And thus much of the duties. Now follow the consolations that arise from this, that God hath given his glorious angels to serve for the protection ⟨p. 235⟩and safeguard of his church and people. If mens spiritual eyes were open, they should see the devil and his angels, and all the wicked of this world to fight against them: & if there were no means of comfort in this case, then our estate were most miserable. But mark; as Gods servant hath all these wicked ones to be his enemies: so he hath garrisons of angels that pitch their tents about him and defend him from them all. So David saith,1 He shall give his Angels charge over thee, & they shall keep thee in all thy ways, that thou dash not thy foot against a stone: where the angels of God are compared to nurses, which carry little children in their arms, feed them, and are always ready at hand, to save them from falls and many other dangers. When the king of Syria sent his horses &chariots to take Elisha the Lords prophet, because he revealed his counsel to the king of Israel: his servant saw them round about Dothan where he was, and he cried, Alas, master, what shall we do? then Elisha answered, Fear not: for they that be with us, are more then they that be with them:2 & he besought the Lord to open his servants eyes, that he might see: and the Lord opened his eyes, and he looked and behold, the mountains were full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. So likewise not many years ago, our land was preserved from the invasion of the Spaniards, whose huge Navy lay upon our sea coasts; but how were we delivered from them? surely by no strength nor power, nor cunning of man; but it was the Lord, no doubt, by his Angels that did keep our coasts, and did scatter our enemies, and drown them. Let enemies rage, and let them do what they will, if a man keep himself in the ways which God prescribeth, he hath Gods Angels to guide and preserve him: which thing must move men to love and embrace the true religion, and to conform themselves in all good conscience to the rule of Gods word. For when a man doeth not so, all the Angels of God are his enemies, and at all times ready to execute Gods vengeance upon him:
And thus much of the duties. Nowe followe the consolations that arise from this, that God hath giuen his glorious angels to serue for the protection ⟨p. 235⟩and safegard of his church and people. If mens spirituall eies were open, they should see the deuil and his angels, and all the wicked of this world to fight against them: & if there were no means of comfort in this case, then our estate were most miserable. But marke; as Gods seruant hath all these wicked ones to bee his enimies: so he hath garrisons of angels that pitch their tents about him and defend him from them all. So Dauid saith,1 He shall giue his Angels charge ouer thee, & they shall keepe thee in all thy waies, that thou dash not thy foote against a stone: where the angels of God are compared to nources, which carry little children in their armes, feed them, and are alwaies readie at hand, to saue them from fals and many other dangers. When the king of Syria sent his horses &chariots to take Elisha the Lords prophet, because he reuealed his counsell to the king of Israel: his seruant sawe them round about Dothan where he was, and he cried, Alas, master, vvhat shall wee doe? then Elisha answered, Feare not: for they that be with vs, are more then they that be with them:2 & he besought the Lord to open his seruants eyes, that he might see: and the Lord opened his eies, and he looked and beholde, the mountaines were full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. So likewise not many yeres agoe, our land was preserued from the inuasion of the Spaniards, whose huge Nauy lay vpon our sea coasts; but how were we deliuered from them? surely by no strēgth nor power, nor cunning of man; but it was the Lord, no doubt, by his Angels that did keepe our coasts, and did scatter our enemies, and drowne them. Let enemies rage, and let them doe what they will, if a man keepe himselfe in the waies which God prescribeth, hee hath Gods Angels to guide and preserue him: which thing must mooue men to loue and embrace the true religion, and to conforme themselues in all good conscience to the rule of Gods worde. For when a man doeth not so, all the Angels of God are his enemies, and at all times readie to execute Gods vengeance vpon him:
- 1Psal. 91.
- 22. King. 16 17.
