N00620:105
Angelographia, or A discourse concerning the nature and power of the holy angels, and…
Angelographia, or A discourse concerning the nature and power of the holy angels, and the great benefit which the true fearers of God receive by their ministry: delivered in several sermons: : to which is added, a sermon concerning the sin and misery of the fallen angels: also, a disquisition concerning angelical-apparitions. / By Increase Mather, president of Harvard College, in Cambridge, and preacher of the Gospel at Boston, in New-England. ; [Two lines from Hebrews]Angelographia, or A discourse concerning the nature and power of the holy angels, and the great benefit which the true fearers of God receive by their ministry: delivered in several sermons: : to which is added, a sermon concerning the sin and misery of the fallen angels: also, a disquisition concerning angelical-apparitions. / By Increase Mather, praesident of Harvard Colledge, in Cambridge, and preacher of the Gospel at Boston, in New-England. ; [Two lines from Hebrews]
printed by B. Green & J. Allen for Samuel Phillips, 1696
A DISCOURSE Concerning the Power and Ministry of Holy Angels. › Doctrine 2 › Objections
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
So when they that fear God, have done and suffered all that He hath appointed for them, then he sends Chariots and Horses of fire, to fetch-away their Souls. So are they by the Angels of the Lord delivered from all evil.
Object. 2. But there is another Objection to be answered, viz. That it is the Lord that delivers those that fear him; He is the Preserver of men: and shall we ascribe their Deliverances to Angels? Is not that a Dishonour to God, to attribute that which is His Work to Angels, who are his Creatures?
The Answer is clear, That God doth it by them; the Glory of Deliverances does not belong to the Angels, but to God, who sets them on work: It is said in this Psalm, concerning the Righteous man, Vers. 20. That the Lord keeps all his Bones, not one of them is broken; but this He does by giving his Angels Charge over them. The Lord is said to do that which is done by Angels immediately. It is said, God overthrew Sodom, Amos 4.16. And yet the Angels did it ⟨p. 62⟩Gen. 19.13. The Angels said, We are sent to destroy this place. Well then, though Angels did it, God did it, and that by their Ministry. When the Enemies of them that feared the Lord, were routed and ruined by Holy Angels in Jehoshaphat Times; nevertheless, That Battle was the Lords. 2 Chron. 20.15. The Glory of that Victory belonged to God, and not to them, when He was pleased to effect it by their Agency and Ministry. They have all their power from the Lord. What strength they have, it is God that hath given it to them: and their Commissions are granted to them by the Lord. The Charge that they have, it is God that gives them that Charge: He shall give his Angels charge.