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 & 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: and 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 ⟨p. 80⟩their tents about him, and defend him from them all. So David saith, He shall give his Angels charge over thee, and they shall keep thee in all thy ways that thou dash not thy foot against a stone:1 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,2 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: and he besought the Lord to open his servants eyes, that he might see: & the Lord opened his eyes, & he looked & 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, & to conform themselves in all good conscience to the rule of Gods word. For when a man doth 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 follow the consolations that arise from this, that God hath giuen his glorious angels to serue for the protection & safegard of his Church and people. If mens spirituall eyes were open, they should see the deuill and his angels, and all the wicked of this world to fight against them: and if there were no meanes of comfort in this case, then our estate were most miserable. But marke; as Gods seruant hath all these wicked ones to be his enemies: so he hath garrisons of angels that pitch ⟨p. 80⟩their tents about him, and defend him from them all. So Dauid saith, He shall giue his Angels charge ouer thee, and they shall keepe thee in all thy waies that thou dash not thy foote against a stone:1 where the Angels of God are compared to nurces, which carie litle children in their armes, feede them, and are alwaies readie at hand, to saue them from falls 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 saw them round about Dothan where he was,2 and he cried, Alas, master, what shall we doe? then Elisha answeared, Feare not: for they that be with vs, are more then they that be with them: and he besought the Lord to open his seruants eyes, that he might see: & the Lord opened his eyes, & he looked & behold, the mountains were full of horses and charriots of fire round about Elisha. So likewise not many yeares agoe, our land was preserued from the inuasion of the Spainyards, whose huge Navie lay vpon our sea coasts: but how were we deliuered from them? surely by no strength 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, he hath gods angels to guide and preserue him: which thing must mooue men to loue and imbrace the true religiō, & to cōforme thēselues in all good conscience to the rule of Gods word. For when a man doth not so, all the angels of God are his enemies, and at all times readie to execute Gods vengeance vpon him:
- 1Psal. 91.
- 22. Kin. 16.17
