65. At Michaelmas the devout Christian meditates upon the Protection of the Holy Angels

EXHORTATION.

"The angels are all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation."—Hebrews i. 14. The holy angels were created by God for his service and honor; they constantly stand about his throne and execute his mandates. 1. Therefore a devout Christian must thank God for his especial goodness, in giving the holy angels as guardians of men. 2. He must not drive them away by wanton sin, but please them by a penitential and godly walk and conversation. 3. He strives to be like the angels on earth, daily to adore, praise, and thank God, and to render him pleasing service. 4. He endeavors to do the will of God on earth, as it is done in heaven, if not with the same perfection, yet with the same willingness and sincerity. 5. He does not worship the angels, for that honor is due to the Lord of the Angels alone, not to fellow servants. Rev. xix. 10. 6. In this state of faith, love, piety, and holy fear, the true believer continues to the end,

THE PROTECTION OF THE HOLY ANGELS.

knowing that the holy angels will not only watch over him in his occupation, and protect him from danger, but stand around his bedside in the hour of death, and after death carry his soul into Abraham's bosom. The angel of the Lord encamps around those that fear him, and helps them. Merciful and loving God, how am I rejoiced that thou hast ordered the holy angels to my protection! Lord, Lord, what is man that thou art heedful of him, and the son of man that thou regardest him and settest him on high. God of love, in thy unspeakable goodness, thou hast not only given for our enjoyment, all visible creatures, the heavens, the earth, sun, air, and sea, and all the fruits and herbs of the soil, but hast also commanded the invisible angels to serve us, that evil may not befall us. Thou knowest, loving Father, that thy children on earth are encompassed by danger and distress; therefore, thou hast set a watch over them to guard them day and night, and avert all evil. Thou knowest how many and how powerful are the foes of thy children, the prince of darkness, Satan and his host; therefore, thou hast sent strong heroes to resist them, and protect thy beloved. O my God! when week after week, month after month, and THE DEVOUT CHRISTIAN MEDITATES UPON year after year passes by, and my straight and bale limbs remain unharmed, my house and home uninjured, my walk without fall or stumbling, and no hurt comes near me, should I not ascribe all to thy fatherly truth, love, and mercy, which have preserved me through thy servants?

How many dangers hast thou averted through the agency of thy holy angels, of which I knew nothing! For this, my God, be thanks and praise to thee to all eternity. I also beseech thee, loving Father, still further to bid thine angel come and watch over thine own. Let thy angel avert all danger and misfortune from my head, as from the head of Jacob, who was met by the hosts of God traveling by his side, when the ill-will of his brother Esau pursued him.

Gird my house round about with a cohort of thy holy angels, like the house of Job; let them be with me in trouble, as with Daniel; let them drive misfortune from me, as they rolled away the flames from the men in the fiery furnace;

let them watch my nourishment and daily food, as the angels brought bread and water to Elijah;

and accompany me on my journeys, like Tobit.

Good God, give me thy Holy Ghost, so that I may not grieve these holy creations of thine with my sins, or drive them from me with a ruthless life, to make them stand afar off and yield to my malice. Grant that even in this life I may grow

THE PROTECTION OF THE HOLY ANGELS.

like the angels in thy service, so that I may be like them also in the happiness of eternity. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Let thy holy angels be around my death-bed also, and carry my soul into Abraham's bosom, and escort it into thy glory. Let me be there forever in their society and brotherhood, with them to rejoice in thy glory and majesty, with them to sing the Holy, Holy, Holy, is God the Lord of Hosts, and with them to thank thee for every good and perfect gift for evermore. God, Spirit of all Spirits, Lord of all the Seraphim! who commands his servants to serve as men, to thee alone, Lord of Hosts, be thanks and praise, therefor. As we go out and in let them escort us; when we fall asleep in thee, place at our side the guards of thy throne, the troop of Solomon. See that they always lend a hand, and let us never fall from their laps; let their camp surround us when we are beleagured. When released from vanities, we sing our dying anthems, let them carry us into Abraham's bosom, and in thy kingdom, make us like unto the angels. Amen. 1. The bright angelic choir, that ever stand in waiting

Before the burnished throne, and sing, without abating,

The Holy, Holy Lord, are sent to do us good,

And from our path divert all harm and influence rude.

2. Whithersoe'er we go, the angels round us hover;

By day and night our steps with their broad wings they cover,

When at our daily toil they share in all we do,

And when we homeward wend, they travel with us too.

3. When Satan and the world, and other foes assail us,

The angels with their shield and rampart never fail us;

They turn from us away, danger, grief, sorrow, care,

Their eyes are never closed, but wakeful everywhere.

4. And when the pilgrim's staff at last is bruised and shivered

By them from its hard cage, the spirit is delivered;

They lift it then above to happiness and rest,

To gladness after dread, to heavenly mansions blest.

5 The angels are rejoiced, when to the Lord we tender

Our hearts, hopes, wishes, thoughts, and all to him surrender.

Aye, most assuredly the angels there abound,

Where pious souls in prayer and love of God are found.

THE DEVOUT CHRISTIAN THANKS GOD, ETC. 471