T H E L A D I E S '   R E P O S I T O R Y .

A U G U S T,   1 8 4 8 .

      THE history of angels is closely interwoven with that of man. Their ministrations run like a thread of silver through the whole web of human destiny; and look where we will, we shall find traces of their presence and care. How long they existed before man was created we know not. They may have been engaged, for what, to finite minds, would seem an eternity, in the praise of Jehovah; but, be this as it may, we are assured that, as soon as man was created, they became interested in his fortunes; and the interest which then began has never been diminished; on the contrary, as the affairs of men became more complicated, we have every reason to believe that their solicitude would increase; and doubtless will do so until the history of humanity is entirely completed.

      Seeing, then, that we are and ever have been under celestial guardianship, it will not, perhaps, prove uninteresting to trace out some occasions on which their solicitude has been manifested.

      And first let us turn our eyes to the glad morn when the work of creation was perfected, and the universe, in all its fair and vast proportions, stood forth complete in the eyes of its great Original. The angels doubtless beheld the progress of the mighty work, and looked with wonder as the marvels of creation burst upon their view; but it was not till man, the last crowning act of this noble work, was made, that they perceived its design. They saw in him a being little lower than themselves, the very centre of all the works of God; and at this discovery they joined their glad voices with the morning stars, and shouted aloud for joy. From that moment man became the object of their kind regard, and providence and the Bible is but the history of its continuance.

      Doubtless they often looked with delight at the sinless lives of our first parents while dwellers in Eden. They trembled when the first act of rebellion was consummated, and pitied when, as exiles, they left the bowers of Paradise behind.

      Man increased in wickedness; yet they followed him still. They beheld a remnant saved from the fury of the deluge storm, riding on the waves of a shoreless sea; and even when the family of the saved became faithless, they forsook not the world in despair; but with their glory concealed in the form of men, they sought the friend of God, who dwelt under the oak in the plains of Mamre. Though unseen, they journeyed with Jacob on his way to Padan-Aram. They encamped around the wayfarer as he slept, and soothed him with sweet visions as he lay on his pillow of stone. Indeed, there is scarcely any event of importance in man's whole history, in which they do not play a prominent part. When God brought Israel from the land of bondage, and gave them a covenant at the base of Sinai, angels were there to witness the solemn transaction; and through shining ranks of these glorious ones the law came down to men. The ancient prophets were often the objects of their visits. By the stream of Ulai, and on the banks of Euphrates, they came with heavenly messages to these inspired ones; and even Gabriel, one of their highest names, has been employed in this work of love. Strange that man should be the object of such care; and yet, from the character of the messengers, we should learn not to judge lightly of his rank who has been the subject of those missions from the sky, but rather find, in that very circumstance, a proof of his dignity.

      But it is not till we come to the New Testament history, that we begin to witness their noblest ministrations. Messages of solemn import had often been intrusted to their hands; but never did prophet or sacred seer, listen to a message so fraught with love to man, as that which fell on the ears of the last daughter of David's line, when an angel said, "Hail, Mary, blessed art thou among women."

      Angels were hovering over the plains of Bethlehem when the Savior of men was born. Their tongues made known to the shepherds the joyful tidings. Their voices chanted his natal song, and proclaimed the blessings he came to bestow.

      They saw in the Savior the Redeemer of our race, and they were ever nigh him during all his eventful career below. When he foiled man's great adversary in the mount of temptation, they were present with their kind offices. When, in fearful agony, he knelt and prayed in Gethsemane's garden, an angel strengthened him. They were near the sepulchre when he slept in death; and it was one of the shining ones that brought the word of release, and rolled away the stone from the entrance of the tomb. They brought to the sorrowing disciples the joyful news that the Master had arisen; and when his followers caught their last look of their ascending Lord, he was surrounded by a cloud of these bright attendants. They favored his upward ascent, bade the gates of glory open to receive the Conqueror, and at the Father's command bowed to him in grateful homage.

      They still look down with love on the erring ones, whom the blessed Redeemer came to save; and when the tear of contrition flows from the sinner's eyes, there is glad rejoicing among the angel hosts for the wanderer's return. They care for the saints of the Most High. The prison of Peter was opened by an angel's hand. A heavenly messenger spoke words of cheer to Paul when in imminent peril, and often, during his eventful life, he doubtless experienced the truth of the declaration, "They are ministering spirits sent forth to minister to the heirs of salvation." These heavenly visitors are with us still; our daily [232] paths are watched, and our nightly pillows guarded by them. Wherever we rest or rove, we are the objects of angelic care; and though we see them not, and the ear catches not the sound of their rustling wings, yet they are ever nigh, and eternity will doubtless disclose many of their acts of love. Strange thought, that we are looked upon by these bright intelligences, guarded by their strong hands, and watched by their sleepless eyes. It is a proof of our Father's love, and should call forth the grateful emotions of our souls, for this exhibition of his tender regard.

      Angels were present at creation's dawn. They will exercise their ministry through all time, and be present at its close; for saith the holy record, the harvest is the end of the world, and the reapers are the angels. By their hands the saints shall be bound in the bundle of life. They shall be gathered into the garner of God, while angel voices shall sing their joyous harvest home.

[The Ladies' Repository 8 (August 1848): 232-233.]

      William Baxter's "The Ministry of Angels" was first published in The Ladies' Repository, and Gatherings of the West: A Monthly Periodical Devoted to Literature and Religion, Vol. 8, No. 8, August 1848, pp. 232-233. This volume, edited by B. F. Tefft, was published in Cincinnati by L. Swormstedt and J. H. Power and in New York by G. Lane and L. Scott for the Methodist Episcopal Church.

      Pagination in the electronic version has been represented by placing the page number in brackets following the last complete word on the printed page. Inconsistencies in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and typography have been retained; however, corrections have been offered for misspellings and other accidental corruptions. Emendations are as follows:

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 p. 232:    wayfairer [ wayfarer
 

      Addenda and corrigenda are earnestly solicited.

Ernie Stefanik
Derry, PA

Created 12 April 2000.
Updated 28 June 2003.