3. To preserve his people from many dangers and casualties, which fall not within the foresight of man, God employeth ' the watchers,' as they are called in the Book of Daniel, chap. iv. 13, 17, for he is tender of his people, and doth all things by proper means. Now the angels having a larger foresight than we, they are appointed to be guardians. This they do according to God's pleasure, preventing many dangers, which we could by no means foresee. They observe the devil in all his walks, and God useth them to prevent his sudden surprisals of his people, as instances are many.
4. Because they are witnesses of the obedience and fidelity of Christ's disciples, and, so far as God permitteth, they cannot but assist them in their conflicts. Thus Paul, 1 Cor. iv. 9 : ' We are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels and to men.' Now the angels, that are witnesses to their combats and sufferings, cannot but make report to God : Mat. xviii. 10, * Take heed that ye despise not one of
336 Christ's temptation. [Ser. VII.
these little ones, for I say uuto .you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.' The angels which are appointed by God to be their guardians have their con- tinual recourses, and returns to God's glorious presence. Now, being so high in God's favour, and having continual access to make their requests and complaints known to him, they will not be silent in the behalf of their fellow-servants, that either the trial may be lessened, or grace sufficient may be given to them.
5. They do not only keep off hurt, but there are many blessings and benefits that we are partakers of by their ministry. As the angel of the Lord delivered Peter out of prison : Acts xii. 7, ' And behold the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison ; and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly ; and his chains fell off from his hands,' &c. But he doth not give thanks to the angel, but to God ; ver. 11, ' Now I know of a surety that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me,' &c. He directeth it to God, not to the creature. The angels do us many favours ; all the thanks we do them is that we do not offend them by our sins against God ; other gratitude they expect not.
6. Their last office is at death and judgment. In death, to convey our souls to Christ : Luke xvi. 22, ' And it came to pass that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom ; ' that so we may enjoy our rest in heaven. In the last day they will gather the bodies of Christ's redeemed ones from all parts of the world, after they have been resolved into dust, and mingled with the dust of other men, that every saint may have his own body again, wherein he hath obeyed and glorified God: Mat. xxiv. 31, 'And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.' That is, from all parts and quarters of the world, that their souls may re- turn to their old beloved habitations, and then both in body and in soul they may be for ever with the Lord.
Use. Now this is a great comfort to the church and people of God, when the powers and principalities on earth are employed against them, to consider what powers and principalities attend upon Christ. We serve such a master as hath authority over the holy angels, to employ them at his pleasure ; and in their darkest condition his people feel the benefit of it. As the angel of the Lord appeared to Paul in a dread- ful storm: Acts xxvii. 23, 24, 'There stood by me this night the angel of the Lord, whose I am, and whom I serve, saying. Fear not, Paul,' &c. So to Christ in his agonies : Luke xxii. 43, ' There appeared an angel to him from heaven strengthening him.' So against Satan, the good angels are ready to comfort us, as the evil angels are ready to trouble and tempt us. Let us then look to God, at whose direction they are sent to help and comfort us.
Doct. 5. If God taketh away ordinary helps from us, he can supply us by means extraordinary, as he did Christ's hunger by the ministry of angels. Therefore till God's power be wasted there is no room for despair. We must not limit the Holy One of Israel to our ways and means, as they did : Ps. Ixxviii. 41, 'They turned back, and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.'
THE TRANSFIGURATION OF CHRIST.
SERMON I.
And after six days Jesus taJceth Peter, James, and John his brother,
and hringeth them into an high mountain apart. — Mat. XVII.
1 ; with, It came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter,
and John, and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. —