The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-28
ST.MICHAEL'S-DAY SERVICES
A Discourse by Bishop Knickerbacker
on "The Ministry of Angels,
The Harvest Festival Services Held by the
Members of the First Baptist Sunday
School-SerYices at Other Churches.
THE MINISTRY OF ANGELS.
The Subject of Bishop Knickerbacher's Har

commemorated in special sermon Of thanks
giving by the Right Reverend Bishop Knicker
hacker. The church, in its decorations for the
occasion, had fitting collections in variety and
design of grain and fruit. The Bishop called
particular attention to the duty of thankfulness
to the Giver of all good in His mercy to us in
granting bountiful harvest. Nothing was more
beautiful or more appropriate at this season of
the year than acommemoration of this goodness.
Last evening the Bishop was atChrist Church,
and in keeping with the nearness of st. Mchael's
day preached sermon on '"The Ministry of
Angels" His text was Revelations xii, 7th ard
9Th verses:
"And there was war in heaven. Michael and his
angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon
fought and his angels and prevail not, neither
their place found any more IN heaven"
The Bishop said II see no good reason for
the supposition that this language should be un-
derstood in any other than the obvious literal
sense, and we are bound thus to understand it
because it is confirmed by other Scriptures. The
angel that speaks to the prophet Daniel speaks
Of Michael as one of the chief princes and of his
contending with the Prince Of Persia. ST. Jude,
in his epistle referring to the same event,
says: Yet Michael the archangel, when con.
tending with the devil. disputed about
the body of Moses, burst not bring against him
a railing accusation. Real and not Imaginary
beings evidently intended here. There u.s.
we thing, general belief amongst mankind in
the existence of spiritual intelgences. A gen
eral belief, persuasion. is not commonly without
any foundation The church of Christ receives
the statement OF the Scriptures respecting the
existence. nature and employment of these
spiritual beings comprehended under the general
name angel She does not, like the Sadducees in
our Savior's time, deny the existence of
lint In
ieves there are principalties and powers
in heavenly places angels, archangels. legions of
good angels surrounding the throne Of God. and
also the devil and his angels, company of evil
church, therefore, has at this season of the year
appointed day called the Festival of ST.
Michael and All Angels tho Doth of September),
and calls our attention more particularly to these
spiritual beings.
1.-THE doctrine held in the church respecting
angels is that they are an order of beings supe-
rior to mankind; that they existed before the
human race; that some of the angels are holy,
and some unholy. The unholy fallen from
their first estate. They were once holy and happy
in heaven, but through pride, or ambition, or
some other cause they rebelled against God and
the good angels, and were finally expelled from
the abodes Of the blessed and to this event the
text refers. st. Jude says also, that the angels
which kept not their first estate but left
their own habitation, the Lord hath reserved in
everlasting chains under darkness unto the
Judgment of the great day. The Scriptures,
therefore, are not obscure silent respecting
the angels, both holy and reprobate. And, my
brethren. as there is also good reason to believe
that these spiritual beings, though out of the re-
cognizance of our senses, have much to do with
the human race. their nature, their employ
ment and their agency in human affairs
are subjects not unsuitable for our meditation.
1t may, indeed, be thought that he who sets him
self to discourse upon subject SO remote from
human observation and experience might find a
more practical and useful subject
Though the earth on which we dwell is far re-
moved from any other portion of the material
creation, and though in the present state we
cannot hold any intercourse with the inhabitants
of the planets and any other within the
reach of our present vision vet spirits from
around the throne of God messengers of mercy
from heaven, are sent to man here in his loneli
ness to encourage him to hold his way toward
that heavenly city whose maker and builder is
God. Whatever may be our condition in life we
are not unobserved by higher and more glorious
beings than ourselves. We may sometimes
think it is of but little Importance how we act
our part on the theater of life, that our conduct
must affect ourselves chiefly; but what an i'm
consider that we are observed by the
angels, and that they are deeply anxious lest
We fall into some snare of the
devil, and forfeit all Che happiness which
heaven has in store for all who patiently con-
tinue in well doing unto the end. And how
comforting, my brethren, is the thought that
we are under guardianship of the angels of
God; how pleasant it is to think that these
messengers of God and mercy are watching
over US and guarding US from evil by day and
by night. We might almost imagine it beneath
beings of endowment so far SURPRISING our
own that it should be part, if not a main part
Of their Office to attend us on our passage
through this world and aid our endeavors to
secure eternal life. But if, beside the fact of
angels being mnistering spirits to the heirs of
salvation. the Bible represents angels as doing
little, inconsiderable things in behalf of man,
interfering whore there seems to be no scope for
or no need OF their vast POWER dischargng Offices
OF the most trf1ine description rendering services
which can hardly be observed and between
which and their ability there is the greatest ap-
parent disproportion, our surprise must be
greater still. And yet such is plainly the case.
The scriptural representation brings the ministry
Of angels to what appears trivial and insignif-
can't, in place of combining it to some great crisis
in the history of Inc righteous. And, indeed,
when we think of the greatness and
power Of God, and what might seem
to be His fit employment we shall
find our minds turning to stars and systems
whose steady movements have to be ordered or
to empires whose rise aud fall seem important
enough to claim the attention of the universal
Governor; or if to individuals of our races yet to
the most eminent and distinguished. But how
different are the representations of Scripture.
God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
While this is said of God, let US not wonder that
it is asserted of the angels that they are all
ministering spirits to the righteous, or be sur
prised at the inspired assertion they shall bear
thee up in their hands lest thou dash thy
foot against stone Let us not hesitate there
FORE my brethren. to believe that we are every
day under the guardian care of angels, and also
that their care extends to trfiing things. 1t is
the very minuteness of this care that should give
it Importance in our eyes. The doctine of
special providence is valuable in proportion as
we extend it to what the world counts tribes, to
things Of every day occurrence If, as some do,
you confine the doctrine of Gods providence to
great events, supposing that it is only in some
extraordinary emergency some unusual dan
| ger or difficulty that God may be thought to give
attention to an individual or family. then there
is indeed but little comfort in the doctrine
whether it be through His immediate agency,
His creatures, God is represented in the Bible
as giving the most accurate heed, the most