EMPLOYMENTS AND PURSUITS OF THE ANGELS 

WE have now reached and cheerfully ascend the Pisgah of our interesting and important subject, from whose elevated and sequestered summit, with the eye of our faith undimmed, and the force of our hopes unabated, we are vouchsafed a goodly and animating prospect of that heavenly Canaan which we anticipate, when it shall please the Lord God to speak to us in the summons of death, and withdraw us from the turmoil, vocations, and entanglements of the devious windings of our passage through this wilderness world, being called to worship Him in the eternal rest and unfading beatitude of the promised city and glorious temple of the celestial Jerusalem.

Before we proceed further, however, it may be expedient to advert to the objection which has been mooted, of the improbability of the continued agency and ministrations of angels, because of their non-appearance, in visible forms, since the days of the apostles, and to which objection it is deemed only requisite to reply, that the canon of Scripture being closed, and the last dispensation of Divine purpose having been ushered in by those signs and wonders, instrumentalities and manifestations, whose miraculous interventions were needed to establish the divine origin and permanent continuance of the economy and institution of Christianity — until the " consummation of all things," according to fulfilled, as well as unfulfilled prophecies, — are now withdrawn, as not requiring any additional confirmation of their truth and binding obligations. " To the law and to the testimony, if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Isaiah viii. 10. If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. Luke xvi. 31.

During the patriarchal, Mosaic, and prophetical dispensations, Jehovah was pleased to manifest his will, and foreshow his gracious purposes, and foretell his threatened judgments by instructive dreams, informing visions, audible voices,, and the apparition of angelic messengers, to awaken the attention, excite the obedience, and confirm the faith of those who put their trust in Him, in relation to the procedures of his providence, and the promises of Almighty grace, during the dawning periods of Christianity, prefigured in the types and shadows of the Aaronic priesthood, until their complete accomplishment in the meridian glory of the present and final economy of divine purpose in the Revelation of Christ Jesus, the Great Antitype, who hath brought life and immortality to light by the gospel ; and, therefore, we conclude, that with the age of miracles, the supernatural interposition of the visible appearance of angels is withdrawn, as unnecessary, and contrary to the wisdom of God, in the superfluous exhibition of miraculous operation and confirmatory evidence, beyond the necessities of human reason and the requisite apprehensions of an acquiescent faith.

No less futile is the suggestion, that the doctrine of angelic ministration is of too speculative a character to produce sufficiently edifying results. The eternal love of God and the blessings of free grace, — the inscrutable decree of the sovereignty of a special and divine election, — justification by faith, together with our adoption as the children of God — the mediation and intercession of Christ, — the joys of heaven, and the sanctifying influences of the Holy Ghost — as the essential doctrines of an orthodox Christianity, are not a whit less speculative, as regards the tendency of their practical effects, and especially designed to promote a life of holiness, and a preparation for the worship and employments of the heavenly state.

By such a process of intangible objections, it is evident that we should be deprived of the very vitalities and principles of an evangelical faith, rendering our hopes nothing better than a fleeting shadow, instead of an invaluable substance, — a lifeless skeleton, instead of an animated body.

Various have been the opinions of expositors as to the time when the angels commenced their ministrations on this earth ; some supposing, that they are exercised as soon as we are quickened into existence, in the womb, founded on the following passages. — Psalm cxxxix. 14-16 ; Luke i. 41. Others, at the time of birth, of baptism or regeneration. Every supposable case of danger to which infancy and childhood are liable, angels are supposed to watch and provide a suitable protection. The imprudences of mothers, the carelessness of nurses, the generally unguarded and hazardous circumstances to which the young from the earliest dawn of existence are exposed, receive the especial notice and provision of these celestial and benevolent intelligences, as their guardian angels.

