Egyptian first-born both of men and beasts ^ By the agency of one of those powerful spirits was the pestilence produced, to which, for the punishment of David's sin, seventy thousand Israelites fell victims™. It was by a sword wielded by a similar messenger from God, that one hundred and eighty-five thousand of the Assyrian host also were slain in one night". Nor is it in such extensive ravages only that they have been employed : a single individual, whom God has ordained to punish for his iniquity, has been the object of a similar commission, and been made to feel the weight of an angel's avenging arm : an angel smote Herod for his pride, and he was eaten up of worms". In like manner they have been frequently made God's ministers for good. In the instances already mentioned they proved signal benefactors, no less than avengers : for, if they smote the enemies of God, they effected thereby a great deliverance for Israel : and if they corrected his people, it was with a view to humble them, and to bring them to re- pentance. But they have been no less willing to minister to individuals than to a whole nation : nor have they accounted any office beneath their atten- tion. Was Abraham's steward sent to seek a wife for Isaac ? an angel went before him to prepare his way p. Did Hagar flee from the face of her mistress ? an angel advised her to return "i. And when she was put away by Abraham, and her child was perishing with thirst, an angel directed her to a well, where she might find an immediate supply ^ Were Lot and his family in danger of perishing in Sodom ? with what affectionate solicitude did angels go to bring them forth from that devoted place'! Does Balaam hasten to curse Israel ? an angel obstructs his way, and does not suffer him to proceed, till he engages to utter nothing but what the Lord shall put into his mouth'. Does the highly-favoured Daniel pour out his soul
' Exod. xii. 23. «» 2 Sam. xxiv. 16, 17. " Isai. xxxvii. 36. o Acts xii. 23. p Gen. xxiv. 7. ^ Gen. xvi. 7 — 9.
^ Gen. xxi. 17. ^ Gen. xix. 1, 11, 15—17. t Numb. xxii. 22—35.