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PROEMIA L.

But, oh! the exceeding grace

Of God Most High, that loves his creatures so,
And all his works with mercy doth embrace,
That blessed Angels he sends to and fro,-
How oft do they their silver bowers leave,
To come to succor us, that succor want!

And all for love, and nothing for reward:

Oh! why should God in heaven to man have such regard!

Man he made, and for him built

Magnificent this world, and earth his seat,
Him Lord pronounc'd; and, oh! indignity!
Subjected to his service Angel-wings,

And flaming ministers to watch and tend
Their earthly charge.

Spencer.

Milton's Paradise Lost, b. ix.

When Thou, attended gloriously from heaven,
Shalt in the sky appear, and from Thee send

The summoning Archangels to proclaim
Thy dread tribunal! forthwith from all winds
The living, and forthwith the cited dead
Of all past ages, to the general doom
Shall hasten.

Id. b. iii.

INTRODUCTION.

BRIGHT Angels, with adoring face,
In all their shining forms,

Stand waiting, round the throne of grace,

For gifts to mortal worms.-DR. WATTS,

altered and accommodated.

Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation ?-HEBREWS 1: 14.

The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. Psalm cxi. 2.— INVOKING the guiding afflatus of that sacred Inspiration which animated the fervid exclamation of the pious and philosophic Psalmist, whilst contemplating in the secret chamber of rapt meditation, the mighty and mysterious operations of Jehovah, displayed in the wondrous works of

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the visible creation, the retributive procedures of a special providence, the revealed and prophetic glories connected with the gracious economy of Redemption-would we seek to introduce-by a few preliminary observations, sustained by the collated remarks and collateral opinions of diverse authors—to the reader's serious and believing attention, the ennobling and inviting subject attempted in the succeeding pages, prompted by the sincere desire and humble hope, that it may be canvassed in such a manner, as in no wise to invalidate its manifest attractions, elevating sublimity, consolatory support, devotional and edifying tendency.

That a theme, so pregnant with the noblest sentiments and divinest considerations should have been treated with such marked indifference, cannot certainly be justified, on the alleged plea, that the perversion or abuse of any doctrine revealed in the volume of Inspiration, founded either upon the danger of the idolatrous or interdicted worship of angels, or, the impenetrable mysteriousness by which it

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-the Roman Church doth ill,

When they adore within their churches still,
Saints, Images, and Pictures much unfitting,

As thereby great idolatry committing;

And as for miracles, they further say,

That such are wrought amongst them every day;
Some handle hot coals, without scorching, can,

And maids bear children

THOMAS HEYWOOD, Hierarchie of the Angells, 1653.

There seems to have been in the kingdom of Judah an uninterrupted contest between the worshippers of Jehovah and those of idols, resisting all the appeals of their prophets, the miracles of Elijah and Elisha, the judgments of God, the continued fulfillment of various predictions, and every other evidence of the truth of their Scriptures.-DR. GEORGE TOWNSEND, Notes on Witch of Endor.

The history of the Jews is the record of a continual struggle between pure Theism supported by the most terrible sanctions, and the strangely fascin

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