The ancient philosophers, as well as some modern commentators, believe that every individual has appointed unto him a guardian angel that attends upon his welfare through all the different stages of this mortal life ; whilst in the Scriptures we find mention of several instances in which angels were sent by divine commission to instruct and protect the favorites of God's special regard, or to act as the executioners of the divine displeasure against all ungodliness of men, or to make known his purposes respecting the dispensations of his mercy to mankind. It was through the instrumentality of an angel that the prediction was given to Kugar respecting the future character and prosperity of Ishmael. The angel Gabriel informed Daniel of a variety of events which would befall the Jewish nation ; and also visited with divine messages and announcements, Zacharias, and the Virgin Mary. They were angels that were entertained by the hospitable and venerable patriarch, and who communicated to Abraham the will and gracious purposes of Jehovah respecting the birth of Isaac, and the wonderful events which were to happen to the nations who were to spring from him. Throughout the extraordinary and eventful periods of his pilgrimage, angels constantly appeared to the patriarch Jacob, and conveyed to him counsel, and ministered to his behalf, and that of his family. Angels rescued Lot and his daughters from the destruction of Sodom. An angel of the Lord attended the Israelites during their journeyings in the wilderness ; and the moral law was received by the disposition of angels on Mount Sinai.

Joshua, the successor of Moses, was encouraged by the appearance of an angel in the martial character of the captain of the host of the Lord, whilst he was meditating an attack on the city of Jericho (Joshua v. 13, 14) ; but who, however, by most commentators, has been considered as the Angel-Jehovah. An angel appeared to the valorous Gideon, bidding him deliver the Israelites out of the hands of the Midianites — whilst a mighty angel destroyed in one night an hundred fourscore and five thousand of the veterans of the army of Sennacherib.

In the New Testament the employments of angels on behalf of those who are chosen of God, by the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, are rendered prominently conspicuous. " Jlre they not all ministering spirits," says St. Paul, " sent forth to minister for them who shall be the heirs of salvation ?" In this passage we are obviously taught, that ministering to the saints, without any distinction or exception of rank or station, is a permanent employment of angels. They conducted Joseph and Mary to Egypt, Philip to the eunuch, and Cornelius to St. Peter, who obtained from the apostle a knowledge of the Gospel, to the salvation of himself, his family, and his friends. They also comforted the apostle and his companions after the resurrection, Paul, immediately before his shipwreck, and the church of Christ universally. Often when the children of affliction are murmuring under the disciplinary dispensations of God's Providence and Grace, some ministering angel is on the wing, bearing the succor they require, the comfort they need, and putting to the blush the language of
their unbelieving hearts.

One particular employment of angels is to attend the beds of dying saints, and sustain them by the consolations and hopes of faith, preparatory to their entrance on the joys and fruition of heaven. In a peculiar sense, during their trials, temptations, sufferings, and on the eve of their departure from this world of tribulation and woe, "

Bright seraphs dispatched from the throne,
Repair to their stations assigned ;
And angels elect are sent down
To guard the elect of mankind."

Conjecturally, some special office is assigned to each one of the heavenly host. One indeed may superintend the affairs and prosperity of a kingdom, while another watches the slumbering babe in a cottage cradle, — others are appointed to meet the several necessities of the adopted children of God who are constantly assailed by the opposition of Satan and his angels ; thereby hindering their growth in Christian graces, and their advancement in the way of holiness and heaven. Accordingly, in the apocalyptic representations of St. John, we behold them controlling evil spirits ; wielding the elements of this world ^producing, directing, and bringing to a termination the great convulsions of time ; conveying the souls of the just to the paradise of God, and severing the wicked from the good at the day of judgment.

One of the most solemn and affecting exhibitions of angelic ministration is presented in the dolorous narratives of the Evangelists, which relate the descent of angels to relieve our Savior in the wilderness of Satanic temptation, and during his agony in the garden of Gethsemane. What a
mysterious, solemn, and wonderful mission for holy angels to perform, in rendering such services and homage to Him who was the Lord of Angels.

