our Saviour's Rising from the Dead; yet why it should occasion them always to do so at that Time, no Reason can be given.

As to the third Conjecture, it is easy to observe, That this was a good Angel, whereas they that shun the Light, are bad ones: This was the Angel of the Covenant, the Creator of Light, and the Lord of the Day: We may therefore as well imagine, that it was not in his Power, to get out of the arms of Jacob, without saying, Let me go; as to suppose he was obliged to go, because he said the Day breaketh. The meaning of which Words,

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According to Willet, is not that the Angel "was gone to the blessed Company of the "Angels, to sing their Morning Hymn to "GOD, as the Hebrews imagine: For the

Angels, not only in the Morning, but at "other Times, are exercised in praising GOD. "But the Angel thus speaketh according to "the Custom of Men, having now taken the "Form and Shape of a Man, as tho' he had "hast to other Business, and leaving Jacob "also to his Affairs."

The last Conjecture of the Rise of this Tradition, seems to carry greater Probability than the others: For as these Things are a Representation

ever

sentation of the Circumstances of the Morning of the Resurrection, so they must sure enough bring that last Day into Remembrance; and they never can do so, but as surely they must create Terrour and Confusion in all the Devils and Ghosts of the Night: Whilst they assure them they shall never any, more enjoy the Realms of Bliss, but be hurried into that * lasting Fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels. But that these Things are the Occasion of their flying away at the Approach of Day, is not to be supposed. On the contrary, the Devil and his Angels ramble o'er the World in Day-light, and are Mid-day Devils, as well as Mid-night ones: For the Devil is incessant in his Temptations, and therefore he is abroad in the Day as well as the Night, tho' perhaps has seldom appear'd but in Darkness. Thus St. Austin, in one of his Meditations, + We implore thee, O God! that thou wouldest deliver us from our daily Enemy, who by his Wiles and Cunning is always

* Matt. xxv. 41.

t Et ideo Deus meus ad te clamamus, libera nos ab adversario nostro quotidiano, qui sive dormiamus, sive vigilemus, die ac nocte fraudibus & artibus, nunc palam nunc occulte sa: gittas venenatas contra nos dirigens, ut interficiat animas nostras. Aug. Sol, Cap. 16,

watching

THE COMMON PEOPLE.

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watching us, Day and Night, sleeping and waking; and both openly and in secret, shooting at us bis poisoned Arrows, that he may destroy our Souls

And now, what, though this be true, as it most certainly seems to be so, that at the chearful Hour of Cock-crowing, the wandering Ghosts are not driven away, but still continue going too and fro? What, tho' then their Power be still the same, and their Intentions as fully bent to do Evil ? Consider but that God's Care and Providence govern the World, and there will be found as much Safety for us, in the Midst of Evil Spirits, as if they absented at that Time. The Almighty Power of God, is the saine then, as at other Times; nothing but that, preserved us continually, and that, will always be able to preserve us. However great may be the Malice of Devils; however desirous of working our Ruin; tho' they watch all Opportunities, and are unwearied in tempting us; yet the loving Kindness of the LORD endureth for Ever, and his Mercy is over all his Works; He will not suffer our Foot to be moved; he that keepeth us will not sleep: We shall not be afraid of the Sun by Day, nor the Moon by Night: For the Pesti

lence

lence that walketh in Darkness, nor for the Sickness that destroyeth in the Noon-day.

Are we then afraid of Darkness and the Presence of Night? Let us remember the Creator of them, and have but Faith in him, and we shall find our Night turned into Day. In his Light shall we see Light; We shall be as secure as if there was no Darkness about us, as well knowing that that GOD which protects us, sees through the thickest Mediums, and the darkest Night: For with him the Darkness is no Darkness, but the Night is as clear as the Day; the Darkness and Light to him are both alike. Or are we afraid of that old Serpent the Devil, that nightly Rambler of the World, who is a Lover of Night and Darkness? Let us trust in GOD, and no Harm shall happen to us. If we will but fear no Evil, his Rod and his Staff shall comfort us, though we walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death: For GOD hath reserved the Devil and his Angels in everlasting Chains, under Darkness, unto the Judgment of the great Day. Though therefore he is permitted to wander the World, yet he is so chain'd up, that without God's particular Order or Permission, he is not allowed to touch the Sons of Men; and he is so re

served and kept in Darkness, that it is not in his Power even barely to appear and be visible to them, without the Permission of God: So little Reason hath every good Man to fear the Spight and Malice of all the Devils in Hell.

When then the Night pours out her Terrours, covers all Things with Darkness, and strikes thee with Horrour; Lift but up thy Eyes to the Hills, from whence cometh thy Help, and thou shalt clearly see, that our Lord GOD is a Light and Defence to thee. * For to those who are the Children of the Light, the Day shineth in the Night: They are never without Light, whose Hearts are illuminated; never without Sun-shine, whose Sun is CHRIST. In short then, if thou fear Darkness, look up to CHRIST, and thou hast eternal Day; if the Angels of Darkness, look but up with the Eye of Faith, and thou shalt see the Mountains full of Chariots and Horses of Fire: Thou shalt see, as did the Servant of the Prophet Elisha, That they who be with us, are more than they who are against us. No Matter then whether the Spirits of the Night go away, or only

Quia filiis lucis & in noctibus dies est. Quando enim sine lumine est, cui lumen in corde est? Aut quando sol ei & dies non est, cui sol & dies Christus est? Cyprian. de Orat. Dom.

tremble