The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-09-15
The ANGELS.
Sermon Preached by Rev. J. C.
Jones Sunday Evening.

Text, Psalms l03:20: "Bless the Lord,
We his angels. that excel in strength,
that do His commandments, hearkening
unto the voice of His word.''
In nature we see great variety of life,
mineral, plant, animal, and the highest
in the human being, man. In all this
varied life there are no abrupt chances,
but they are so connected as to form one
harmonious whole. From Il sa~d grain
to an archangel there is graduated
scale. Beginning with the lowest and
speaking generally we may say that the
order of advance is inorganic particles of
water and earth, minerals, vegetables,
insects, beasts, men, and, browning all,
angels. Whence came this multiform
lifeY Among many theories only two
have large following or deserve special
consideration. The first is that they are
the result of the immediate creative fiat
of omnipotence, the second that they were
evolved by n process Of evolution through
variation, heredity and the survival of
the fittest. With all this we have moth.
ing to do except to say that betwe the
lowest forms of life and the highest
between the lelly-iish and III an-there are
several missing links. Articulate speech
has never been found in the animal crea-
ton below man, nor are there any evil
dences of their possessing Il spiritual ma
ture.
But the subject to-day turns our
thoughts to still higher order in crea-
tion, from which we are separated beyond
any power of evolution to identity us. In
treating of the angels shall call your
attention:
l. To their nature.
II. To their number.
III. To their employments.
AS to their nature they are a. purely
spiritual ''Hc maketL His angels
spirits" No alloy of flesh, no quality
susceptible of WEAKNESS or decay at
taches to them. In their pursuit of
knowledge their strong and clear intel
lects are unhindered by the>grossness and
coarseness OF body subject to fatigue.
Though perfectly cunversant with the
things of earth and heaven they bring to
bear their unequaled powers of thought
to fathom the mysteries of REDEEM pit on.
switch things the angels desire 10 look
into" Being wholly spiritual their move
ments are marvelously rapid and may be
compared to the flash of electricity or the
quickness of thought. Daniel in captiv-
ity confessing his own sins and the sins
IF the people and.presenting his supplica-
tions for the restoration of Jerusalem,
says:
''Yea, while was speaking in prayer,
even the man Gabriel, whom / had seen
in the vision at the beginning, being
caused to fly swiftly, touched me .about
the time of the evening obl4tion" Be-
fore he arose from his knees this messen-
ger, Gabriel, came with Incredible
swiftness to assure Daniel that he was
greatly beloved and that his prayer was
answered Daniel 9th chapter,) And In
addition to their intelligence and swift
ness. they ''eX:e in strength They
flap their wings over the Assyrian en-.
campment when they are beseging Jeru.
salem and the next morning one hundred
and eightyfive thousand of them (Jhe
Assyrians) are dead. Every quality of
the purely spiritual being inherent in
them and adds to their superiority.
They are (2l social beings. Among
themselves there is congenial association
and as fer as natures so diverse will
allow they enter intimately and heartily
into fellowship with nortals. They
share in all that concerns mans happi.
ness and destiny and so far as is possible
avert threatened dagger ana by sweet
and blessed companionship contribute TO
his well-being. When Abraham sat in
front of his tent in Mamre, three angels
came Co his door. At his invitation they
entered his tent and partook Of his hos
pitality. He took choice lamb from
the flock. killed and dressed it and with
cakes prepared by Sarah furnished them
an evening meal. The angels entered