The Preacher's Finger-Post. Subject: GOD'S ANGELS HELP-| Thou Whether Moses or David was the author of this Psalm, is neither important nor possible to determine with certainty. It is undoubtedly the language of some saintly spirit, first addressing itself (ver. 1-13), and afterwards, by inspiration, speaking in the words of Jehovah Himself (ver. 14-16). The text leads us to consider two facts: I. That God HAS ANGELS AT HIS COMMAND. The word "angels" here, as in other places, must not be regarded as representing personifications of the blind powers of nature or events of Providence, but as personal, immaterial, and rational intelligences. The Bible, by which alone we gain any information concerning them, gives us to understand that they are (1) spiritual existences. Though no one can tell what spirit is, there are certain ideas which men attach to it which they attach not to matter, such as indivisibility, personality, spontaneity, rationality, and religiousness. Hence they are called ministering spirits. They are (2) full of vitality. They are called "living ones." Though human spirits have life, yet thoughts of death spring up within them almost at the outset of their career, and darken their lives almost to the end of their days. But the idea of dying never perhaps rises in the breast of an angel. Fears of death never haunt them. They are (3) mighty in power. They are called "mighty angels," and spoken of as excelling in strength. Wonderful feats are ascribed to them. They are spoken of as smiting seventy-five thousand men in a day, breathing death through the army of Sennacherib, holding the four winds of heaven in their fists, hurling the thunder and kindling the lightnings of retribution, moving the vast machinery of Providence. They are (4) rich in knowledge. They are spoken of as "full of eyes." Their knowledge is extensive, though not universal. To the mind of the highest created intelligence, the known, as compared with the unknown, will ever be as the drop compared with the ocean. Their knowledge is accurate. Al-ligences more numerous per though they know not all things, yet what they know they know accurately. Human spirits are constantly unlearning what they have obtained. They are (5) countless in number. They are spoken of as ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands. "The chariots of God are twenty thouand, yea thousands of thousands of angels." "Thinkest thou" (said Christ) "that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?" They are (6) vast in variety. Spirits differ from spirits as plant from plant, star from star. They differ in nature, in the kind and measure of faculty. In experience. Some are older and more intelligent than others. In office. From Gabriel, who "stands in the presence of God," down to that spirit next in degree to man. There are principalities and powers amongst them. How great is God, to have countless legions of such high intelligences at His command! The telescope, by extending our view of the material universe, impresses us with His greatness; but the Bible, by revealing a universe of such beings as these, increases our impression of His greatness a thousand fold. How great must He be, to own, to master, and to manage intel haps than sands on ocean shore, each of which is free, independent, and mighty. He "maketh His angels spirits and His ministers a flame of fire." The text leads us to consider II. That God EMPLOYS HIS ANGELS TO HELP GOOD MEN ON EARTH. "He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and the adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet." Observe (1), human life has many ways. "In all thy ways." There is the way of the boy, the way of the man, the way of the husband, the way of the father, the way of the merchant, the citizen, the statesman. Life is immensely varied in its departments of action. (2) The ways of human life are perilous. "Lest thou dash thy foot against a stone." In each way there are stumbling stones at every step; temptations to infidelity, insensibility, dishonesty, falsehood, revenge, etc. How numerous the stones! How many, like David, Peter, Judas, have stumbled and fallen !-millions to rise no more. Not only are there the stones of tempta tion, but enemies-living and active enemies. The "young lion," the "adder," and the dragon." Our enemies are of two kinds, the savage and the cunning, the violent and the fraudulent. Now God sends His angels to help the good in all these "ways." They impart (1) A sustaining power. They "bear thee up." (2) A conquering power. "Tread upon the lion," etc. Angels have ever helped good men thus. Angels delivered Lot from Sodom, Daniel from the lion's den, the apostles from prison. Angels even imparted strength to Christ in the garden of Gethsemane. "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister to those who shall be the heirs of salvation." We are assured that "the angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them." angels are thus engaged in helping good men on earth, the following things may be inferred: If First: That there must be some method by which they can communicate with man. What is this method? What is that which is the great sustaining and conquering power in man ? Thought. Thought makes the man. May not angels have the power of suggesting thoughts,-strengthening and all-conquering thoughts? I think so. Who is not conscious of thoughts not his own, and which cannot be accounted for on any psychological law? : Secondly That the spiritual interests of man must be supremely important. You may always determine the greatness of an object by the greatness of the being who is interested in it. You cannot stir the enthusiasm of any great soul in trifling con"There is more joy in cerns. heaven over