The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-10-29
MYSTERY OF THE ANGELS
Rev. ". H. Pearce Says it Cannot BE
Solved Until Eternity,
THEIR WORK ON THIS EARTH
Myriads and Millions Throng the Avenues
of fLife-Examples of Their Powerful
Ministrations to Man-Do They
Minister Today?


the Elm Park church yesterday morn
ing to hear an admirable discourse
from the pastor, Rev. w. H. Pearce, ID.
D., upon the theme of angels" The
sermon was eminently practical and
was a broad-minded and thoroughly
evangelistic exposition of the Scrip
ture, which would be received by the
learned theologian and the illiterate
with equal pleasure. The reverend
gentleman based his remarks from
Psalm lXxXxi, IL: For He shall give
his angels charge over thee, to keep
thee in all thy ways" In the course of
his sermon, Mr.. Pearce said:
1T is often asked whether there Is
such an order of being as angels; and
they are so far removed from our COM
prehension, and their mode of minis
trations are 80 mysterious, that dis
course on this subject is often regarded
as Improbable. Let us observe in the
first place the contrast between the in
strumentality for which they are en-
ployed and the purpose for which that
instrumentality is used They are
spoken Of as powerful beings, excelling
in strength, endowed with terrible
power and thereby overcoming physi-
cal and natural enemies, devils and
vast armies of men. Job reports that
they held the four winds of heaven. In
executing their orders from God and
carrying out his purposes they smote
the men of Sodom and sent fire and
storm which swept away the city; they
smote the first born of Egypt and an
angel held the sword between heaven
and earth. Angels destroyed $4,000
men, sealed the mouths of the lions
while Daniel slept with the peaceful
ness of a child, and when Peter was in
prison, held by shackles and chains,
the angels touched his shackles so
lightly and softly that the keepers were
not awakened.
Clothed in Divine Glory.
"In the second place they are spoken
Of as in the highest rank of wisdom and
intelligence, full of eyes, with great
powers of discernment, revealing mys-
teries of the Divine Providence and
passing through His resplendent do
main and the whole universe clothed
In divine glory. They are also very
luminous, multidudinous beings, and
we have no power of comprehension to
estimate their countless numbers, the
whole Scriptures from Genesis to Reve-
latlon are thronged with the hosts of
angels. The first glimpse we get Is.
When Jacob was resting on the way
side he saw ladder extending right
from heaven to earth what a mighty
sweep of angelic forces to cover this
ladder from heaven to earth and earth
to heaven. We also have a glimpse of
them on Mount Sinai, where we read
OF thousands of angels, and Daniel in
dlscoursing Of his vision speaks of
thousands and tens Of thousands of
angels, ministering to God, and encom-
passing his saints through all the ages
OF the world. In rebuking angry Peter.
Chrlst speaks of twelve legions of
angels. These are but few brief in
stances, showing the myriads and mill
lions which throng the avenues of orr
busy life. Jul
Can it be that the infinite Father is
sues summons to his shining retinue
OF angels, to watch and protect this
poor starving soul of mine? Thank
GOD, 1t Is true, although to us IL be in
comprehensive.
There are many pictures in Gods
CELERY showing the ministrations of an
gels. Abraham built an altar on Mount
MORAN and had fire ready to sacrifice
MS son, Isaac, who Is ready bound by
the altar. The uplifted knife betokens
that the parental tragedy is to be COM
mtted when an angel grasps the arm
OF Abraham, and points out lamb in
the thlcket as sacrifice in the place of
MS beloved son. 1t is a sweet thought
that the angels of the Lord encom-
passed around them that fear Him, be-
cause they had made the Lord their
refuge, and the Most High their habita-
ton, and He will give His angels charge
oyer them, to keep us in all his ways. to
bear us up in their hands, lest thou
dash thy foot against stone.'
Versed in the Purposes of God.
1.-THE angels are well versed in the
purposes of God and are employed for
your protection. We cannot see them
with our eyes, we cannot feel them with
our hands we cannot hear the ripple Of
their draperies, We cannot hear the mu-
sic of their song, but yet they throng
the whole avenues Of our lives and
stand close to us in all our conflicts
and spread their wings over us in all
our sorrows. No monarch on his
throne and no general of a mighty
army is protected as safely and surely
as child of God.
"A thousand questions may be asked
as to the ministrations and offices of
the angels, but they cannot be an
swered to your satisfaction or to take
away the mystery in which they are
folded, and not until the flesh and soul
have parted and the last burden of the
heart has been cast away, and we
stand in the immediate presence of God,
thrilled and enraptured with the out
pouring of the angels song, shall we
witness the sweet mystery showing the
tender ministrations of angels, and
then, and not until then, shall 1t be
explained to our satisfaction"