CHAP. XXIX.

Of Michaelmass: Guardian Angels the Discourse of Country People at this Time: That it seems rather true, that we are protected by a Number of Angels, than by one particular Genius.

THE Feast of this Season is celebrated in Commemoration of St. Michael, and all the Orders of Angels. It is called, The Dedication of St. Michael, because of a Church being dedicated to him on this Day in Mount Garganus.

At this Season of the Year, it is a general Custom to elect the Governors of Towns and Cities, to promote Peace among Men, and guard them against Harm from their malicious Fellow Creatures. Whether this particular Time of the Year has been chosen for electing them, because then is the Feast of Angels, the Guardians and Protectors of Men, and of their Communities and * Provinces, is not so certain. It is certainer, that when ever it comes, it brings into the Minds of the People, that old Opinion of Tutelar Angels, that

* Daniel, C. 10.

every Man has his Guardian Angel; that is one particular Angel who attends him from his Coming in, till his going out of Life, who guides him through the Troubles of the World, and strives as much as he can, to bring him to Heaven.

Now that good Angels attend good Men is without Dispute. They guide them in the Mazes of the Wilderness of Life, and bring them to their desir'd Homes; they surround them in the Seas of Afflictions, and lead them to the Shores of Peace; and as when the Israelites passed through the Red-Sea, the Cloud became Light to them, but Darkness to their Enemies, so in the troublesome Seas of this Life, the Angels are both the Guides of good Men, and their Protectors from Evil, from the Devil and his Angels. And therefore the Psalmist says, The Angel of the LORD tarrieth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them; and that he will give his Angels Charge over good Men, They are also supposed to be that Hedge, which GOD placed about Job, which the Devil so much complains of; and sure we are, that when the Eyes of Elisha's Servants were open'd, he saw the Mountain full of Chariots

and Horses of Fire round about Elisha. That therefore good Men are guarded and protected by Angels the Scriptures shew very clearly. But that every Man has his particular Genius, seems to be founded more upon Tradition, than any certainty from Scripture. Thus the Egyptians believed that every Man had three Angels attending him; the Pythagoreans, that every Man had two; the Romans, that there was a good and an evil Genius. And hence it is that the Roman Poet says, Quisque suos patitur manes, every Man hath his evil Genius. And if we may believe the authority of Plutarch, the evil Genius of Brutus appeared to him the Night before the Battle of Philippi, and told him he was his evil Genius, and that he would meet him there.

But there are greater Authorities than these in Vindication of this Opinion: Casalion observes, it may be proved from Scripture, and not only from the Tradition of the Heathens. And of this Opinion was Justin Martyr, Theodoret, St. Basil, St. Jerome, and St. Austin.

*Unicuique Deus custodem apposuit; & asserimus indubitanter nos ex scripturas illam fidem, non gentium nugibus. Cassal. 217. P. de Vet, Christ. Rit.

There

There are indeed two Places in the New Testament, which have a View to this Opinion. The first is in the 18th of St. Matthew, the 10th Verse, Take heed that ye despise not one of these little Ones; For I say unto you, that their Angels do always behold the Face of my Father which is in Heaven. Now because this Place takes Notice of the Angels of these little Ones, some have therefore concluded that every Man has his good Angel; at least that good Men have. But now this Conclusion does not certainly follow from these Words; For when it is said their Angels, it does indeed certainly infer, that the Angels do protect good Men, but not that every Man has his particular Angel. And hence therefore, as one observes, St. Chrisostom makes use of these Words, Enteuthen, delon, &c. it is manifest that the Saints at least, if not all Men, have their Angels: But he does not hence conclude, that every Man has one. The other Place is in the Acts of the Apostles, where it is said, that when Peter was delivered out of Prison, they would not believe the Maid it was he, but said, It was his Angel. It must be own'd indeed from this, that it seems the Opinion of those in the House,

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House, that every Man had his Guardian Angel; but this is no Proof of the Thing's being so It only proves, that it was their Opinion, but not that this Opinion is true. The Jews had such a Tradition among them, and what was here spoken, was perhaps only according to that Tradition. Besides we read on the contrary, that sometimes one and the same Angel has been sent to different Persons; thus Gabriel was sent to Daniel, Zacharias, and the blessed Virgin: Sometimes the Scripture tells us of many Angels protecting one Man; for so was Elisha protected; and as we w.estle not only against Flesh and Blood, but against all the Powers ef Darkness, so we have many Angels to assist and defend us. I shall not dare to determine positively against this Opinion, which has travelled down through so many ages, which has been held by so many wise and learned Men, and which has such Scriptures brought to its Defence; this I shall only say, that of the two Opinions, the Latter seems to be the more probable; that it seems more consonant to Scripture, that we are attended by a Number of Angels, than by a particular Tutelar Angel. But this I mention, not as necessary to be believed. For I am perswaded