SERMON CLXXXVI.

ANGELICAL ORDER AND OBEDIENCE.

FOR ST. MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS.

REV. vii. 11.

"And all the Angels stood round about the Throne, and about the elders, and the four beasts."

THESE words represent to us in vision, that which the Church's Collect for Michaelmas-day teaches as matter of express doctrine :the wonderful order in which the everlasting God has constituted the services of Angels and men. In His glorious and heavenly Household all beings know their place, and all but sinful beings exactly keep it: even as the Angels are here shown to the eyes of the beloved Disciple, standing in the Court and around the Throne of the Most High and everlasting King, exactly in the order which He had set. They are around His Throne, and around His Church, gathered from mankind, which seems to be represented by the four beasts and the elders. They wait upon HIM, and, for His sake, upon His Church: not one is wanting, not one out of his station every one is exactly where he ought to be, and does just what the ALMIGHTY would have him do.

The same vision was present, as appears, in spirit, to one of those whom we look up to, as to bright and burning lights in our own Church of England, the venerable Richard Hooker, when drawing near his end. The day after he had received the blessed Sacrament of the LORD's Supper for the last time, a friend calling on him, found him deep in thought; and being asked the subject of his meditations, he replied, "That he was meditating the n

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that it may be made up, though they themselves know not how, by increased and most earnest prayers and endeavours on their part. They may be like the woman of Canaan, who, although she was in the place of the dogs, yet was allowed a portion of the children's bread, because of her great faith, her persevering and humble prayer.

So then, those who are afraid because of their ignorance, provided such ignorance be not their own fault,-persons also in sickness, or old age, unable to attend Church services,—and others in like case, may be sure they have not to deal with a hard master. Their one talent, if they will apply themselves in earnest, may be so laid out as to obtain the reward of him that had five talents.

And whereas in all this there seem to be great advantages offered to those, who in the world's judgment would appear worst off; it may be well just to observe, in conclusion, that these rare blessings are held out to the rich also, if they will but reach forth their hands to take them. By fasting, and leading strict lives, they may make their bodily refreshments profit them as much, for comfort in this world, and grace in the kingdom of Heaven, as those of the patient and contented poor. When GOD visits them with loss of friends, or with sickness, or with any of the thousand trials to which the children of Adam are exposed, they will do well to consider, that so far they are put in the condition of the poor, or rather nearer to it, and therefore in a better place for making their portion in His kingdom sure.

And so, in all respects, it will be found in the end, that there is but one distinction really worth caring for-the distinction between those who serve GOD, and those who serve HIM not. Of all who try in earnest to serve HIM, whatever their condition, the saying is clear: "The rich and the poor meet together: the LORD is the Maker of them all." They meet in the Church here, and they shall meet before the Throne by and by, in virtue of their unspeakable union in HIM Who is their MAKER and Redeemer.

SERMON CLXXXVI.

ANGELICAL ORDER AND OBEDIENCE.

FOR ST. MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS.

REV. vii. 11.

"And all the Angels stood round about the Throne, and about the elders, and the four beasts."

THESE words represent to us in vision, that which the Church's Collect for Michaelmas-day teaches as matter of express doctrine :— the wonderful order in which the everlasting GOD has constituted the services of Angels and men. In His glorious and heavenly Household all beings know their place, and all but sinful beings exactly keep it even as the Angels are here shown to the eyes of the beloved Disciple, standing in the Court and around the Throne of the Most High and everlasting King, exactly in the order which He had set. They are around His Throne, and around His Church, gathered from mankind, which seems to be represented by the four beasts and the elders. They wait upon HIM, and, for His sake, upon His Church: not one is wanting, not one out of his station: every one is exactly where he ought to be, and does just what the ALMIGHTY would have him do.

The same vision was present, as appears, in spirit, to one of those whom we look up to, as to bright and burning lights in our own Church of England, the venerable Richard Hooker, when drawing near his end. The day after he had received the blessed Sacrament of the LORD's Supper for the last time, a friend calling on him, found him deep in thought; and being asked the subject of his meditations, he replied, "That he was meditating the num

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ber and nature of Angels, and their blessed obedience and order, without which, peace could not be Heaven; and oh that it might be so on earth" !"

Such were that holy man's thoughts of the Kingdom of Rest and Glory, to which he was so fast drawing near: and all that we read of the holy Angels seems intended, in like manner, to make

us think of their perfect obedience and order. They have each their own place and station assigned, in managing the works of GOD, or in waiting on His Church. Thus we read of the Angels of certain elements: one having power over fire, and an Angel of the waters, are mentioned in the Book of Revelations, and so are certain other Angels, whose care was to stand at the four corners of the earth, and hold the four winds of Heaven, that they might not hurt the earth, nor the sea, nor the trees, until the time that GOD had appointed".

Again, the book of Daniel seems to tell us of Angels belonging to particular countries; of a Prince of Persia and a Prince of Grecia, and of Michael the great Prince, who stands up for the children of God's people'; and our blessed SAVIOUR Himself gives it as a reason, why we should be very careful to avoid giving cause of sin to any of His little ones, that "in Heaven their Angels do always behold the Face of My FATHER which is in Heaven "." "Their Angels," He says; as if each Christian had an Angel, if we may so speak, of his own; a guardian Angel especially commissioned to look after him, and help him in the way of salvation. So the Church has very generally believed and we read, accordingly, in to-day's lesson, that when St. Peter, having been delivered from prison, knocked unexpectedly at the door of a house where his friends were praying for him, they thought it was his Angel.

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And as the sacred Scriptures teach us, that the blessed Angels have each their appointed task in the several parts of the ALMIGHTY'S Kingdom, so the order of their stations and services, round the Throne itself of the great King, sets before us perfect obedience and order. "The Angels stand round about the Throne," not as it may happen, but every one in his place.

a throne, high and lifted up, and His Train," that is, His Glory, "filled the Temple. Above it stood the Seraphims,

and

one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of Hosts: the whole earth is full of His Glory'." It was the Church Service in perfection, exact regularity and full harmony.

And such, also, are the pictures presented to us in the high and wonderful visions of St. John in the Revelations. "About the Throne were four-and-twenty seats, and upon the seats I saw four-and-twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment, and they had on their heads crowns of gold." And, in another place: 'I saw the seven Angels which stood before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. And another Angel came and stood at the Altar, having a golden censer, and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the Throne 1."

There are many such descriptions in that holy Book, all of them implying the most complete order and regularity in the heavenly services, so that the course of what is done in the Churches of CHRIST on earth, is but a faint and humble shadow of what the spirits of the just made perfect may hope then to witness and partake.

In the prophecy of Daniel, again, those blessed assemblies appear to be likened, in some sort, to the courts or judgment-seats of great kings. The ANCIENT OF DAYS did sit; . . . thousand thousands ministered unto HIм, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before HIM: the judgment was set, and the books were opened." Now we know what reverential silence, what accurate order, is expected to be observed in the courts of kings, and in solemn assemblies held in their presence: and this may give us some notion of the grave and awful majesty, which the Saints and glorious Spirits continually maintain in His Presence, Who is the GoD of Peace and Order, not of confusion, and before Whom all are commanded to keep silence.

Now this exact order, and perfect obedience of the Angels,the station of each in God's Temple, and the task of each in His Kingdom, has reference, first, to the Glory of God; next, to the welfare and credit of His Church. "The Angels stood round about the Throne, and about the four beasts and the elders." 9 Isaiah vi. 1-3. 1 Rev. iv. 4; viii. 2, 3.