N00620:177
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.
Inference. 3. Sin makes men to become like unto the Apostate Angels. It turns men into Devils. There are wicked men who are Devils incarnate. And therefore sinners are said to be the Children of the Devil, and to be of the Devil, 1 Joh. 3.8. Namely as Children are of their Father. He is called their Father, Joh. 8.44. Ye are of your Father the Devil, and the lusts of your Father ye will do, saith Christ: Ye do just as the Devil doth, and just as the Devil would have you do, and therefore ye are his Children, and he is your father. There are Children in respect of Imitation: Sinners imitate the Devil: Yea, they have his Image, the very same evil nature, the same wicked disposition and sinful inclinations which are in the heart of the Devil, are in their hearts and natures. ⟨p. 126⟩Especially, there are some sins that make men exceeding like the Devil, and his Children indeed. As now, that sin of Apostasy from good beginnings: The Devil was the first Apostate. Hence when men have begun to do well, and after that turn from the good ways of God, they make themselves like the Devil. As for the Fallen Angels, they have left off all Exercises of Religion and Piety. There was a time, when the Devil and his Evil Angels did pray and worship God; when they did join with the Holy Angels in praising the great Creator of the World. But they have left praying and praising, and forsaken the Company of Holy Angels. Ah! Lord God, are there not such in this Assembly this day! are there not such here before the Lord this day, who have manifested themselves to be the Devils Children? There was a time when they would pray, and join with others the Fearers of the Lord in serving him: but they have forsaken him, they serve him not, neither do they pray unto him: And they have forsaken the Communion of those Fearers of the Lord with whom they did once join in Religious Exercises. This is to be and to do just like the Devils: such are his Children, as like him as it is possible for Creatures to be out of Hell: So Hypocrites and Dissemblers are like the sinful Angels. Christ said to his Disciples, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a Devil. Joh. 6.70. That was Judas. Why was Judas a Devil? but because he was an ⟨p. 127⟩