one sinner that repenteth," etc. If they are thus interested, it is natural to infer that man's spiritual concerns are most momentous. Thirdly: That it is consonant with the highest dignity to minister to the lowly. Man perhaps is in the lowest grade of intelligent creatures, angels in the highest; yet the highest is thus the servant of the lowest. They act upon the principle laid down by our Saviour, that he that is the highest shall be the servant of the lowest. Men practically ignore this. They think that honour consists in serving those above them. Even the preacher, alas! considers himself doubly honoured if his congregation consists of those who are called aristocratic. Fourthly: That it is a profound disgrace to man, that he should feel so little interest in the spiritual concerns of his brother. If angels are thus concerned for us, should we not be doubly so for ourselves? Fifthly: That the humblest Christians may take courage. However weak their faith, great their temptations, upon mighty their antagonists, if they only trust in God, they shall come off more than conquerors. They shall "tread the lion and the adder." "The God of peace shall bruise Satan under their feet." Angels feel an especial interest in the weak and little ones (Matt. xviii. 10). How oft do they their silver bowers leave, To come to succour us that succour want! How oft do they with golden pinions cleave The fluttering skies, like flying pursuivant, Against foul fiends to aid us militant! They for us fight, they watch and duly ward, And light squadrons round about us plant, And all for love, and nothing for reward; Oh, why should heavenly God to man have such regard? -Edmund Spenser. Subject: FOUND. "Behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing."-LUKE ii. 48. CHRIST LOST AND What a touch of nature! It is Mary, not Joseph, who says this, Nothing could be more mother-like. No wonder that these parents were in grief. To miss a child is a great trouble: few troubles are heavier. Doubly afflictive, then, must it have been for Mary and Joseph to lose such a son as Jesus. A spiritual application may be made of this incident. I. WE MAY LOSE CHRIST. Some do. They "run well" but are "hindered." Their goodness is " as the morning cloud." How comes it to pass that men lose Christ? By Leaving God's House. -It was when Mary and Joseph departed from the temple that they lost Jesus. Irregularity and indifference touching public worship is fraught with evil. Not a few date their declension from the hour when they forsook the sanctuary. It is there that Christ is preached, and this is the chief means of useful“Faith_cometh by hearing" rather than by reading. A district in Canada has been mentioned in which, while there was an average supply of Bibles, only one clergyman lived, and he was so old that he could merely repeat the liturgy once on the Sabbath. What was the result? There was but a single professor of religion to be found in the whole locality. ness. By Prosperity.-A feast was the occasion on which Christ's parents lost Him. National rejoicings were tak ing place. This is significant. Numbers miss the Master through worldly success. Sorrow is better than laughter." It was when Jeshurun "waxed fat" that he "kicked." David was guilty of murder and adultery, not in the days of his obscurity, but when a mighty monarch. Demas forsook the apostle, "having | day for the rulers of the loved this present world." Poor Sisera was not much the better for milk and butter, when he so soon after felt the nail and the hammer. A calm at sea may be pleasant to gaze at, but does it suit mariners ? a By Company.-Mary and Joseph were with "a company "when they lost their son. They had “kinsfolk and acquaintance" about them. Ah! kinsfolk are not always spiritually helpful: "acquaintance" sometimes lead to apostasy. Millais has a famous picture called "The Black Brunswicker," in which beautiful maiden is trying to keep her lover, a young Prussian officer, from going to battle. Friends often hinder Christ's soldiers from warring a "good warfare." Mind your associates! "The companion of fools" is very likely to become a fool himself, and so "be destroyed." II. WE MAY FIND CHRIST. In God's House.-That was where our Lord's parents met with Him again. He may be found there still. You may not always find eloquence, learning, talent in it, but surely you may find Christ; if you cannot, it is to the shame of the preacher. All ministers should emulate Moses, whose object was, not to exhibit himself, but to lift up the serpent, that Israel might be saved. It is an ill modern synagogue when any sorrowing Mary can say, They have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid Him." A pulpit in a continental church has a hand of wood outstretched from the front, holding forth a cross; an impressive symbol for all pastors. In God's Word.-How much there is of Christ in it! The Bible exalts the Saviour. In the Old Testament, law, prophet, and psalmist point to Him. In the New Testament, evangelist and apostle delight to speak of His glory. "Christ is all and in all" as regards Scripture. Rubens was so fond of his faithful, affectionate wife, that he introduced her portrait into nearly all his paintings. The sacred artists do the same with their Lord. "He At the Mercy Seat.-He loves to dwell there. None fail to gain His attention. "Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners" is not only the title of John Bunyan's remarkable autobiography, but the welcome inscription on the throne of grace. delighteth in mercy." Brother, have you Christ? Find Him again! Do not try to satisfy yourself with the husks of this world. Seek the heavenly manna; you cannot search for it in vain. THOMAS R. STEVENSON. Barnstaple. lost |
