note his sufferings in the cause of CHRIST. How do all these intimations conspire to shew, that, under the Gospel, not only are the ancient ties of men and Angels preserved, but the visible and invisible order of creatures are actually associated in a new and more mysterious union and fellowship linked together, like one vast family, by the mighty bond of a common faith; -overcome by the same joy,-lost in the same wonder,-animated by the same love! : Nor are we left to these indirect and general statements concerning the holy Angels. Their personal regard for us, and their intimate acquaintance with our individual welfare, is again and again set before us. One sinner that repenteth is declared, and that by the sure word of CHRIST Himself, to be the subject of rejoicing throughout the courts of Heaven - there is joy, then, in the presence of the Angels of God.' Two more texts of prime interest and importance remain to be specially noticed. One, regarding children: the other, grown-up persons. Not to multiply quotations, we will confine ourselves to these two. That which concerns grownup persons, or rather, that which includes within its scope persons of mature age,—has been chosen for the text. It sets forth the great : truth that the office of the Holy Angels is to minister for the Saints. Not to minister for men, generally but for those only of mankind who shall be heirs of Salvation. Moreover, we are told that these Angels are sent forth; that is, are despatched from the throne of GOD, on errands of Love and Mercy. This is the occupation of them all; for Are they not all ministering spirits?' Observe also, that these glorious beings minister not only to, but 'for' those who shall be heirs of Salvation: so that we are at liberty to refer to their blessed agency many of those happy coincidences, which we ascribe in our folly to 'chance,' 'luck,' or 'fortune' things which have no real existence, and are but names, a mere screen,-whereby to hide our ignorance. To them we may owe,(under GOD, whose servants they are, and at whose bidding they act !),-to their prompt care, watchfulness, and love, we may owe deliverance from accident, protection under danger, comfortable suggestions in time of affliction. Nay, we gather as much from Scripture. The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them.' And again: 'He shall give His angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways: they shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.' The other text alluded to, regards little Christian children. We all know it; and a most mysterious text it is, truly. Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones,' (said our LORD on a certain occasion;) for I say unto you that in Heaven their Angels do always behold the face of My FATHER which is in Heaven".' Surely these are words which yield in preciousness to no declaration in the Gospel! In Heaven, (so the King of Heaven Himself assures us;) in Heaven, the Angels of little children do always behold the face of GOD. This text is somewhat trite perhaps, and but little regarded,—yet does it contain one of the most wonderful disclosures which is anywhere to be met with, relative to our connexion with the higher part of GOD's Creation. For the terms of it, we need only remind you that as, constantly to behold the face of an earthly King,-admission, that is, to the Royal presence, denotes very exalted earthly rank, and especial favour, so always to behold the face of GOD,' implies the highest order, or, if you please, the most favoured, of the Angels who inhabit the courts of Heaven. Of such, therefore, b St. Matthew xviii. 10. are little children said to be the peculiar care. It has been often pointed out that the expression 'little ones' includes all who are little in their own eyes, all who are possessed of childlike hearts; and so certainly it may, or rather, so, doubtless, it does: but that it means little children especially, whatever it may mean besides, is beyond all possibility of question,-for the Saviour was embracing a little child in His arms while He spoke. So that, had we no text but this to build upon, what a glorious fabric might Faith and Hope between them raise, when they discovered that little Christian children have Angels of their own, admitted to constant and especial nearness to GOD! We may not pursue the Doctrine thus laid down, into its practical application. The under taking would lead us too far. It shall suffice to have dwelt thus briefly on it, in the spirit of the Collect for St. Michael and all Angels;' and to have taken leave of the subject by pointing attention to that special text which evidently suggested the choice of the Gospel for the day. St. Luke the Evangelist. THE MEDICINES OF THE GOSPEL. COLOSSIANS iv. 14. Luke, the beloved Physician. As the Saints' Days, one by one, come round, it is impossible to avoid being most forcibly struck by the very little which we know about all except two or three of the persons, so eminent for their holiness, in whose honour we observe those days. Of St. Luke, except that he was a Physician, an Evangelist, and the author of the Acts of the Apostles, as well as St. Paul's companion in travel,-what know we? We do not deny that this is very much to know concerning a great Saint,-immensely more than we know of St. Simon and St. Jude, for instance; and indeed of the larger number of the Apostles themselves. We do but mean that these particulars are unavailing to set before us any living notion of the man. He is thought, besides, to have been of the number of the Seventy Disciples, whose sending forth is recorded in the xth chapter of his Gospel; whose sending forth, |