N00620:13
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
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.
TO THE READER.
THE Doctrine which Concerns the Ministry of HOLY ANGELS, is a Subject most worthy to be Searched into. Several Learned Men have Published Elaborate & Solid Discourses thereon: In sp•cial Zanchy, Rivius, and Stuckius. There are also sundry Useful English Treatises, in which this Argument is Judiciously Handled. Particularly, by Bishop Hall, Mr. Lawrence, and Mr. Ambrose; This notwithstanding, a Learned Divine Laments, that there are so few Books Written, or Sermons Preached, concerning the Angels, of whom the Scripture speaks so much. I have from that Consideration been Induced to Publish what is Emitted herewith. As for Philosophical Questions about the Nature of Angels, and the way of their Understanding Things, whether it be Per Species Intelligibiles Insitas vel Acquisitas, and many the like, which Thomists and Scotists have such wrangling Contests about, I have wholly declined them. Heerboord in his Select Disputations, and Schiebler, in his ⟨image ?⟩Metaphysics, are among the clearest Authors, tha• Treat on those Speculations, whose Books are in the Hands of Scholars. To offer such things unto a Popular Auditory, would be to feed them with Stones instead of Bread. Nor have I determined any thing concerning that Problem, Whether every man has a particular Angel to be his constant Companion, from the time of his Birth to his Death? The Platonics, and other Philosophers among the Gentiles of old, did believe it, unto an high Degree of Superstition: A Magician advised Anthony not to contend with Augustus, because he said the Genius of Augustus, was the most Powerful▪ The Jews are persuaded, that there is an Ange• Guardian deputed to each particular man. Thei• Cabbalists, (which are too much favoured by Mersennus) undertake to tell us, what were the Names of the Angel Guardians belonging to Adam• Shem, and Abraham. V. Gassendi Examen Flood Philos. p. 243. Another Author (Caesar Longinus, p. 476.) tells us, who were the Angels of Joseph, Joshua, David Elisha, &c. Psellus has Written a Book De proprio Daemone. And all the Pontificial Doctors maintain the Affirmative of the Problem mentioned, unto which also some Eminent Protestant Divines incline, though not as Comprehending every man, only every Elect Vessel; grounding their Belief chiefly on those two Scriptures,