Christ says, "In heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father." But if they are always in heaven, how do they watch over and minister to Christ's little ones here on earth? Can they be in heaven and on earth at the same time?-—But can we say where heaven is? Need we suppose that it is only in some distant part of the universe? If the happiness of angels and saints consists in the view and contemplation of God's glory-in the sense and enjoyment of his favour-in attending his worship and doing his will, may not heaven be in one place as well as another? God's presence fills the universe. It is confined to no part of the creation—to no part of boundless space. Wherever he is pleased to manifest his glory and favor to his rational creatures, there he makes a heaven to them. The angels, then, may be said to behold the face of God in heaven, even while they are ministering to saints on earth. It is heaven to them to do his will and serve the interests of his kingdom. It is heaven to them to exercise their benevolence in promoting the happiness of the meanest and humblest believers here below. Did the heavenly host lose any part of their happiness-was their pleasure and enjoyment in any degree suspended, when they visited the shepherds in the field, and sang glory to God in the highest, peace on earth and good will to men? Or when they sang together and shouted for joy at the first creation of the world? Is it not from the contemplation of God's works of power, wisdom and grace, that their knowledge is improved, their devotion kindled, and their joy and admiration raised to the highest elevation? Angels are indeed said to come from heaven, when they execute particular commissions in this world, and return to heaven, when they have finished their services. So also God himself is said to come down, and to return again to his place. But such phrases, as they respect God, are only figurative, and used in accommodation to human language and conception. As they respect angels, they are used, not to express a real change of place, but rather the accomplishment of their errand. When the angels are said to come to the shepherds, and to go away from them into heaven, their appearance and disappearance are all that is intended. They might be near them.

before, and near them still; but now their errand was executed, their song was finished, and the visible glory withdrawn.

How grand and solemn is the thought, that we dwell in the midst of spirits that we are daily surrounded with angels-that we continually mingle with those wonderful beings, though they are invisible to us! While we dwell in clay, our sight is too dim to perceive the company that we are in. Should the curtain be withdrawn, and our eyes enlightened, how should we be surprised, to find where we are, and whom we are among.

us,

When the Syrians compassed the city of Dothan, where Elisha was, that they might take the prophet; his servant, seeing the host which surrounded them, exclaimed, “ Alas, my master, how shall we do?" The prophet answered, "Fear not, there are more with than with them." And Elisha prayed, Lord, open his eyes that he may see. And the Lord opened the young man's eyes and he saw. And behold the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. When his eyes were opened, he beheld a numerous guard of angels, surrounding the prophet to protect him from his enemies.

The situation of the good man is, doubtless, still the same. Those ministering spirits, which are sent forth to minister to the heirs of salvation, faithfully attend their charge; and when the christian drops his mantle of clay, and sees with other eyes, he will, like the prophet's servant, see these heavenly beings around him. The angel of the Lord encampeth around them who fear him. These friendly spirits attend the dying beds of the saints, receive their departing souls, and convey them to the paradise of God.

Now, if the angels, those dignified and exalted beings, disdain not to minister to the meanest saints, even to Christ's little ones, shall we despise them? If they guard and defend the just, shall we dare to injure them? If they lead and support the tottering steps of the weak and young, shall we presume to throw blocks in their way? If they attend upon them, can we innocently neglect them? How insolent is that pride of man, which despises the saints for the poverty of their condition, the weakness of their powers, the disadvantages of their education, or the infirmities of

their body, when angels make them, on these accounts, their more immediate care.

If they attend the saints, they will observe the injuries and offences which we offer them. They will behold our pride and insolence with displeasure. If they have immediate access to God, and are always admitted to his face, they can carry to him their complaints against us. Let us not dare then to despise or offend one of Christ's little ones, lest, as one expresses it, "we provoke those mighty spirits to sue out and execute some commission of vengeance upon us." To such a case may be applied God's warning to Israel. I send my angel before thee-beware of him -provoke him not-for he will not pardon your transgressions. No conduct of our's can be more provoking to those kind and benevolent spirits, than our offending and despising those little ones, of whom they have taken the charge, and for whose safety they daily watch.

What mighty encouragement have the young, the tender, the weak, and new beginners in religion, to persevere in their virtuous course, against all the difficulties and dangers which may threaten them. Christ has made you so much the objects of his care, that he sends his angels to attend you. While they minister to the heirs of salvation in general, they exercise a more special watch over you. In proportion as you are more weak, you enjoy a more immediate defence. When you are weak, then you are strong. Let your enemies be ever so numerous, there are more with you, than against you.

How circumspect should we be in all our walk, since so many eyes are upon us. Not the eyes of men only; they see but few of our actions: but the eyes of superior beings-beings of more perfect knowledge than the wisest, and of higher purity than the purest, of the sons of men.

Little do we realize the state which we are in. How watchful are we of our behaviour in the presence of those whom we revere. How careless in other company. But if we are always in the company of those holy angels, who are full of eyes, what manner of persons ought we to be? Where is the place, and what is the company, in which we can safely, or decently indulge in folly and

vice, in levity, wantonness and impiety? Can we sin with boldness, when ten thousand eyes are upon us, and when multitudes of angels are looking at us with indignation and astonishment?

Viewing ourselves thus surrounded with strict observers—thus acting under the eye of innumerable spectators, let us conduct with the dignity of christians-with the caution of probationers-with the purity of those who expect to be made equal to angels.

If the presence of angels is an argument of weight, a more solemn argument still, is the presence of the Deity, to induce us to be holy in all manner of conversation. He seeth not as man seeth, nor as angels see. His eyes not only penetrate the curtains of our chamber, but reach the inmost recesses of the heart. No thought is hidden from him, and he will bring every work into judgment with every secret thing.

Let us act as under the eye of Him who searcheth all hearts, and knoweth all the imaginations of the thoughts; who will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and make manifest the counsels of the heart. And believing that we must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ, and every one of us must give an account of himself to God, let us not judge or set at nought our brother; but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block, or occasion to fall, in his brother's way.

Let us hear, in a word, the conclusion of the whole matter. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.