The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1867-05-09
rnE INTEREST FELr ny TnE noLY ANGELS
IN US.

IN Us.
For wise purposes the heavenly world
is hidden from our natural vision. 1t is
yelled in shadows and mysteries. We
cannot communicate with it through
any of our external senses But there
are facts presented TO our faith in the
Scriptures, and particularly in the teach
ings Of Christ, which, if carefully
studied, will atford us much valuable
knowledge of these distant and glorious
realms. Such fact or truth is brought
before US by the declaration Of Christi
II say unto you there is joy in the pres
ence of the angels of God, over one sin
ner that repenteth."
From this announcement we may in.
fer that the angels Of God feel a deep
interest in the spiritual affairs OF earth.
They not only rejoice over a penitent
sinner, but rejoice over his progress i'll
the divine life, and over all his moral
victories. And other Scriptural passa-
ges teach us Of the interest that they
feel in the general progress of Christs
kingdom, in the downfall of Satan's
empire, and in the spiritual elevation
and happiness of mankind. But before
dwelling upon this point, we would
present, in this article, few thoughts
upon the nature of these angelic beings
The word angel, as it is well known,
signifies "messenger," and is applied to
these beings because they are the mes
sengers OF God to man. This title does
not reveal to us their nature, or form,
or their other relations and duties 1t
simply expresses their relation to us, as
the title ambassador is applied to one
who comes to our country from for
eign court, though, in his own land, he
may hold several positions Of honor and
authority. OF their nature we only
know that they are created beings, diff
fering from and more exalted than hui
man beings. Whether in their organi-
zation they are pure spirits, or pOssessa
form into which material substances en-
ter, we are unable positively to deter
mine. The most probable theory, in
my view, is that they are embodied
spirits, with an exquisitely fine struc-
ture, suited to their spiritual nature and
heavenly employments. The fact that
they are not visible to our organs OF
vision is no proof that they possess no
material elements; for we are surround
ed with forms Of matter that are to us
invisible. The atmosphere is materi-
al substance that can be weighed and
analysed, and has, at times, an irresisti-
BILE force. The flowers, forests and
oceans are filed with minute beings
that are invisible to us, and yet are ca
pable of performing all the functions Of
life.
In the visits made by the angels to
this earth, recorded in the Bible, they
are represented as having to do with the
world of matter, as well as with the
world Of mind. Some writers have
suggested that they probably have the
power of assuming visible bodily
shape, when they wish to communicate
with men, This may be truei and, at
the same time, they may have an atten-
uated form that renders them ylslbleto
each other, and that would be seen by
us, had we more acute organs Of vision.
For our knowledge of the various forms
of material substances we are dependent
upon our five senses, that serve as so
many avenues between the human soul
and the external universe. In other
beings, or in ourselves in higher state
ofexistence, the power Of these senses
may be vastly increased or there may
be others added, through which the soul
may communicate with new and more
glorious forms of matter, or with the
subtle essence Of things.
The fact that we are constantly push
ing our inquiries beyond the territory
possessed by the senses shows that the
soul was not designed, by its Creator, to
limit its knowledge to what is just
around us in our present state of being.
Indeed, st. Paul says; "Now | know
in part" | have butsa dim view of the
beings, and objects, and scenes around
me "but then" when my nature is ful-
ly developed and perfected, "shall |
know even rs also | am known" Ny
knowledge viii bear resemblance to
that ofthe highest order of fintelligeneos,
or, as Doddridge says, to that of the
Divine Being, which penctratss to the
centre Of every object, and sees through
all things at single glance
IL we will examine the instances Of
angelic visitations recorded in the Scrip.
lures, we shall find that they were usu-
ally granted TO those who were in n high
sniritual state. and whose perceptiye