N00620:53
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.
The Angels are at Gods Dispose. Ezek. 1.12. It is said, Whither the Spirit went, the Living Creatures went. The Angels are not at their own Dispose, but follow the direction of the Eternal Spirit; and are therefore styled, The Angels of the Lord, Angels of God, and Spirits of God. An Angel is sometimes in the Scripture called, The Spirit of the Lord. It was said to Elijah, The Spirit of the Lord shall carry thee whither I know not. 1 King. 18.12. And concerning Philip, that the Spirit of the Lord caught him away, Act. 8.39. That Spirit of the Lord seems to be an Angel of the Lord, the same that spake to Philip, v. 26. They are Spirits, whom God has made, and employs, when, and where, and about what business He pleaseth. The Great God is the Lord of Angels: He is their General, and they are his Soldiers and Servants: He is on that account especially, said to ⟨p. 20⟩be, The Lord of Hosts, for that the Angels, The Hosts of Heaven, are under His Command, and all disposed of by him: They are his Messengers and Ministers. The word Angel, signifies a Messenger, from the Greek word [ANGELLEIN,] which signifieth to send on a Message: So the Hebrew word [MALAK,] comes from Laak, Legavit. They are the Legates of Heaven: When God hath any Service for them to do, any Errand to send them upon, they are most ready to obey; they hearken, and wait for the word to proceed out of the mouth of God, that so they may dispatch, what He shall see meet to employ them about. Psal. 103.20. Ye his Angels, that do his Commandments, hearkening to the voice of his Word: Ye Ministers of His, that do His pleasure. The greatest of them stand before God, ready to do what He shall Command them: and therefore Gabriel, (who seems to be an Arch angel) said unto Zechary, I am Gabriel that stand in the Presence of God. Luk. 1.19. As a Servant stands in the presence of his Master; a Servant goes the Errand that his Master has sent him about, and then returns, and stands before his Master, and waits his pleasure, to know what he would have him do next. Thus it is with all the Angels of Heaven; God sends them into the World to do the Work He appoints them unto, they do it, and return, and then stand ready to hear what He shall Command them next.