N00620:128
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.
2. It is certain, that the Angels do not delight in those that fear not God. They don't care to be in their Company. As God himself delights not in them; By Nature we were the Children of Wrath: they that are still in their Nature, in their natural unconverted State, are Children of Wrath; The Wrath of God abides on them that believe not: He is angry with the wicked every day. And as an holy man cannot delight in the company, and conversation of those that are ungodly: David saith, All my delight is with the Saints on Earth: and again, I am a Companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy Precepts. So must it be concluded concerning Holy Angels, that they delight not in communion with such as do not fear God. If holy men cannot do it, Angels who are holier than they, can never do it. It is a very offensive thing to an holy man, to see others do things that are inconsistent with the fear of God, to hear them speak such words, or […] them do such deeds, as cannot well stand with the true Fear of God. It is a grief and vexation to him, that has a righteous Soul within him, as ⟨p. 84⟩it was to Lot. Much more then are the Holy Angels offended thereat: Doves can't endure to be where there is an ill scent; you know it drives them away. So when men indulge themselves in the ways of Sin, the Angels, those Doves of Heaven, fly away and can't endure their company. It is a celebrated sa•ing o• Luthers, Ubi non est gratia▪ ibi n•• lo•um habet Angelorum cust•dia. Graceless men may not pretend to the Guardianship of holy and glorious Angels, unto whom they are abominable.
2. It is certain, that the Angels do not delight in those that fear not God. They don't care to be in their Company. As God himself delights not in them; By Nature we were the Children of Wrath: they that are still in their Nature, in their natural •nconverted State, are Children of Wrath; The Wrath of God abides on them that believe not: He is angry with the wicked every day. And as an holy man cannot delight in the company, and conversation of those that are ungodly: David saith, All my delight is with the Saints on Earth: and again, I am a Companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy Precepts. So must it be concluded concerning Holy Angels, that they delight not in communion with such as do not fear God. If holy men cannot do it, Angels who are holier than they, can never do it. It is a very offensive thing to an holy man, to see others do things that are inconsistent with the fear of God, to hear them speak such words, or them do such deeds, as cannot well stand with the true Fear of God. It is a grief and vexation to him, that has a righteous Soul within him, as