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constant communication between them and their heavenly Father, and no evil is permitted to come upon them only so far as it is for their good and the advancement of His work in the earth.

The psalmist tells us how God protects His children: "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them." Ps. 34:7.

Peter's guardian angel released him from prison more than once. At one time Herod had cast him into prison, intending to kill him as he had James. But the Lord had yet a work for Peter to do.

"And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me." Acts 12:6-8.

The apostle did not understand what was transpiring, "but thought he saw a vision." "And when Peter was come to himself [when he realized it was all real and true], he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent His angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews." Acts 12:9, 11.,

Then Peter went to the house of Mary, the mother of John, where the disciples were "gathered together

praying." They were doubtless beseeching God for the release of the imprisoned apostle.

As he "knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda." When she heard his voice asking for admission, she did not let him in for very joy, but, instead, ran and told the praying disciples that Peter stood at the gate. At first they could not believe the words of the maid, but she insisted that he was really there. "Then said they, It is his angel."

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They did not mean that it was Peter's spirit, for they supposed he was yet alive and in prison. They meant . . . what they said, that it was his angel,-the one who attended him."

The ninety-first psalm describes the position of God's people during the time of trouble. Of the mission of the angels during this time, we read, "He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone." Ps. 91 II, 12.

They Hear Our Words.

An angel is always present and hears what we say. "Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before [in the presence of] the angel,

that it was an error." Eccl. 5: 6. The angels of God can not be deceived.

They See Us.

"For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men." I Cor. 49. We are never alone. We could see our angel visitor if our eyes were opened. See 2 Kings 6:3-23.

Angels in the Gospel.

When the work of creating the earth and its inhabitants was finished, "the morning stars [angels] sang together."

When man sinned and was driven from Eden, the "angels ceased their songs of praise. Throughout the heavenly courts there was mourning for the ruin that sin had wrought."

When the plan of salvation through Christ, which was to give the human race another chance, was proclaimed to the angels, they made heaven ring again with the song that later sounded over the hills of Bethlehem: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." Luke 2: 14.

Before the fall, angels were the teachers of Adam and Eve. They told them of the fall of Satan, and of the ceaseless efforts he and his fallen companions would make to cause them to sin and fall as he had fallen.

Since the fall, the interest of holy angels in the human family has intensified. As before the fall they were to warn our first parents of the danger that lurked in the wiles of Satan, so after the fall they were to in

struct man in the plan of salvation that had been devised in his behalf.

As man had failed to stand the test while surrounded by every influence that could guard him from evil, he must now regain the character he had lost by obedience in a world that had falien under the dominion of Satan.

To meet these adverse conditions the angels were appointed as guardians, ministers, and messengers from heaven to aid fallen humanity in its struggle with evil. Then how deep must be the interest of angels in the welfare of man, and in the advancement of the gospel in the earth!

Angels have ever acted a prominent part in the spread of the gospel. Though the preaching of the gospel has been given to men, yet angels have an important mission to perform in aiding and guiding the earthly minister in his work.

The case of Cornelius is an example. Cornelius was a Gentile. He was also an officer in the Roman

army. It was said of him that he was a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews." Acts 10: 22.

But Cornelius knew nothing of Jesus Christ. It seems that he was seeking for light from heaven, for he "prayed to God alway," and to such a man help will always be sent when needed. In this case the angel appeared to the Roman officer while he was fasting and praying. He instructed him to send for Peter, saying, "He shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do." Verses 2-6.

Cornelius therefore sent two servants and a devout

soldier to the place where Peter abode in Joppa. The

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intervention of angels, both to Cornelius and to Peter, was necessary to bring about this result.

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