2. In other re.speets the only diH'erence is, that the Gospels are free from the extravagant embel- lishment in whicli the Kabbis indulged, when speaking of angels : ('/) as to their .vise. The Tal- mudic treatise Chaqigiih (Vih) says that Sandalfon is taller than his fellows by the length of a journey of 500 years; and the Gospd cf Peter (c. 9) tells how the Roman soldiers saw two men descend from heaven, aoil the head of tlie two reached unto heaven, Inii ihnl ol Him whom they released from the toml. o\ei|M-sed the heavens. — (h) As to a fondncs.s fur the marvellous in describing their appearance and actions. For instance, Yoma 21a narrates how a high priest was killed by an angel in the Holy of Holies, and the impress of a calf's foot was found between his shoulders. Joshua ben Pananiah is reported to have told the Emperor Hadrian that God hears the song of new angels every day. AVhen asked whence they coiiie, he replied, 'From the fiery stream which isHir- fi,,m the throne of God ' (Dn 7'") ; seeBacher, Ag.nh, ,l,r Tannaiten, i. 178.— (c) The Jews also spi'iulaled much as to the origin of the angels, tlieir connexion with the four elements, etc. ; and they had ingenious methods ot eoni|Hitini;- their number by ^Cabbalistic Oetii'iliin tie- \\ leile thing being the extravaganza of Uiieiital iili.iiit.isy.
iv. The objective value of tiik NT doctrine OF Angels.— The most difficult part of our task now awaits us, to give some account of modem views as to the rcalitif of angels, and to discuss whether there are valid re,i-oiis why we, as I'liris- tians, are bound to ;Mre|it tie- iu-'uh'i firr NT teaching as to the an.uelii- niiiii-t ry. I'.MTy ('Ini-- tian must feel that it is ol vei y -le.-tt imipiu laie e to decide whether the Lord Jesus really helieved in the objective existence and ministrations of angels. To this r|uestion the present writer feels obii'jed to liive an atlinii.'it ive reply [but see art. Ari'.iMM(iie\Tl<>\, :ili.e,', |.. -Jo], .-nid that for the follow iii'j iva-oiix: ill 'rill. iiL'li .li'Mis did not speak niueli eonceiiiiiiu anui I,, \i I Ih- i eeorded sayings cover, with soiiie latcut'ional exceptions, almost the complete Angelology of the Jews— which is evidence that He was, in the main, in agreement
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ANGELS
ANGELS
with it. (2) If the disciples had been radically mistaken on this subject, surely this is a matter as to which Christ's words were applicable : ' If it were not so, I would have told you,' Jn 14^. (3) In controversy witli the Sadducees, who were sceptical as to angels. He adroitly gave them such a reply to their objection against tlie resurrection as to show that the existence and nature of angels was to Him a settled matter, and miglit be used to elucidate the nature of the resurrection body. Tliere is a wealth of conviction in the words of Jesus : ' Tliose who rise again are like the angels.' (4) Christ made mention of angels not merely in the parables, where we expect symbolism and pic- torial illustration, but also in the interpretation (Mt 133»- "• "). (5) He used the punitive ability of angels to warn men against despising the little ones in His kingdom (Mt 18'"). Apart from a literal belief iu angels, such words are an empty tlireat. (6) In the time of His most intense agony He evidently derived comfort from the loving sym- pathy of the 'cloud of witnesses'; for when He emerges from the trial and its bitterness is past, He assures Peter that, had He permitted it, more than twelve legions of angels would readily have intervened to deliver Him (Mt 26*'). — Stevens (Theology of NT, p. 80) is impressed by other pas- sages. ' In several places,' he says, ' Christ seems to refer to angels in such a way as to show that He believed in their real existence. He will " come in the glory of his Father with his holy angels" (Mk 8^). "Angels m heaven" neither marry nor are given in marriage (Mk 12^). Of the hour of his Advent " not even the angels in heaven" know (Mk 13^2),'
In recent times the views of scholars are mucli divided on this subject. 1. There are large sections of the universal Church to whom the existence of anjjels is very real, not only as a matter of theo- retical belief, but as a matter of religious experi- ence. They set great value on the services of angels as mediators between themselves, in their sins and needs and miseries, and the holy, infinite God ; and they deliglit to think that the s]>iritual strength and light and sucmur whirh cunie to them in answer to prayer, mr\\ tlnir !..«• estate througlithemediationof angtls. \\'i- ini-ht readily quote from saints of the Greek and Roman Churches on this head, but we prefer to give the ' disclosures ' of Swedenborg. ' According to him, we are every moment in the most vital association with the spirits both of heaven and hell. They are tlie perpetual prompters of our thoughts : t"Iiey inces- santly work by insinuating influences on our loves ; and they give force on the one hand to the power of temptation, and on the other fortify the soul, by hidden influx, to resist temptation (Rev. G. Bush, Disclosures of Swedenborg, 79).