N00620:171
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.
We now proceed to the Uses of this Doctrine.
And in the first place by way of Information, or Instruction in several particulars.
Inference 1. Here we may behold, and let it affect all our hearts, to consider the wonderful Grace of God towards fallen men, in that God hath spared them. Although he did not spare the Angels that sinned against him, he hath spared the fallen sinful children of men, spared them from Everlasting Destruction. He has manifested more Grace to them then he did to the Angels that sinned, for whom he did not provide a Saviour. God did not send his Son into the World to take the Nature of Angels, and unite that Nature unto his own Sacred Eternal Person. Heb. 2.16. He took not to him the nature of Angels, it is said, but that of Abraham, and so of other men. The Scripture does therefore call Redeeming Grace PHILANTHROPY, or the Love of God towards man. Tit. 3.4. The Blessed Angels that never sinned, are affected with the thought of this, they do admire the Grace of God towards the fallen children of men, and they praise his Glorious Name on that account. The Angel said to the Shepherds, Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people: for unto yon is Born a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. Luk. 2.10, 11. Unto you (says the Angel) to you sinful children of men, not to Angels that sinned, but to you men. And a multitude of Holy Angels did then praise God, saying, Glory to God in the Highest, on Earth peace, good will towards men. Now Christ is […], ⟨p. 122⟩