N00620:27
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.
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 may say of this Psalm, as one of the Ancients speaks of the whole Bible, The oftener a man Reads it, the more sweetness shall he find in it. There is a singular Excellency in it, both as to matter, and manner of Composure. It is an Acrostic, or an ⟨p. 2⟩Alphabetical Psalm. In the Original, every Verse (except the last) begins with a new Letter, according to the Order of the Hebrew Alphabet ▪ which made it the more easy to be remembered▪ The Author, Time, and Occasion of its being Penned, we see in the Title. It was Penned by David, when he Changed his Behaviour before Abi•melech. The History of that matter is Recorded▪ 1 Sam. 21.10. He who in Samuel is called by the name of Achish, the King of Gath, is in the Title of this Psalm called Abimelech. That (it seems) was a common name to all the Kings of the Philistines, as Pharaoh was to the Kings of Egypt and as Caesar is to the Roman Emperors. Dav•• being Persecuted by Saul, he •lies for Safety […] Abimelech, that is, to Achish, the King of Gat• ▪ But when he came there, he found himself to […] in extreme danger: it was quickly known wh• he was: and Gath being the Town of Golia•• whom David had Slain; he was fallen into th• Hands of Goliath's Kins-folk; and there he hear• them repeat the very words, that had been Sun• in Praise of his Victory over Goliath; so that h• was in a most hazardous Condition, and now H• changeth his Behaviour. The Hebrew word for Behaviour, signifies Discretion: Men are known what they are, by their Behaviour, whether they are wise or foolish. David feigned himself […] Mope, or a Mad-man, a thing very unbecoming either a wise, or a good […] to do: Neverthel God was graciously pleased […] overlook these Infirmities,