N00620:77
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.
1. God doth Dispense both signal Mercies and Judgments by their hands. Ezek. 1.13. The Living Creatures are said to be as a Lamp, and as Coals of fire. ⟨p. 32⟩They are unto such as fear God, as a Lamp, to direct and light them: but they are unto wicked men, as Coals of Fire to consume them. This we see described at large in the 6th Chapter of Zechariah, from the first to the ninth verse; where we read of four Chariots, that is to say, the Angels of God, sent forth into the four Corners of the World, North, South, East & West: and the Horses that represent the Angels, appear in several Colours: there was Red Horses, noting bloody Judgments, Desolations by War, and this by the Ministry of Angels; Black Horses, signifying the Pestilence and Famine, and the like Judgments coming upon the World; and White Horses, intimating Victory and Mercy to the People of God; and there were Grizzled Horses, emblematically setting forth mixed Dispensations of Divine Providence: and all by the Ministry of Angels: Of these the Lord says, They have quieted my Spirit in the North Country. The Angels were sent into the North-Country, namely to Babylon, to Execute Judgment there; and then the Holy Spirit of God was satisfied, when He saw, that Justice was done by his Angels, on his and his People's Enemies. David Prayed that Judgment might be Executed on his Enemies, by the hands of Angels. Psal. 35.5, 6. Let the Angel of the Lord chase them, and let the Angel of the Lord Persecute them. It is true, that no Judgment befalls the World, but God doth it. Amos 3.6. Shall there be Evil in a City, and the Lord hath ⟨p. 33⟩not done it. Nevertheless, the Lord is not wont to Execute Judgment upon men, by His own Immediate Hand, but by the Ministry of Angels: When it is done by men, yet Angels have an hand therein. Sometimes indeed by the Hands of Evil Angels, whom the Lord lets Loose, and punishes a wicked World by them; but many times by the Hands of His Holy Angels. Thus, when Sodom was Destroyed, they were the Angels of Heaven, that did that terrible and glorious work of Justice, on provoking Sinners. The Angels said to Lot, We will destroy this place, the Lord has sent us to destroy it.