N00620:121
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. › For the USE of it.
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.
The Holy Angels themselves have forbid men to worship them: The Apostle John being amazed at the Glory of the Angel that appeared to him, fell down at his feet to worship him. Rev 22.9. saith the Angel to him, See thou do it not, for I am of thy Fellow servants. Men may not worship those that are their Fellow-servants. The highest Angel in Heaven, and the meanest Saint upon the Earth, are Fellow-servants, they Serve the same God, and must worship him, and him only. We may not invocate Angels: we may not pray unto them: There is the same Object of Prayer, that there is of Faith. Rom. 10.14. How shall they call on him, on whom they have not believed? We may not call upon, or pray unto him, that we may not believe on. Now God alone is the ⟨p. 77⟩Object of Faith: We may not pray unto any one, but unto him that is Omnipresent and Omnipotent, unto him that hath power to do for us whatever we can desire of him. We stand in need of many Blessings, which none but God can give unto us; which no Angel in Heaven can bestow upon us. We need the pardon of sin: and who can forgive sins, but God only? We need Sanctifying Grace: and who can give us Grace, but God alone? As for the Angel that Jacob did pray unto, he was not a Created Angel, but the Son of God, who is called an Angel in respect of his Office, as being sent by God. Therefore Jacob called the name of the place, where he wrestled with the Angel, Peniel, Gen. 32.30. which signifies, The Face of God, for (saith he) I have seen God. The Angel he prayed unto, was God; so the Prophet Hosea declares, Hos. 12.4, 5. He had power over the Angel, even the Lord of Hosts, that is his Memorial. That Angel is called by the name of Jehovah; and that glorious Title, Of the Lord of Hosts, is attributed unto him. All the Hosts of Heaven, all the Angels there, are commanded by that Angel, whom Jacob did worship: He therefore was no other than the Son of God himself, who is God. But although we may not pray unto created Angels, who Minister unto us, and are our Fellow-servants; this notwithstanding, they are to be, tho' not adored, yet loved and honoured by us: There is an Honour due to the Blessed Angels, an Honour ⟨p. 78⟩