The " innumerable company of angels," — of the glorious host dispersed throughout the illimitable universe, is clearly intimated by the apostle as beyond all the computation of mortal arithmetic, nevertheless, several references in Scripture will somewhat aid our conceptions in this particular. To Jacob, at Bethel they appeared on the mystic ladder, ascending and descending, in multitudes ; and when he returned from Padan-aram, u the angels of the Lord met him," and he called the place " Mahanaim or the two hosts. They are represented by the Psalmist as constituting many hosts, — Psalm ciii. 21 ; cxlvii. 2. Micaiah, the prophet, " saw the Lord sitting upon his throne, and all the hosts of heaven standing by him, on his right hand and on his left." — 1 Kings xxii. 19. " The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels." — Psalm Ixviii. 17. Elisha's servant, when " the Lord opened his eyes and he saw ; and behold the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha." — 2 Kings vi. 17. Daniel beheld in the vision of God, " thousand thousands minister unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stand before him." — Dan. vii. 10. St. John, " I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne, and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands." — Rev. v. 11.

Respecting the pursuits of angels in the heavenly state, we can form but a very inadequate conception, in the present life, and must await our arrival in those bright and blessed mansions which Christ has prepared for them that love Him. But from the declarations of Scripture we know that they are deeply occupied in investigating, with intense earnestness, the astonishing developments of the Divine Majesty in the works of creation and providence, and the wondrous economy of grace and salvation. In the celestial temple angels are engaged in the most exalted services, contemplating the perfection, and celebrating the praises of the Great Eternal.

To such ennobling and glorious pursuits who would not aspire, and devoutly prepare with a moral and spiritual meetness, to join the resounding trisagion of the celestial hierarchy.

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, which is, and is to come. Thou art worthy, 0 Lord, to receive glory, honor, and power, for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

TRADITIONARY AND ANECDOTICAL.

The Talmudical traditions and Rabbinical writings, with their characteristic fecundity, abound with singular fictions respecting the guardianship and employment of angels ; — the Jews indulging the vain conceit that the appearance of angels, and their ministrations by the commission of God, were only manifested in Judea. Regarding the presidency of angels, the Rabbinical writers give the following statement, over the seventy nations into which they say the human family was divided at the confusion and subsequent dispersion of Babel.

" The Lord said to the seventy angels which stood before him, come now, and let us go down, and there let us confound their language, so that a man may not understand the language of his companion. And the word of the Lord was discovered against that city, and with it the seventy nations, — and their respective languages, which each angel respectively wrote with his hand." Another says, " The earth consisted of seven climates, and every climate divided into ten parts. Then was each country and people assigned to its respective prince, and these princes are called gods of the world. Thus were the seventy nations divided amongst the seventy princes ; the blessed God taking no part in them, because He is pure. One rabbi assigns to these angels the function of "moving the heavenly bodies ; another affirms them to be " the souls of the heavenly bodies ;" and another asserts them to be no other than the " stars and planets." Among some of the employments of angels, the rabbies say, that the ark had no rudder, and was steered and guided by them ; and that God used their services in calling together " every living thing of all flesh, cattle, and creeping things of all sorts," when God commanded Noah to assemble them for embarkation.

Guardian angels, according to the notions of the Jewish rabbins, perform very important services in favor of men. They say, " Every man has his angel who speaks for him, and prays for him ; as it is said (Psalm lxv. 2), " O Thou that hearest prayer ;" that is, the prayer of the angel, who is the Mashal or guardian of men. It follows, " Unto thee shall all fresh come." Wherefore, the angels are not allowed to say their hymns above, till the Israelites have said them here below ; for all that a man does is imitated by his Mashal, who performs it above, in the same manner in which it is performed here below. A man should never ask his necessaries of God in the Syriac or Chaldaic language. The ministering angels do not attend, to carry any one's prayers before God, who petitions for his necessaries in the Syriac language. This is meant of one single man who prays for himself; by a whole congregation it may be done in all languages, because the presence of God is amongst them. There are three who weave or make garlands out of the prayers of the Israelites ; the first is Achtariel, the second Metatron, and the third Sandalphon. Behold ! these three, who make garlands, do not attempt to make garlands of any other prayers ; but only of such as are made in the Hebrew tongue.

The rabbies represent the removal of men from the present life as effected by the instrumentality of angels, whom they denominate angels of death. The execution of the mortal sentence, on those who die in the land of Israel is assigned to Gabriel, whom they style an angel of mercy ; and those who die in other countries are dispatched by the hand of Samnael, the prince of demons." These two are deputies of Metatron, to whom God daily makes known those who are appointed to die. These deputies do not themselves bring away any souls out of the world ; but each of them employs some of his host for that purpose.

