The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1921-10-01
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"One angel one would think Sufnclent'
but here are more, as many as were
seDt for Elijah. Amasis, king OF Egypt
had his chariot drawn by kings, but
what was that honor to this? Saints
ascend in the virtue of Christs ascen'
sion; but this convoy of angels Is ADD
ed for state and deCOrum. Saints
shall be brought home not only safely
but hOnorably. What were the bear
erS at the rich mans funeral, though
probably those Of the first rank, COM
pared with Lazarus bearers? The
angels were not shy OF touching him.
for his sores we're on his body, not on
his soul, which was presented to GOD
without spot or wrinkle or any such
thing. Now blessed angels" said
good man, just expiring, now come
and do your office
But these spirits not only minister
to the heirs of salvation at death, but
during their lifetime also. Who
knows how many deliverances, SEEM
ingly natural, are due to their minis
try? They may convoy every train
and every boat carrying servant OF
God, 50 that nothing outside the will
Of God may befall US.
Philip Doddridge, the hymn writer,
fell from a horse when boy, but was
remarkably preserved from injury. The
neighbOrS said 1t was miracle. When
he became man, he once dreamed he
reached heaven and was passing In re-
view pictures of all the incidents OF
his life. Among the rest was a rep
resentatiOn of his fall from the horse,
in his bOyhood. But the divine artist
Lad put upon the canvas one figure
of which he had not been aware, for
the picture showed a mighty angel,
bearing the boy up in his hands lest
he he dashed against the stones
We are told Satan goes to church,
and we may believe it. But the angels
also attend. Paul says In / CORN
thians II TO- For this cause ought
the woman to have power on her head
because Of the angels" Power" means
the sign of authority, a covering. In
other words, the angels are present In
our assemblies and the women should
be modestly apparelled, for the angels
have high sense of the proprieties Of
worship: they come from heaven,
where the seraphlm veil their faces
while they adore God. What a prac-
teal word for modern congregations
Not only do angels minister to US In
life and death, but they will minister
In the scenes connected with our glori-
fication at the end Of the age. Again
and again they appear in the book Of
Revelation, and Jude says; Behold
the Lord cOmeth with 10000 Of His
saints" or holy ones, including angels
as well as saints. They will deal with
the wicked, gathering out Of the king
dom all things that offend. ROgues
who have escaped officers Of the law
will not be able to elude angels. But
best of all, day comes when the Lord
will descend from heaven with
shout, with the voice Of the archangei
and the trump of God; the dead In
Christ will rise and the living be
changed while both together will be
caught up to meet the Lord In the
air
1t Is wonderful enough that these
mighty, holy beings minister to re-
deem men here below. But there are
other facts which deepen our amaze
ment Paul says: Know We not that
we shall Judge angelsP" Il Cor. 6:8)
that is, fallen angels. But turning
TO the holy, elect angels we read Of
them being round about the throne"
and while we gaze upon them we hear
voice saying: ITO him that overcom.
eth will l grant to sit with me on nv
throne" (Rev. 8:2D. It Is redeemed
man, not angels, who is to be set
over the works of Gods hands. as IA
clearly set forth in Hebrews (2:5.S).
Some reader of this sermon may not
have accepted Christ as his personal
Savior and may feel he has no part
in the ministry of Gods angels. How
good 1t Is to know your share In this
blessed privilege may begin at once,
for there Is joy In the presence of the
angels of God over one sinner that re.
penteth'' (Luke 1910. Shall we not
this day set these cholrs of heaven TO
singing and adoring the Lamb in the
midst of the throne, who is the Lord
ofeangels and the Redeemer Of ain.