2. The second Prerogative royal §2of a Christian, is, he shall be carried up by the Angels: In this life, a believer is carried by the Saints; they lift him upon the wings of their prayers, and when they can carry him no longer, after death the Angels take him, and carry him up: thus shall it be done to the man whom God will honour. Wicked men who are of the Devils life-guard, when they die, they shall have a black-guard of Angels to carry them: Thou who art an old sinner (that hast an hoary head, but thy heart is as young in sin as ever▪) I may say to thee, as Christ said in another sense, to Peter: When thou art old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not*. So I say, Thou old sinner, the time is shortly coming, ⟨p. 89⟩when thou shalt stretch forth thy hands on thy death-bed, and another shall bind thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not; thou shalt be carried by a black-guard: but a believer shall be carried by the Angels into Heaven: The beggar died, and was carried by the Angels into Abraham's bosom*. Abraham's bosom is a figurative speech, representing the seat of the Blessed: thither was he carried by the Angels: Poor Lazarus, when he was upon earth, he had no friends, but dogs to come at him; when he was dead, he had • convoy of Angels. After our fall▪ the Angels (as well as God) fell out with us, and became our enemies; hence, we read that the Angels (set out by the Cherubims) stood with a flaming sword, to keep our first Parents out of Paradise, Gen. 3.24. but being at peace with God, we are at peace with ⟨p. 87⟩the Angels: Therefore the Angel comes with an Olive-branch of Peace in his mouth, and proclaims with triumph, the news of Christs incarnation, Luk. 2.11. For unto you is borne, in the City of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord: the Angels bless God for mans Redemption, Ver. 13. And suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory be to God in the highest. The Angels love mankind (especially where there is the new-man) and are ready to do all friendly offices for us: as in our life-time, they are our supporters Psal. 91.11. He shall give his Angels charge to keep thee: So after death they are our Porters: Lazarus was carried up by the Angels. The Angels are called [Greek or Hebrew], ministering Spirits*;
2. The second Prerogative royall §2of a Christian, is, he shall be carried up by the Angels: In this life, a believer is carried by the Saints; they lift him upon the wings of their prayers, and when they can carry him no longer, after death the Angels take him, and carry him up: thus shall it be done to the man whom God will honour. Wicked men who are of the Devils life-guard, when they die, they shall have a black-guard of Angels to carry them: Thou who art an old sinner (that hast an hoary head, but thy heart is as young in sinne as ever▪) I may say to thee, as Christ said in another sense, to Peter: When thou art old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not*. So I say, Thou old sinner, the time is shortly coming, ⟨p. 89⟩when thou shalt stretch forth thy hands on thy death-bed, and another shall binde thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not; thou shalt be carried by a black-guard: but a believer shall be carried by the Angels into Heaven: The begger died, and was carried by the Angels into Abraham's bosome*. Abraham's bosome is a figurative speech, representing the seat of the Blessed: thither was he carried by the Angels: Poore Lazarus, when he was upon earth, he had no friends, but dogs to come at him; when he was dead, he had • convoy of Angels. After our fall▪ the Angels (as well as God) fell out with us, and became our enemies; hence, we reade that the Angels (set out by the Cherubims) stood with a flaming sword, to keepe our first Parents out of Paradise, Gen. 3.24. but being at peace with God, we are at peace with ⟨p. 87⟩the Angels: Therefore the Angell comes with an Olive-branch of Peace in his mouth, and proclaimes with triumph, the newes of Christs incarnation, Luk. 2.11. For unto you is borne, in the City of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord: the Angels blesse God for mans Redemption, Ver. 13. And suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the heavenly hoast praising God, and saying, Glory be to God in the highest. The Angels love mankinde (especially where there is the new-man) and are ready to do all friendly offices for us: as in our life-time, they are our supporters
- *Joh. 21.18.
- *Luk. 16.22.
- *Heb. 1.14
