An exposition of the Symbol or Creed of the Apostles according to the tenor…An exposition of the Symbole or Creed of the Apostles according to the tenour…

The ministry of angels concerning the Church, stands in this, that they are ministering spirits for the good of them which shall be heirs of salvation.¹ The good is three-fold; in this life, in the end of this life, and in the last judgement: again, the good which they procure to the people of God in this life, is either in respect of body or soul. In respect of the body, in that they do most carefully perform all manner of duties which do necessarily tend to preserve the temporal life of Gods children, even from the beginning of their days to the end. David saith, that they pitch their tents about them that fear the Lord. ²When Hagar was cast forth of Abraham's family, and wandered in the wilderness, an angel comes unto her and gives her counsel to return to her mistress and humble her self. When Elijah fled from Jezebel, he was both comforted,³ directed, and fed by an angel. And an angel bids the same Elijah be of good courage and without fear to go to King Achazias & reprove him.⁴ Angels bring Lot and his family out of Sodom and Gomorrah, before they burn the cities with fire & brimstone.⁵ When Jacob feared his brother Esau, he saw angels coming unto him: and he plainly acknowledgeth that they were sent to be his protectors and his guides in his journey. Abraham being persuaded of the assistance of Gods angels in all his ways,⁶ said to his servant, The Lord God of heaven, who took me from my fathers house,⁷ &c. will send his angel before thee. The wise men that came to see Christ, are admonished by Angels to return another way:⁸ & Joseph by the direction of an angel fled into Egypt, that he might preserve Christ from the hands of the cruel tyrant▪