"the church the manifold wisdom of God." They hailed the Redeemer with new Hallelujahs on His return to His throne in glory, after the completion of His redeeming work; for on that occasion His train was filled by "twenty thou"sand chariots of God, even thousands of an"gels," who saluted Him as "the King of glory, the Lord of hosts, the Lord mighty in "battle." We We may also suppose that every fresh instance of mercy shewn by God to His church, or to any individual member of it, is known in heaven and excites new praises; for we are informed that "the angels of God re"joice over every sinner that repenteth."

We are also led to believe that the angels who never sinned derived personal advantage from the work of our redeeming God, and therefore are personally interested in His triumphs. For it seems probable, that they have derived therefrom a confirmation in holiness and happiness. St. Paul says, that "God hath made known "unto us the mystery of His will according to "His good pleasure which He purposed in "Himself; that in the dispensation of the ful"ness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in hea

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ven and which are in earth, even in Him.” (Eph. i. 9, 10.) And in his epistle to the Colossians he adds, "It pleased the Father "that in Christ should all fullness dwell; and

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having made peace through the blood of His "cross, by Him to reconcile all things to Him"self, whether they be things in earth or things "in heaven." (Ch. i. 18.) There is therefore the utmost equity in the requisition that to our Lord Jesus Christ "every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and

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*things under the earth; and that every tongue "should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord "to the glory of God the Father." (Phil. ii. 10, 11.)

Bishop Davenant, speaking on the second of these texts,* says, "The angels for Christ's sake are confirmed in grace, and established in the Divine favour, so that it is now plainly impossible that any enmity should intervene between them and God. The establishment of angels therefore in Divine grace through Christ is the same thing as the reconciliation of men through the same Christ. Nor can we doubt that the angels themselves need the grace of Christ the Redeemer-the grace of confirmation and exaltation, though not, properly speaking, the grace of reconciliation. For since they are creatures, it was impossible for them to be in their own nature exempt from the danger of falling. Besides this, the beatific and glorious union with God, which the blessed angels enjoy in eternal life, is a benefit that transcends the merit of any creature; and therefore the angels themselves are not admitted into this ineffable joy of Divine fruition, but on account of their connection with Christ, the head both of angels and men; in consequence of which the Apostle gives the title of elect to the blessed angels. (1 Tim. v. 21.) Now the election either of men or angels out of Christ is a thing unintelligible. From hence therefore it is manifest that the grace of Christ the mediator is necessary to the happiness even of angels, not for the purpose of justification or absolution from sin, but of confirmation in Divine love, and of exaltation

to a glorious and permanent participation of God, which surpasses the ability and dignity of created nature.'

If to the benefits of creation are added those which the angels derive from the mediation of their and our Lord Jesus Christ,-if with us they are participants of the grace that flows from the Incarnate God,-we need not wonder at what St. John saw and heard, as it is described, Rev. v. 11-14. "I beheld and I heard the voice "of many angels round about the throne, and "the beasts, and the elders: and the number "of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, "and thousands of thousands; saying with a "loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was "slain to receive power, and riches, and

strength, and honour, and glory, and bles"sing. And every creature which is in heaven, "and on the earth, and such as are in the sea, "and all that are in them, heard I, saying, "Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, "be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, "and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever. And "the four beasts said, Amen. And the four " and twenty elders fell down, and worshipped "Him that liveth for ever and ever."

Thus God's " holy angels always do Him "service in heaven." It is their delight to de His will, to execute His commands and to glorify His name. On this circumstance we found a prayer, that "by God's appointment they may succour and defend us on earth, through Jesus Christ our Lord."

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Our petition is fully sanctioned by the declarations and descriptions of the word of God. For as the angels were employed in various instances to "succour and defend" the church

and its members under the Old Testament dispensation, so in like manner they ministered to Christ, personally considered, during His state of humiliation, from the period of His incarnation to that of His ascension; and they are also said to be ministring spirits sent forth to "minister for them who shall be heirs of salva"tion." (Heb. i. 14.)

We have no means of ascertaining, nor need we wish to ascertain, how far the ordinary miWhether they are nistry of angels extends. employed in any respect for the preservation of our corporeal life and comfort, or in opposing the stratagems of our enemy the devil, we shall not inquire. It is sufficient to justify our prayer, that God certainly makes use of their ministry for the benefit of His church. And it is enough to give intire satisfaction to our minds, that, either mediately or immediately, "the Lord "careth for us," and has promised to make "all things work together for our good."

While much comfort is derivable from the doctrine of angelic ministry, soberly received and contemplated, there is a necessity for caution that we do not carry it so far as to set aside the immediate influence or overruling providence of God. Our church therefore reminds us that all the succour and defence which the angels afford us, are afforded by His "appoint"ment." They are only instruments-He is the agent. He loves His people too well to entrust them in any finite care, however superior to themselves. Jehovah is "the Keeper of "Israel," whose "help is laid on One, mighty "to save."

We must therefore remember that whatever

appointment through the ministry of angels, the praise of all is due, undiminished, to Him whose servants they are. We are allowed to esteem them as our friends, and to maintain communion with them as the friends of their Lord and ours. But we are to regard them only as the instruments which God employs for our good.

It is our privilege, while we join in this collect of our church, to anticipate the happy moment when our souls, like that of Lazarus, shall be carried by angels to Abraham's bosom. For yet a little while and those benevolent spirits who rejoiced over us on our conversion to God, shall perform an office towards us which will consummate our bliss. While mourning friends on earth shall bewail our separation from them, our friends in heaven will hail our arrival among them, and teach us the notes of praise which are used in the new Jerusalem. In the mean time, it is meet, right, and our bounden duty, at all times and in all places, to give "thanks" unto our Triune God. Let us endeavour therefore, "with angels and archangels, "and all the company of heaven, to laud and "magnify His glorious name." Surely it will mightily exalt our affections, and stir us up to the most vigorous devotion, to consider with whom we bear a part,-with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven. For Jesus by his death hath united heaven and earth, and designed all His redeemed ones to sing Hallelujah with the blessed spirits above for ever and ever. Therefore it is fit that we should begin to unite our voices with them, with whom we hope to praise God to all eternity. Only as we sing with them, let us sing like them, and not spoil