Meditations and Devotions on St Michael's Day

Summary

Angels are Spirits Immaterial and Intellectual, the Glorious Inhabitants of those Sacred Palaces, where no Tears, Discontents, or uncomfortable Passions work upon them ; but all is Tranquillity Peace and Joy forevermore. Here do these Glorious Spirits reside in Number Innumerable, in Order Admirable, in Power Mighty, in Armies Glorious, in Obedience Perfect, in Lov Enflamed, with a Seraphick fire, to God himself and to Mankind for ever.

Their Employment is to Lov, Honor, Adore, Prais and Obey Him, Whom they see in the Throne of Glory : to Lov, serv, and Minister to us for Him ; to Admire and rejoyce in all His Treasures. It is Natural to the Infinit Goodness of God to make those Things which are most Excellent, most Common ; and only those Things Rare, that are less Serviceable. These Powers therfore of Loving, Adoring, Praising, Obeying, Admiring, Rejoycing, Seeing and Pleasing, are those which we ought most to Esteem and Delight in, if ever we would understand the Angels Nature.

Their Obedience is so Exact that they are more Prone to Serv God then the Sun is to Shine : Their Inclinations are so Excellent, their Obligations so Great, and their Duty so Blessed. And in it they are propounded to us for Paterns of Imitation. Our Lord Jesus Himself bidding us, Hallow His Name, and Do His Will as it is don in Heaven.

In seeing the Face of God, they receiv the Treasures of His Eternity and Possess all the Joys of His Kingdom : which He communicateth to them, by shewing them his Essence. For in it they are seen, as in a Mirror, for-ever. In shewing them his face, he sheweth them all the Divine Knowledg of Himself and His Creatures. Which is so much that no Tongu[e] can tell or Soul imagine, but they only who Enjoy it. Seeing His Excellencies they Adore Him ; seeing His Perfections they are Rapt with the Lov of His Beauty, and Cleav inseperably to Him : Seeing His Goodnes they Covet to be like Him ; and desiring to resemble it, are Insatiable in Doing all maner of Good to the whole World. which having a Wide and Endless Vision or Prospect of it, they delight to perform, wherever they and to whomever they are Commanded.