The Jewish cabalists single out some particular angels as preceptors to the patriarchs ; — to Adam was given Eaziel, — to Abraham, Zidekiel, — to Moses, Metatron, — to Elias, Malashiel, — and to David, Gerviel, &c.

Amongst the chief spirits of the Mahometan heaven, such as Gabriel, the angel of revelation, — Israfil, by whom the last trumpet is to be sounded, — and Azrael, the angel of death, there were also a number of subaltern intelligences, appointed to preside over tne different stages or ascents into which the celestial world was divided. Thus Kelail governs the fifth heaven, while Sadiel, the presiding spirit of the third, is employed in steadying the motions of the earth, which would be in a constant state of agitation if this angel did not keep his foot planted upon its orb.

Amongst other miraculous interpositions in favor of Mahomet, recorded in the Alcoran, was the appearance of five thousand angels on his side, at the battle of Bedr.

The Grecian academies entertained the belief that spirits behold all the actions of men, and rendered them assistance accordingly. That they, moreover, are acquainted with all our apprehensions, cogitations, and circumstances; and when the soul is delivered from the body, they bring it before the high Judge. That then they are questioned about our good or bad actions, their testimony being much prevalent either to exonerate or aggravate our doom. Porphirius asserts that many spirits or genii have the charge and custody of every man ; one having a care of his health — another indulgent over his beauty and features — and another to infuse into him courage and constancy.

The ancient Persians supposed that Ormund appointed thirty angels to preside successively over the days of the month ; and twelve greater ones to assume the government of the months, themselves ; among whom Bahman (to whom Ormund committed the custody of all animals, except man) was the greatest Mihr. The angel of the seventh month was the spirit which watched over the affairs of friendship and love. Chur had the care of the disk o'f the sun. Mah was agent for the concerns of the moon. Isphandarmaz was the tutelar genius of good and virtuous women. The Persians, also, had a certain office or prayer for every day of the month, addressed to the particular angel who presided over it, and whom they called Sizouze.

The subjoined anecdotes are chiefly extracted from Isaac Ambrose's Discourses on the Communion and Ministry of Angels ; respecting whom, in a biographical sketch, the following particulars are given : — He was a native of Lancashire, England, and descended from a highly respectable family. In 1621 he matriculated in Brazen-nose College, of the University of Oxford, and took the degree of bachelor of arts. In consequence of some difference of opinion and the laxity of morals, which then prevailed, he seceded from the Church of England, though he invariably retained her form of episcopal worship against the remonstrances of the Independents, with whom he had ecclesiastically connected himself. Having notified to his friends, a few days preceding the time of his death, he was found dead in his chair, in his study, having that morning sent to the printer the last page of his work on Angels. " His character may be comprised in a few expressions. He was holy in life, happy in his death, favored of God, and held in high estimation by all good men. His writings, like those of Baxter , have a vigorous pulse beating in every page, and it would be difficult to select a paragraph in which the author does not appear in earnest for the salvation of his readers. He was one of those excellent divines who distinguished and adorned the turbulent age in which he lived, amidst those ecclesiastical troubles for which it was remarkable ; and who, in their combined influences, irradiated the moral gloom which then overspread the land ; and it is to their indefatigable exertions that we are indebted for many of the religious blessings which we now enjoy. He was a star of no common magnitude and effulgence in that bright constellation of worthies, who have enriched the world by their writings, bequeathing a noble example to posterity, of whom, indeed, the world was not worthy."

