PREFACE.

πίςις, ἐλπὶς, ἀγάπη τα τρία ταῦτα· μείξων δὲ τούτων ἡ ἀγάπη.—1 Cor. xiii. 13.

THE transcendent dignity and overwhelming grandeur of the sublime and glorious subject of investigating the nature and attributes, the characteristics and ministrations of Holy Angels,―encompassed by the admonitory and awful silence of the Scriptures,-evidently appear to have deterred even writers of philosophic research and lofty intellectual endowments, from imparting that plenitude of devotional consideration, to which, so attractive and cardinal a doctrine of divine revelation is, assuredly, entitled; to wit,-the special ministry and appointed agency of Angelic Intelligences, in reference to the wondrous economy of Redemption, and the mighty achievements of Omnipotent purpose, in executing the moral government of the universe.

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A prefatory and deferential apology seems, therefore, requisite to atone for the apparently presumptuous temerity of the present production, unless justified or softened by the circumstances of its origination, the appropriateness or fulfilment of its design.

Having prefixed, at the desire of a friend, a few remarks to the “Narrative of a Summer's Excursion, amidst the romantic and picturesque scenery of Nature," containing an allusion to a discourse touching the "Ministry of Angels," he was further requested, to contribute some observations on that inviting and majestic theme.

Conscious of disqualification and the absence of all suitable and sufficient preparation for the specific consideration of so delightfuland elevating a topic, the request was declined,-but, subsequent meditation led to a train of contemplation which heightened in interest and enjoyment as he pondered upon the doctrine, in the magnitude of its importance, as bearing upon the selected instrumentality and chosen medium of the condescension of Jehovah in his terrestrial intercourse and transactions with lapsed and sinful humanity, in connection with the urgent beatitude of angelic association and pursuits, as his reflections starting from the celebration, according to the Mosaic narrative, of the Creation, proceeded, in biblical vision, along the illumed and extended vista of prophecy, the mysterious and radiant avenue of redeeming Mercy, to the apocalyptic revelations of the millennial reign and foredoomed overthrow of "the prince of the power of the air and all spiritual wickednesses," towards the final consummation of all things, at the arrival of the bright

morning of the resurrection and the solemn assize of the judgment day, upon the august descent and re-appearance of "the righteous judge of the quick and the dead," attended by the resplendent retinue of heaven, to conduct the predestinated ascension of the best to the eternal mansion of celestial glory!

As regards the annexed compend, it is alike the dictate of prudence and propriety to state, that it does not arrogate originality of ideas or extent of research; that it has been chiefly prepared, during the past few months, in those interstices of thought which have accrued in the brief intervals of a secular vocation which did not admit of a continuous or comprehensive reading, the advantageous retirement of the study, or the auxiliary exercises of the secret closet of meditation; nevertheless, in all frankness, he considers it his duty to declare,—in the hope that others may derive a similar benefit-that the mental process which it has required, together with the agreeable and instructive fellowship of the religious sentiments of the practical piety of various authors, has proved-in his own experience peculiarly profitable,—— driving away those Promethean vultures of distrust and despondency which constantly hover around the mind, whilst environed by an accumulation of uncontrollable evils, the tormenting oppression of physical melancholy, aggravated by the cureless corrosion of internal grief, the perturbing vexations of social injustice, the inflicted wrongs of administrative turpitude and judicial malversation, the unprovoked injuries of clerical detraction and dishonor, and the mischievous devices of a Janus-faced and heartless hypocrisy.

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Mr. S. T. Coleridge, with his characteristic intuition, has observed, “That the communicativeness of our nature leads us to describe our own sorrows,”—an ægis which, if it do not protect the writer from the allegation of having trespassed beyond the boundary of a becoming decorum, in his figurative representation of The Escort of Angels, (including other emblematical designs,) he confidently turns for shelter, (regardless of the barbed missiles of a flippant censure or witless derision to which it may expose him,) to the remembered fidelity of the conjugal attachment of an expectant, though a disembodied affection, as well as the sympathetic sensibility of a Christian candor-having had to traverse, unattended by earthly alleviations, amidst sickness and seclusion, desertion and dejection, darkened by the tenebrious assaults of Satanic suggestions, the via dolorosa of domestic and fraternal bereavement, as, in quick succession, from the relentless aim of the "insatiable archer,"

"Thrice the arrow flew,

And thrice his peace was slain"

he would still fain cherish--and devoutly recommend to others, by

*The pain of my corporeal sufferings is greatly relieved, by the comforting hope of an anticipated re-union or recognition in the blessedness of heaven; and by divine aid, endeavor so to bring up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, my left dear little ones, that in God's time, they may follow after me.

One of her last death-bed sayings.

†The devil ever consorts with our solitude, and is that unruly rebel that musters up those disordered motions which accompany our sequestered imaginations.

SIR THOS. BROWNE-Religio-Medici.