V.

ANGELIC SYMPATHY.

UNDER this head may properly be classed those peculiar ministrations that had reference to the prophets of Israel, from Elijah onward: and, following the order in which they stand in the Bible, in preference to the chronological dates, we will briefly note them all. It will be remembered that the angel who showed the Apostle John the glorious things by him recorded, declared, “I am thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren the prophets; and of them which keep the sayings of this book:" (Rev. xxii. 9.) from which we may at least gather, that the interest taken by that heavenly guide in these wondrous revelations, was intense. When, therefore, an angel is deputed to communicate with an inspired prophet, we feel that there is somewhat more than a general ministration in it: the divine knowledge which the celestial being is commissioned to impart to his earth-born brother fills his own mind, and he appreciates the high distinction conferred on himself,

as the vessel chosen to contain and to convey a treasure of which all the excellency is of God. The glory of his Master is concerned in what he communicates its prospective fulfilment interests him deeply, as tending to shew forth the Lord's faithfulness; and arrayed as he perpetually is against the dark, subtle enemies of man, he rejoices in every accession of strength, wisdom, and knowledge, gained by his poor feeble ally. To one who is accustomed to dwell upon these beautiful portions of Scripture, the tenderness that bespeaks perfect sympathy is constantly apparent on the angel's part; together with an alacrity, that shews how much heart the divine creature puts into his work.

First among those we have now to notice stands the touching picture of Elijah, weary, exhausted, and wellnigh despairing, in the wilderness. He had been very jealous for the Lord God of Hosts, even to the braving of Ahab's power and Jezebel's hate. He had openly defied, most signally disgraced, and with determined justice had slain the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal in the sight of all Israel; whom he believed to be, with the single exception of himself, forsakers of God's covenant, destroyers of His worship, and murderers of His prophets. Throughout this transcendant work of faith and zeal he had not flinched; but now, pursued by the sanguinary menaces of Jezebel, and believing that every man sought his life, the solitary outcast stretched himself under a juniper-tree, and,

asking for death, became overpowered by sleep. With what pitying tenderness must the angel's heart have yearned over the unconscious slumberer, while employed in the humble office of baking a cake on the coals, and filling a cruse with water to place beside him! What a spectacle of want, and sorrow, and destitution did the prophet present, immediately after that glorious display of triumphant faith and power on the sides of Mount Carmel! When all was prepared, "the angel touched him, and said, Arise and eat." 1 Kings xix. 5, Having done so, the prophet again lay down, and slept : "And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee." He not only sets before him the nourishment provided, but graciously and tenderly urges on him the necessity of strengthening himself for the unusual exertion. Often have the afflicted children of God found comfort in this sweet record of His watchful care, and of the willing service that the holy angels render, when no human hand can help. When, under the pressure of bodily privation or mental anxiety they are hearkening to the suggestions of Satan, and murmuring too, if not against, the Lord, some ministering angel is on the wing, bearing the succour they need, the comfort they pine for; and putting to shame the language of their unbelieving minds.

Elijah, we are told, "went in the strength of that

meat forty days and forty nights, unto Horeb, the

Whether that day's the whole period, or

Mount of God." 1 Kings xix. 8. repast was made sufficient for whether his strength was daily renewed by a daily miraculous supply of bread and water, like that of his fathers in the wilderness, is not made plain: in either case the Lord fed him by the hand of a ministering spirit, and he whom God fed could know no want; he whom God strengthened, no weariness. He fulfilled his mission, not without further communion with angelic helpers; for though in general, the expression is "the word of the Lord came to Elijah," without specifying the medium through which it reached him, we are told, when Ahaziah sent to inquire of Baalzebub, the god of Ekron, concerning the event of his disease, "the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria ;" and also told him the prophetic words that he should speak to them. 2 Kings i. 3, 4.

Elijah's translation into heaven was by "a chariot of fire, and horses of fire," no doubt forming a part of the magnificent array of which we are next to speak as belonging to the armament of heaven; for when the servant of Elisha, terrified at the sight of the besieging hosts of Syria compassing the city, cried out, "Alas, my master! how shall we do?" the prophet's answer "Fear not; for they that be with us are more than they that be with them." In answer to his prayer,

was,

the young man's eyes were opened; "and he saw; and behold the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha." 2 Kings vi. 15-17. Angels are not mentioned here; but however the blaze of the glory might enwrap, and so render them invisible, we may be sure it was not of chariots and horses that Elisha spoke when alluding to the number of his unseen allies. We may rather suppose the scene to have resembled what is very glowingly described by a firstrate poet of our day, in referring to this passage:

At the word rush'd a cloud
From the crown of the sky;
In its splendours the sun

Seemed to sicken and die.
From its depths poured a host

Upon mountain and plain.
There was seen the starr'd helm,

And the sky-tinctured vane;
And the armour of fire,

And the seraph's broad wing;

But no eye-ball dared gaze
On the pomp of the blaze,
As their banner unfolded

The name of their KING.

After Elisha, Isaiah had proof of the being, the brightness, and the benevolence of God's angels. He has related a very remarkable vision: "In the year that king Uzziah died, I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it