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obtain any thing from God; and all the claim we or they have to be heard, is only as a favour to us, and for the sake of Christ, in and through his infinite merits, by which alone any good thing çan come to us; and when the saints in heaven pray for us, all the grounds they have to be heard are found ultimately in his merits only. Now, it is evident, that the more there are who join together in asking any favour of God, through Christ, and for his sake, the more he is honoured by it; so that our desiring these blessed spirits to pray for us, instead of being injurious to the mediation of Christ, is, in fact, honouring it; because, by so doing, we engage a greater number of holy souls to testify their high esteem of, and their confidence in him, through whom alone their prayers can be heard.

Q. 23. But do we not sometimes ask grace and peace, and the like, from the saints and angels? and does not this seem as if we expect something else from them than barely to pray for us?

A. Even by using such expressions, we do no more than St. John did, when he asked for grace and peace from the seven spirits that stand before the throne of God; or than Jacob did, when he asked the angel to bless himself, and to bless his two grandsons. But the truth is, that whatever expressions of this kind are used, the meaning is, that we desire these things from them, in the way in which alone we know they can give them; that is, by asking them of God for us through the merits of Christ: and this we are taught from our infancy, in all our catechisms, and books of instruction. Indeed, with regard to our angel guardians, we do more than barely ask their prayers; because we know that they are commissioned by God, not only to pray 'for us, but also to be the instruments in the hand. of God, to bestow many other benefits upon us, as we shall now see.

SECTION V.

OF OUR ANGEL GUARDIANS.

Q. 24. WHAT does the Christian religion teach us concerning our angel guardians?

A. That particular angels are commanded and appointed by God to watch over us, and protect us, and bestow many good benefits upon us, is thus declared in Scripture," Are they not all ministering spirits, sent to minister for them who shall receive the inheritance of salvation?" Heb. i. 14. "To minister, is to serve, to guard, to help us. Again," he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways," Ps. xci. 11. Hence our Saviour says, "Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say to you, that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father who is in heaven," Matth. xviii. 10. And when St. Peter was delivered out of prison, and came and knocked at the door where the rest were gathered together, they, hearing his voice, could not believe it was himself, and said, "It is his angel," Acts xii. 15. The religion of God is a religion of charity, and tends to unite all its members in the most perfect bonds of charity and love; and, as this can only be nourished by a mutual intercourse of good offices, which is the communion of the saints; hence, according to the spirit of our religion, every one ought to be solicitous for his neighbour's happiness, and ready, upon all occasions, to promote it to the best of their power; and indeed, the more inflamed boly men are with the true

love of God, the more earnest they are in promot、 ing the good of souls. Now, as the angels are filled with the most ardent love of God, and have nothing more at heart than to advance his glory and the salvation of men, so that," the repentance of a sinner fills them with joy;" they are, there fore, most ready and willing themselves to help us; and God Almighty is pleased to employ them for our advantage and service. Besides, as Satan and his wicked angels are daily going about like roaring dions, seeking to devour us, and we, if left to ourselves, would fall a prey to their malice; therefore our good God, who was pleased to employ his good angels to drive these wicked spirits out of heaven, still continues to employ them in defending us from their assaults, and arming us against them. Q. 25. What are the services which we receive from our angel guardians?

A. Many and most important; but chiefly these following: (1.) The direct us to what is good, by their holy inspirations, and correct us when we do ill, and preserve us from many spiritual dangers. Thus God says to his people, "Behold, I will send my angel, who shall go before thee, and keep thee in thy journey, and bring thee into the place that I have prepared. Take notice of him, and hear his voice, and do not think him one to be contemned; for he will not forgive when thou hast sinned, and my name is in him," Exod. xxiii. 21. When Agar became insolent to her mistress, and fled from her house, her angel appeared to her in the wilderness, and reproved her, and said, "return to thy mistress, and humble thyself under her hand,” Gen..xvi. 9.; and then comforted her under her affliction. After the death of Josue, when the people fell off from their allegiance to God, and became negligent in his service, the angel of God appeared

openly to them, and reproved them for their sins, Judg. ii. 1. Now these outward appearances are recorded for our instruction, to shew us in what manner our guardian angels assist us interiorly in the concerns of our souls, reproving us, encouraging us, and directing us by their holy inspirations. This the holy Judith was very sensible of; for when, by the particular inspiration of God, she undertook the deliverance of her people, she was doubtless exposed to many dangers, in going through so arduous an undertaking; but after she had so gloriously accomplished it, and returned successfully to the city, she attributed all her success, under God, to the assistance of her guardian angel; "Praise ye the Lord our God," says she, "who hath not forsaken them that hope in him, and by me his handmaid hath fulfilled his mercy ....As the same Lord liveth, his angel hath been my keeper, both going hence and abiding there, and returning from thence hither; and the Lord hath not suffered me, his handmaid, to be defiled, but hath brought me back to you without pollution of sin, rejoicing for his victory and my escape, and your deliverance," Judith xiii. 17.

(2.) They assist us in our temporal affairs. Thus, when Agar was at last banished from her mistress's house, with her son," she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Bersabee. And when the water in the bottle was spent, she cast the boy under one of the trees that were there, and went her way....for she said, I will not see the boy die, and sitting over against him, she lifted up her voice and wept." In this distress, the angel of God appeared to her, and comforted her, and shewed her a well of water to relieve her, Gen. xxi. 14. When the prophet Elias was in the wilderness, and in utter want of all things, his angel

brought him two different times a cake of bread, and a vessel of water to support him, 3 Kings xix. The saints of God were so sensible of the assistance of their angels guardians in their temporal affairs, that their confidence in them was a comfort and support to them under their difficulties. Thus, when Abraham sent his servant to get a wife for his son among his own relations, he encouraged him, by saying," The Lord God of heaven will send his angel with thee, and will direct thy way," Gen. xxiv. 7. 40. So likewise when Tobias sent his son on a long journey, to recover some money that was owing to him, he said, "May you have a good journey, and God be with you in your way, and his angel accompany you," Tob. v. 21. And after be was gone, the mother being in great distress for fear of him, Tobias comforted her, saying, "I believe that the good angel of God doth accompany him, and doth order all things well that are done about him; so that he shall return to us with joy," verse 27.

(3.) They deliver us from dangers and temporal evils; and this is one of the principal ends for which Almighty God commits us to their care; for, “ he hath given his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways; in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone," Ps. xc. 11.; and "the angel of the Lord shall encamp round about them that fear him, and shall deliver them," Ps. xxxiii. 8. The famous history of Eliseus, when the city he was in was besieged by an army of Syrians, is well known; for, when his servant expressed his great fear on that account, the prophet said, "Fear not, for there are more with us than with them." And Eliseus prayed, and said, "Lord open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the servant, and he

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