God does, by his angels, preserve and keep good ministers from the hands of their persecutors, as is reported by great divines of unquestionable credit, in the following instance : — " One Grynasus, a German divine, a learned and holy man, coming from Heidelberg to Spire, and going to hear a certain preacher in that city, that did then let fall some erroneous propositions of Popish doctrine, was thereat greatly offended, and presently went to the preacher, exhorting him to abandon his error ; the preacher seemed to take it well, and pretended to be desirous of some further discourse with him, and so they parted. Grynaeus going to his lodging, reports the passages of the late conference to those that sat at table with him, amongst whom Melancthon was one ; he was called out of the room to speak with a stranger newly come into the house, and going forth he finds a grave old man of a goodly countenance, seemly and richly attired, who, in a friendly and grave manner tells him that within one hour there would come to their inn certain officers to apprehend Grynaeus, and to carry him to prison, willing him to charge Grynseus with all possible speed to fly, and requiring Melancthon to see that this advantage was not neglected. Instantly Melancthon returned to the company, related the words of this strange monitor, and hasted Grynseus away, who had no sooner taken boat but he was eagerly sought for at his said lodging. No doubt this was an angel which God had sent to deliver this goodly minister from persecution.

Another worthy minister who was sought after by his persecutors, crept into a dark hole in the house, to hide himself, and as soon as he was got in, a spider drew a web over the mouth of the hole. When the searchers came, one of them would have looked in there for the man, where, indeed he was, but the other observing that there was a spider's web over the hole, concluded he could not be there, and therefore they ceased their search. What an artifice of the good man's angel-guardian was this to preserve him ? Though persecutors are crafty and cruel, yet our keepers are more cunning than they, and can out-wit them.

Mr. Hawks being burnt to death, was desired by his friends to give them (if he could) some sign, by lifting up his hand, if he found his pains such as were tolerable, and might be borne with patience, and he did so ; when his speech was gone, his body burning, and he thought to be dead, he lifted up his hands over his head, all on fire, and clapt them thrice together, which caused a great shout amongst his friends.

Mr. James Bingham, when the flames had half consumed him, cried out in the fire : " O ye papists ! ye look for miracles ; here now ye may see a miracle ; for in this fire I feel no more pain than if I were on a bed of roses !" If angels could keep Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fiery furnace without any hurt, why might they not keep this holy martyr in the flames without pain, though he died in them1? He is a very uncharitable wretch that will not believe he found as he spake. 'Tis, I confess, a wonderful instance, that 'tis usual for God to indulge his martyrs more than ordinary support in fiery trials."

Mr. Holland, the day before his death, on a sudden, while one was reading, said, " O stay your reading. What brightness is this I see ? It is my Savior's shine. Now farewell world, welcome Heaven. The day-star from on high has visited my heart." And then turning to the minister who preached his
funeral sermon, he said, " I desire you speak this for me, that God deals familiarly with man ; I feel his mercy, I see his majesty, whether in the body or out of the body, I cannot tell, God he knoweth ; but I see things that are unutterable."

Many have told the very day and hour of their departure ; and, says Bishop Hall, these revelations and ecstacies whence are they ? If a man without all observation of physical criticism, shall receive, and give intelligence many days before, what day and hour shall be his last, what cause can we attribute this to but our attending angels ? And when joy arises not to such an overflowing height, yet does it frequently begin our heaven on earth, and the fears of death are fully vanquished, and the good man can see it, and feel it coming without any regret.

Angels are with the saints in the very minute of dying, taking away the terribleness of it. There is an aversion in nature to death; but, says Mr. Ambrose, the body's passage through the grave, though it be dark and dismal, yet it is safe and secure. The grave is but a sleeping-place (they shall rest in their beds), and their soul's angels guard safe to heaven, and
thus minister to the saints in death. "

Oh would God, ye saw what I see (said Mrs. Stubbs, on her death bed). Behold, I see infinite millions of angels stand about me, with fiery chariots to defend me, these are appointed of God to carry my soul unto the kingdom of heaven."

Immediately after the separation of the soul from the body, the angels receive it, and carry it to heaven. They are a convoy for the departing souls of the godly, to bring them to their felicity, though how they do it we cannot understand. They keep them company at least, and they are a guard to them as they pass through the Devil's territories ; for the Devil is called the Prince of the power of the air. He, with all his hellish crew, are the inhabitants of that region, and souls in their journey to heaven must pass through the air, and the angels wait upon them as a convoy.

The Devil drags the souls of wicked men to hell, when they die ; and angels conduct the souls of good men to heaven. Such honor have all the saints. The poorest and meanest of them will be thus royally attended. Lazarus was a beggar, and he went in state to heaven.

Author: George Clayton Jr. 1854