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Him." "It has been shown from the Scriptures that angels are ever present with men; that they minister to the people of God, and deliver them from evil. They behold all the actions of men; they hear every idle word that is spoken. They take notice of everything that will come into judgment. The conclusion is natural, and seems almost unavoidable, that the angels make the record of these things; that the books of human action are written by them." This belief is so generally accepted that the term, "recording angel," has become proverbial.

Executive Judgments.

Not only do the angels act as guardians and protectors to the servants of God, but they also execute judgments upon the wicked and disobedient.

When Balaam, the sinning prophet, started on his journey to the land of Moab to curse Israel, God's anger was kindled against him, and the angel of the Lord met him, and "stood in the way for an adversary against him. . . . Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand." Num. 22:22, 31.

Yet so blinded by avarice was Balaam that he still went on his journey, and was finally among the slain in the overthrow of Moab when they fought against Israel. See Joshua 13:22.

When David sinned in numbering Israel, it is recorded that "God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it. . . . And David lifted up his eyes, and

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"How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel! As the valleys are they spread forth."

BALAAM BLESSING ISRAEL.

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saw the angel of the Lord stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem." I Chron. 21:

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"And David lifted up his eyes, aud saw the angel of the Lord stand between the earth and the heaven."

saw the messenger of destruction. By humility, confession of sin, and strong cries to God the plague was stayed, and the sword of the avenging angel was sheathed.

When Sodom became so wicked that its very pres ence could be no longer tolerated, two angels came to Lot with the message, "We will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the

face of the Lord; and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it." Gen. 19:13.

When Sennacherib, king of Assyria, came against Israel and Jerusalem with an immense army, Hezekiah, king of Judah, cried unto the Lord, "and the

"He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man."

Lord sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valor." 2 Chron. 32:21. And that night the angel slew 185,000 of the blasphemous host. See 2 Kings 19:35.

Coming to our own time, we are led to believe, in the language of another, "that the sudden judgments which frequently overtake evildoers are executed upon them by the angels of God." Jehovah has not withdrawn His hand from the affairs of the world. The earth to-day is "filled with violence," and is far worse than in the days of the visitations of old. Is it not reasonable, therefore, to suppose that God's methods have not changed, and that His mighty angels have a part

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