Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

And lest any man should imagine this miracle came to pass by natural causes, it is expressly added, that all this multitude was slain by the stroke of an Angel. Now it is no unwonted thing for God thus to use the ministry of Angels, in procuring the safety of the faithful, for whose sakes he hath created all the armies of heaven. It also serves greatly for the confirmation of our faith, when we see there are so many thousands of them which wait for our salvation. The Lord himself is strong enough, and his truth it is which only keeps us: Rom. 8.38. For the Angels are but his hands as it were, in regard whereof, they are called powers and principalities:¹ but he provides exceedingly for our weakness, by giving such celestial ministers to be our guardians and protectors. And yet the whole glory must be ascribed to God alone, we are to acknowledge the Angels but his instruments; for otherwise we should easily slip into the error of the Papists, who ascribing more then is meet to them, do rob God of his power, to clothe them with it. With which error also, the learnedst men of our time have bin bewitched, as we know.

And lest any man should imagin this miracle came to passe by naturall causes, it is expreslie added, that all this multitude was slaine by the stroke of an Angell. Now it is no vnwonted thing for God thus to vse the ministerie of Angels, in procuring the safetie of the faithfull, for whose sakes he hath created all the armies of heauen. It also serues greatly for the confirmation of our faith, when we see there are so many thousands of them which wait for our saluation. The Lord himselfe is strong enough, and his truth it is which onely keeps vs: Rom. 8.38. For the Angels are but his hands as it were, in regard whereof, they are called powers and principalities:¹ but hee prouides exceedingly for our weaknesse, by giuing such celestiall ministers to be our gardians and protectors. And yet the whole glorie must be ascribed to God alone, we are to acknowledge the Angels but his instruments; for otherwise wee should easilie slip into the error of the Papists, who ascribing more then is meete to them, doe rob God of his power, to clothe them with it. With which error also, the learnedst men of our time haue bin bewitched, as we know.