N00620:137
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 Souls of Believers, being separated from their Bodies, before they can get •o Heaven, they must go through the Devils Country: the Air wherein we breathe, is so: A Soul that is carried to Heaven, passeth through the midst of all the Pi•ates of Hell; but then there is no danger, since they have a glorious convoy of Angels. When the Devils see that Convoy, they dare not stir or come near the blessed Souls, which they behold environed with Angels, whom the Lord Christ has sent to be as a convoy, to bring them safe to be where he is, that they may behold his Glory. And inasmuch as the Holy Angels are by the ⟨p. 92⟩Lord commanded to take care of the departing Souls of them that fear him, it well becomes dying Saints to believe this; although they do not see Angels, yet to believe, that they are with them, and that they will conduct them to that Heaven, which is prepared for them. It was a great act of Faith, in an *eminently Faithful Minister of Christ, who Dyed in New-England, about thirty years ago, that when he perceived the Approaches of Death, he was no way concerned at it; but after he had spoken a few solemn words to those about him, and now (s••d he) You Holy Angels come and do your Office. He had no sooner uttered these words, but he Dyed▪ Angels were about him, they heard what he said, and were ready to conduct that Holy Soul into the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ It is reported of the famous Morney, (who by his Excellent Writings, did great Service for the Church of God in his Day,) that when dying, he could say, I am taking my flight to Heaven: here are Angels standing ready to carry my Soul into the Bosom of my Saviour. That Learned and Holy man, Dr. Holland, He •hose usual Farewell to his Scholars was, Commendo vos amor• Dei, et odio Papae, his last words were, O thou Fiery Chariot which camest down to fetch up Elijah, you Angels that attended the Soul of Lazarus, bear me into the Bosom of ⟨p. 93⟩my best Beloved. Another Eminent and Holy Person, when Dying, had eyes opened to behold Angels, saying to those that were near, Oh! that you had your eyes opened to see what I see: I see millions of Angels: God hath appointed them to carry my Soul up to Heaven, where I shall behold the Lord face to face. What cause then have we to Bless God for Holy Angels.