progress, by reafon of their dulnefs; or those that had but a little Skill and Prudence; or thofe that were but feeble and weak in their Strength; or those that were fearful and timerous, and apt to be shaken; or those in poor and mean Condition: Every one of thefe, being fincere, have this Comfort, that the Angels of God are their Helpers and Defenders. They give them their Affistance freely and readily against the Fraud and Malice, and Power of the Devil, and against all the Allurements of the Flesh, and the World; and all its Affrightments too, that might turn them afide from the Path of Christianity. Nay, they have this Comfort, that very mighty Angels attend on them; for fo I fhowed you in the Morning, according to the Phrase of the Jews, this Pallage is to be understood. And therefore,

Fourthly, We may conclude, that they who go on towards Perfection, that live very purely and holily, and grow more ufeful to the World, are under a very fingular and affectionate Care of the Angels, who delight in thofe that are fo like themselves, that is, fpiritual and heavenly, pure and chafte, loving and kind, ftrong and powerful against the Rulers of the Darknefs of this World. This I touched upon in the Morning, out of fome

of

of the ancient Writers of the Church; and it is the Senfe of the Pfalmift, when he faith, the Angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him. O tafte and fee that the Lord is good: bleffed is the Man that truffeth in him: That is, who will not, by reafon of any Difficulties, or Hardfhips, or Straits, defert God and his Integrity, but refolves in Confidence of his Help, to hold out to the End.

Fifthly, The Minifters of Chriftian Religion, especially when Sincere and Holy, we may well conclude are very much in the favour of the Angels. For in the times of the Law you find, that Joshua the High-Prieft food before the Angel of the Lord, expecting, that is, what Sentence he would pronounce, and what Orders he brought in his Favour, when Satan food at his right Hand, (the place of an Accufer in their Courts of Judgment,) to oppofe his Enterprifes which he had in hand, for the restoring the Divine Worship at the Temple of Jerufalem, Zach.

-3. I.

This Angel, St. Jude tells us, was Michael the Archangel, (ver. 9. of his Epiftle,) who contended with the Devil, and overcame him in the Difpute he had with him about the Body of Mofes, i. e. of his Religion, Worship and Laws, which the Devil would not had reftored again after the Captivity. The HighPrieft very worthily indeavoured it, as much as Satan and his Inftruments oppofed it; and Michael (the Guardian, you fee by this, of that Church) took Joshua's part, preferved his Perfon, kept him from being difcouraged in his AtKk 3 tempt,

tempt, and gave a check to the Enemy. By which we may learn, that if he was fo much concerned to have the whole Body of Mofes his Laws preferved from Violence, and defended those who defended it; he will not be lefs careful to affift with all his Forces, the Ministers of the Lord Jefus, who are the Supporters of his Religion, which is far more precious. Why fhould we think that they are not much beloved by the Angelical Powers, fince the chief of these Minifters, the principal Paftors under the great Shepherd of the Sheep, are called by their Name, the Angels of the Churches? Thus that Greek writer whom I mentioned before, difcourfes in his Commentaries upon the Revelation. If we believe that an Angel follows every one of the faithful, πολλῷ μᾶλλον τοῖς θεμελίοις, &c.

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much more may we be confident that Arethas, p. they attend upon the Foundations of the Church, (fo you know the Apofiles and Prophets are called ;) thofe that are the Sowers of the Evangelical Doctrine, and that are Co-workers with them to the publishing of the Gofpel. And fo we find in many Places, how they preferved and fuccoured the Apostles; and in the Old Teftament we read, that very great Troops of them incircled Elifba when he was in Danger, being a Prophet, and of fingular ufe at that Time. And thus may all thofe who in lower Stations ferve God faithfully, expect his Bleffing, Help and Protection, notwithftanding all the Menaces or Oppofition of evilminded Men. They may hope that he will af