First, Because the Soul is guarded with such powerful Angels. Evil Angels that will endeavour to way lay the Soul are strong and powerful Spirits; but the Holy Angels that are to defend it on its way, are stronger and more powerful than they; not only in themselves, compared with the other, but also because Evil Angels oppose the Soul in their own Strength, by mere Permission, without Assistance from God; but Holy ⟨p. 69⟩Angels act not only by that Power they are endued with from God, but also by Commission and Assistance from him; and therefore when we read of any Fight and Conflict between the Bad and Holy Angels, the Good always overcame; because Christ, who is that Michael, is the Lord General of the Heavenly Host, and they fight under his Banner, and he that is the Captain of our Salvation, is the Captain, Leader, and Commander in Chief of this Heavenly Army: Rev. 12. 7, 8. And there was War in Heaven, Michael and his Angels fought against the Dragon, and the Dragon fought and his Angels, and prevailed not, neither was there Place sound any more in Heaven. 9. And the great Dragon was cast out, that old Serpent, called, the Devil and Satan, which deceiveth the whole World; he was cast out into the Earth, and his Angels were cast out with him, Rev. 20. 1. I saw an Angel come down from Heaven, having the Key of the Bottomless Pit, and a great Chain in his Hand. 2. And he laid hold on the Dragon, that old Serpent, which is the Devil and Satan, and bound him a Thousand Years. 3. And cast him into the bottomless Pit, and set a Seal upon him, that he should deceive the Nations no more. Thus the ⟨p. 70⟩Holy Angels are celebrated for their Power, being mighty Angels, 2 Thes. 1. 7. and do excel in Strength, Psal. 103. 20. Their Power, under God, is the Soul's Safety, on its Way from Earth to Heaven.
First, Because the Soul is guarded with such powerful Angels. Evil Angels that will endeavour to way lay the Soul are strong and powerful Spirits; but the Holy Angels that are to defend it on its way, are stronger and more powerful than they; not only in themselves, compared with the other, but also because Evil Angels oppose the Soul in their own Strength, by meer Permission, without Assistance from God; but Holy ⟨p. 69⟩Angels act not only by that Power they are indued with from God, but also by Commission and Assistance from him; and therefore when we read of any Fight and Conflict between the Bad and Holy Angels, the Good always overcame; because Christ, who is that Michael, is the Lord General of the Heavenly Host, and they fight under his Banner, and he that is the Captain of our Salvation, is the Captain, Leader, and Commander in Chief of this Heavenly Army: Rev. 12. 7, 8. And there was War in Heaven, Michael and his Angels fought against the Dragon, and the Dragon fought and his Angels, and prevailed not, neither was there Place sound any more in Heaven. 9. And the great Dragon was cast out, that old Serpent, called, the Devil and Satan, which deceiveth the whole World; he was cast out into the Earth, and his Angels were cast out with him, Rev. 20. 1. I saw an Angel come down from Heaven, having the Key of the Bottomless Pit, and a great Chain in his Hand. 2. And he laid hold on the Dragon, that old Serpent, which is the Devil and Satan, and bound him a Thousand Years. 3. And cast him into the bottomless Pit, and set a Seal upon him, that he should deceive the Nations no more. Thus the ⟨p. 70⟩Holy Angels are celebrated for their Power, being mighty Angels, 2 Thes. 1. 7. and do excel in Strength, Psal. 103. 20. Their Power, under God, is the Soul's Safety, on its Way from Earth to Heaven.
