2. They attended our bleffed Saviour at his
Conception, Luke i. 26, 27, 35.

At his Birth, Luke ii. 9, 10, 13, 14.
At Bethlehem, Matt. ii. 13.

And in Egypt, Matt. ii. 19.

After his Temptation, Matt. iv. 11.
In his Agony, Luke xxii. 43.

At his Apprehenfion, Matt. xxvi. 53.

At his Refurrection, Matt. xxviii. 2. John xx. 12.
At his Afcenfion, Acts i. 10, II.

Yea, they worship him, Heb. i. 7. Which fhews,

1. How much he is above the Angels, Heb.

i. 4

2. What Reason we have to worship him.
3. They minifter to the Saints.

1. In their Life-time:

1. To keep them out of Evil, Pal. xci. II,
12. 1 Reg. xix. 5, 6. 2 Reg. vi. 17.
2. To deliver them from it, if they be fal-
len into it, Pfal. xxxiv. 7. Numb. xx. 16.
Gen. xix. 15, 22. Dan. iii. 28. c. vi. 22.
Acts xii. 7, 8. c. v. 19, 20.

3. To guide and direct them what to do,
Gen. xxii. 11, 12, Acts x. 3, 22. 1 Chron.
xxi. 18. Acts viii. 26.

4. To acquaint them with Things to come, Dan. viii. 16. Revel. i. 1. c. xxii. 16. 2 Reg. i. 3.

2. At their Death the Angels convey them into Heaven, Luke xvi. 22.

3. After Death, at the last Day, Matt. xxiv. 31. c. XXV. 31.

Queft. Whether bath every one a particular Angel

to attend him?

Anfw. As for the Wicked, it cannot be fuppofed, that the good Angels are for their Company.

But that those who are truly pious, have every one his Angel always with him, is very probable, not only from all thofe Places beforementioned, where we find Angels ftill miniftring to the Saints in all Ages, as, Abraham, Lot, Jacob, Mofes, Joshua, Elijah, Cornelius, St. Peter, St. John, &c. but more efpecially from Acts xii. 15. Matthew xviii. 10.

Hoc effe maximum exiftimo Beneficium, quod ab Orty Nativitatis meæ Angelum Pacis ad me cuftodiendum ufque ad Finem meum dedit mihi Dominus. Auguft.

US E.

1. Hence fee how much Kindness and Refpect God hath for his People, fo as to fend his Angels to attend them.

2. Let us learn to imitate the Angels in praifing God.

In doing his Will, Pfal. ciii. 20, 21.

Though it be by miniftring to our Inferiors.

3. Let us ftrive to get to Heaven, that we may be like them, Luke xx. 36.

JUDR

!

JUDE 6.

And the Angels which kept not their firft Eftate, but left their own Habitation, he hath referv'd in everlasting Chains under Darkness, unto the Judgment of the great Day.

OME of the Angels fell from their first
Estate, 2 Pet. ii. 4. John viii. 44. Job iv. 18.

I. What caused their Fall?

Sin be fure: And as it is generally thought, Pride. For,

1. This is the Sin they tempted Man to, Gen.

iii. 5. 2. He is ftill proud; as appears from the Worfhip he hath tempted Men to give to him; yea, he would have had Chrift to have worshipped him, Matt. iv. 8, 9. contrary to the Temper of the good Angels, Apoc. xix. 10. cap. xxii. 8, 9.

3. The fpiritual and moft excellent Nature of the Angels was more capable of, and liable to, this, than any other Sin; whence the Proud are faid to fall into the Condemnation of the Devil: 1 Tim. iii. 6.

But this must needs proceed from fome Error in Judgment, or at leaft Inconfiderateness.

2. Their Temper and Difpofition after their Fall. It is very corrupt and wicked, full of Hatred against God, and against Man too, as bearI 4

ing

ing his Image; therefore he destroyed Man at firft, and ftill endeavours to do it, 1 Pet. v. 8.

Hence called Aidßor&, Rev. xii. 10. Whence Devil.

Satan, Adverfarius, Job i. 9, 11. c. ii. 4, 5.
Пed, the Tempter, Matt. iv.
3:.

Tornes, the wicked One, Matt. xiii. 19, 39. Abaddon and Apollyon, a Destroyer, Apoc ix. 11. Beelzebub, Matt. x. 25. the God of Flies, 2 Reg. i. 2, 6. Or elfe, by the Dunghil God, the Idol; fo the Devil was called, because he was worshipped by the Heathens.

Whence we may observe, That he who is,
Proud,
Malicious,

That envies others Happiness,

Or ftrives to do what Mischief he can to others, is like the Devil, the worst of all Crea

tures.

3. Notwithstanding their Fall, they have still great Knowledge and Power..

1. Knowledge, Mark i. 24.
Natural,
Expérimental.

They know not Things to come to pass, unlefs it be by confidering the prefent Causes, and from probable Conjectures, Ifa. xli. 23.

2. Their Power alfo is great, Eph. vi. 11, 12. He hath Power over the Air, Eph. ii. 2. Job i. 19.

They can do very ftrange Things, Exod. vii. 11, 12. A&ts viii. 9, 10.

They have Power over Beafts, Mark v. 11, 13, And over wicked Men, 2 Tim. ii. 26. Eph. ii. 2. But good Men need not fear his Power; for he can do nothing to them without God the

Fa

Father's Permiffion, Job i. 12. c. ii. 6. 1 Reg. xxii. 21, 22. Matt. viii. 31, 32.

4. How many of them are there?

That they be very numerous, is plain from, their being almoft in all Places; and from Luke viii. 30. a Legion is many Thousands.

But that there is fome Order and Discipline among them, is probable from their having a Kingdom, Matt. xii. 26. whereof one is said to be Prince, Matt. ix. 34.

So we read of the Devil and his Angels, Matt. xxv. 41. Apoc. xii. 7.

5. What was their Punishment?

They were caft out of Heaven, 2 Pet. ii. 4. put then into Chains; but fo as they can ftill go about, God's Displeasure not being yet fully executed upon them, Matt. viii. 29.

Everlasting Fire is prepared for them at the End of the World, Matt. xxv. 41.

USE.

1. The Devil being fo malicious and ready to tempt us, we had need be watchful, 1 Peter v. 8.

2. Refift his Temptations, Jac. iv. 7. especial ly by Faith, Eph. vi. 11, 12,16. Luke xxii, 31, 32.

3. Have a Care of coming into the fame Con demnation with them, by Pride, Malice, or Uncharitableness, Matt. XXV. 41.

ROM.