But whether every one hath an angel-guardian is a curious question. Sometimes one angel serveth many persons : Ps. xxxiv. 7, ' The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them ; ' and sometimes many angels are about one person : 2 King? vi. 17, ' And, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots round about Elisha.' And here in the text quoted by Satan, ' He shall give his angels charge concerning thee.' There is not mention made of one, but many angels, and the angels in general are said to be ministering spirits. When soldiers are said to watch for a city, it is not meant that every citizen hath a soldier to watch for him.
The only place which seemeth to countenance that opinion is Acts xii. 15, ' Then said they, It is his angel' But if Peter had a peculiar
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tiDgel to guard bim, and look after him then, when he was in great trouble, and detained in prison, it doth not follow that every person and everywhere should have an angel-guardian. Besides, an assertion in scripture must be distinguished from men introduced speaking in scripture. It showeth, indeed, that it was the opinion of the Jews at that time, which these holy men had imbibed and drunk in. Or it may be the word angel is only taken for a messenger sent from Peter. Why should an angel stand knocking at the door, who could easily make his entrance ? And is it credible that the guardian angels do take their shape and habit whose angels they are ? It is enough for us to believe that all the angels are our guardians, who are sent to keep us and preserve us, as it pleaseth God.
But what is their ministry and custody ? It is not cura animarum, care and charge of souls ; that Christ taketh upon himself, and per- formeth it by his Spirit ; but mimsteo'ium externi auxilii, to afford us outward help and relief : it is custodia corporis, they guard the bodily life chiefly. Thus we find them often employed. An angel brought Elijah his food under the juniper-tree : 1 Kings xix. 5. An angel stirred the waters at the Pool of Siloam : John v. 4. An angel was the guide of the way to Abraham's servant : Gen. xxiv. 7, ' He will send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.' Angels defend us against enemies : Ps. xxxiv. 7, ' The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them ; ' 2 Kings xix. 35, ' The angel of the Lord went out, and smote in tlie camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand.' An angel opened the prison doors to the apostles : Acts V. 19, and xii. 7.
But were not all these services extraordinary and miraculous, which we may not now expect ?
Ans. The visible ministry was extraordinary, proper to those times; but the invisible is pei'petual and ordinary, as Abraham's servant ditl not see the angel in the journey. The devil worketh in and about wicked men invisibly, so do the good angels.
Secondly, Keasons why it is so.
(1.) To manifest the great love and care which God hath over his people ; therefore he giveth those blessed spirits, which behold his tace, charge concerning his people on earth ; as if a nobleman were charged to look to a beggar by the prince of both.
(2.) We understand the operation of finite agents better than infinite. God is so far out of the reach of our commerce, that we cannot under- stand the particularity of his providence.
(3.) To counterwork the devil : evil angels are"ready to hurt us, and therefore good angels are ready to preserve us. Well might the devil be so well versed in this place ; he hath often felt the efi'ects of it ; he knew it by experience, being so often encountered by the good angels in his endeavours against the people of God.
(4.) To begin our acquaintance, which in heaven shall be perfected : Heb. xii. 22, ' Ye are come to an innumerable company of angels.'
Use 1. To show the happy state of God's people. No heirs of a crown have such guards as they have. Christ dwelleth in their hearts as in a throne : Eph. iii. 17, ' That Christ may dwell in your hearts
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by faitli.' The Holy Spirit guardeth them against all cares and fears : Phil. iv. 7, ' And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ.' And the good angels are as a wall and camp about tliem : Ps. xxxiv. 7, ' The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them ; ' Mat. xviii. 10, ' Despise not one of these little ones, for verily I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.' If the angels make an account of them, surely men should not despise them ; yea, rather, God esteemeth so much of the meanest of these little ones, that the good angels, who daily enjoy (jod's glorious presence, are ministering spirits appointed to attend them. If the Lord and his holy angels set such a price on the meanest Christians, we should be loth to despise and offend them.