N00620:84
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.
For Answer,
1. They are by them preserved from many Evils, that otherwise would befall them. They do as a guard, stand between them and many dangers, that are ready to overtake them. The Angels of Heaven are as Nurses to the Children of God. Psal. 91.11, 12. He shall give his Angels charge over thee, and they shall bear thee in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a Stone. As a Nurse holds the Child she hath the care and charge of, in her arms: so they that fear the Lord, are kept from many a fall, preserved from many a hurt and blow, that would light upon them, did not Angels look after them. Hence the fearers of God have special Protections in Journeys, that they […] according to his will. Thus, when Jacob was to go that great Journey from his Fathers house, in the Land of Canaan, to his Uncle in Padan Aram, he saw Angels of God Ascending and Descending, Ge•• 28.12. To intimate, that the Lord would send his Angels, both to go with him, and to return with him again: And when Jacob was returning to the Land of Canaan, the Angels of God met him on his way: There were two hosts of them, Gen. ⟨p. 41⟩32.1, 2. It seems there was one host of Angels, that went with him from Mesopotamia, to the land of Canaan, and when he came into his own Country, another host met him to take him under their especial care and guardianship. So when God calls his Servants to go in great and hazardous Voyages at Sea, He giveth his Holy Angels charge concerning them. Of this the Apostle Paul had experience, Act. 27.23, 24. When there was a Storm, and the Vessel at last cast away, the Angel of God stood by him, and said to him, fear not, for God hath given to thee, all them that Sail with thee. There were Angels of God with him at Sea, that did encamp round about him there, and for his sake, about all that were in the same Vessel wih him. They that fear God, are always exposed unto danger, from the Invisible World especially. The Devil is always watching an Opportunity to do them one mischief or other. Your Adversary the Devil (saith the Apostle) goes about, like a roaring Lyon, seeking, whom he may devour. Therefore the Angels of Heaven are always about them, to protect and preserve them, from those mischiefs, that their Spiritual and Invisible enemies are designing against them. The Devils are powerful enemies: but the good Angels are more powerful than they;