Beforehand, Absalom had ordered his servants to murder Amnon, whenever they should see him merry with wine: these orders were punetually executed, and Amnon died about À. M. 2974, 2 Sam. xiii.

Seir city, they offered to acknowledge his au-Jit. At the advice of Jonadab his cousin, a crafty thority: he refused to grant them any terms, un-fellow, he feigned himself sick, and begged that less they would consent to have their right eyes his father would allow Tamar to come and make digged out, as a reproach to their nation: He, how-hi cakes in his sight, and give him to eat, out of ever, allowed them seven days to consider his her hand: his request was granted. Tamar preterms. On the eighth, when he expected theypared the cakes and brought them to him. He should come forth, Saul, with a powerful army, refused to eat, until every one but Tamar was attacked him in bis camp, and entirely routed his gone out of the room. He then opened his lusthost, that scarce two could be seen together, 1|| ful design. Tamar remonstrated against it as Sam. xi. This Nahash, or rather his son, had foolish and wicked; and either ignorant of the shewed some favours to David, when exiled by law forbidding the marriage of brothers and sis Saul: David therefore, on occasion of his death,ters, or stupified with terror and perplexity, she sent messengers with his compliments of condo-proposed, that he should desire her from their lence to Hanun his son. Instigated by his ser- father in marriage. Deaf to all her intreaties, he vants, Hanun took them for spies, and rudely af-forced her, and lay with her. His violent lust fronted them. To resent this abuse, David, at- thus gratified, was immediately changed into as tacked the Ammonites in war: in the issue he de-violent hatred. He ordered her to be gone from feated them and their Syrian allies, and conquer-his presence; she appearing averse to expose hered the whole country, and used their chief men self to public view, amidst tokens of grief and with no small severity. They continued the tri-confusion, he ordered his servant to thrust her out butaries of David and Solomon, and probably of by force, and bolt the door after her. the kings of Israel, till the death of Ahab, 2 Sam. When DAVID heard of this affair, he was exx. xi. xii. 1 Chron. xix. xx. They constituted tremely afflicted; but a sinful indulgence to his a part of the grand alliance against JEHOSHAPHAT, children made him quite averse to violent meabut were divinely slaughtered by one another, 2sures with his eldest son. ABSALOM, the full Chron. xx. 1, 23. brother of Tamar, met her all in tears, as she was While the Syrians terribly oppressed the tendriven out by Amnon: he advised her to sit tribes, the Ammonites made the most inhuman ra-quiet under the abuse she had received: himself vages in Gilead, ripping up the women with child,appeared as kind to Amnon as ever, but resolved Amos i. 13. Uzziah king of Judah rendered on revenge. After two years he obtained his opthem tributary. Under his son Jotham they reportunity. Having a feast at the shearing of his belied, but were again obliged to submit, and for sheep, Absalom invited his father and brethren. three years paid a tribute of an hundred talents,|| David excused himself; but allowed his sons to be and about 40,000 bolls of wheat and barley, 2||present. Chron. xxvi. xxvii. When Tiglath-pileser carried the most of the Reubenites and Gadites into the east of Assyria, they seized on the country; but probably, along with their neighbours of Moab, felt the fury of the Assyrians, Long after, Baalis AMON, (1.) A governor of Samaria, whom their last king entered into a league with Zedekiah Ahab ordered to imprison the prophet Micaiah, against the Chaldeans; but when Jerusalem was till he returned safe from the war at Ramothdestroyed, they exulted over the ruins of the Gilead, 1 Kings xxii. 26. (2.) The son of Maunhappy Jews. For this and former injuries to nasseli, by Merbullemeth the daughter of Hartz. that nation, the prophets threatened them with He was the 14th king of Judah: he began his judgments and ruin. About five years after the reign in the 22d year of his age, and reigned two destruction of Jerusalem, Nebuchadnezzar's years: he was a very monster of wickedness: nor troops ravaged their whole country, burnt Rab-did he, like his father Manasseh, repent, but still bah their capital, and carried the remnant into cap-waxed worse and worse. His own servants murtivity, leaving the land desolate. It seems Cyrusdered him in his house: and it seems were in allowed them to return and re-inhabit their land.their turn, murdered by the mob. Amnon was In Nehemiah's time, one Tobiah was their chief. buried in the garden of Uzza, and Josiah his son. During the contests between the Grecian kings of succeeded him. 2 Kings xxi. 18.-26. 2 Chron. Egypt and Syria, they were subject sometimes to xxxiii. 20.-25. (3.) Amon or Ami, a noted the one, sometimes to the other. Antiochus the chief of the returning captives, Ezra ii. 57. Neh. Great took Rabbah their capital, demolished its vii. 59. walls, and put a garrison in it. During the perse AMORITES, a tribe of the CANAANITES, cution of Antiochus-Epiphanes, the Ammonites sprung from Einer the 4th son of Canaan. Many cruelly infested the Jews in their neighbourhood of them being GIANTS, were like cedars in height, To revenge this, Judas Maccabeus attacked and oaks in strength, Amos ii. 9. They had two them, routed their forces, burnt their cities, and powerful kingdoms on the east of Jordan governcarried their wives and children captive. In theed by Sihon and Og. The former had seized on second century of the Christian æra, Justin Mar-la great part of the territories of Moab and Amtyr, I suppose by mistake, calls them a numer-mon: but Moses conquered their whole country, It is certain, that quickly after, and gave it to the Reubenites, Gadites, and half their poor remains were so blended with the tribe of Manasseh. There were other kingdoms Arabs, that their remembrance ceased from among of the Amorites, all along the south of Canaan, men, Amos i. H.-14. Jer. ix. 25, 26. xxv. 21, westward of Jordan: these routed the Israelites 27. xlix. 1.-5. Ezek. xxi. 28.-32. xxv. 1.-7.at Hormah; but about forty years after, were subZeph. ii. 9.-11. dued by Joshua, and their land given to the tribes AMNON, the eldest son of David by Ahinoam of Judah, Simeon, Dan, and Benjamin, Numb, xxi. his second wife. Conceiving a violent passion fo:xxxii. Deut. i. 44. Josh. xii. xv. xix. As the Tamir, his half-sister, he grew lean by means of Amorites were the most powerful tribe, the rest

ous nation.

of the Canaanites were sometimes called by their Miriam: he died in Egypt, aged 137 years. name, Judg. vi. 10. 2 Kings xxi. 11. The pa- Exod. vi. 20. rents of the Jewish nation are represented as Amo- AMRAPHEL. See CHEDORLACMER. rites and Hittites; they were as unworthy before ANAB, a city in the hill-country of Judah, God, and as wicked in themselves, as the two south of Jerusalem: hence Joshua cut off some worst of the Canaanitish tribes; nay, Judah's Amoritish giants, Josh. xi. 21. It is perhaps the wifes the mother of Shelah, and Tamar the mo-same as Noв.

ther of Pharez and Zerah, were both Canaanites, ANAH, the son of Zibeon the Horite, duke Gen. xxxviii. Ezek. xvi. 3. of mount Seir, and father to Aholibamah, the AMOS, the 4th of the small prophets. He was wife of Esau. While he attended the asses of his originally an herdsman of Tekoah, a city belong-father Zibeon, he, according to our English vering to Judah, and a debased gatherer of sycamore-sion, found out the way to generate mules, by fruit. God sent him to prophecy to the ten tribes, coupling of asses and horses: but the word VEMIM during their great prosperity under Jeroboam, is never used to signify MULES; nor does it apthe son of Joash, two years before the earthquake, pear to denote medicinal springs of warm water; and so in the latter part of Jeroboam's reign. He but rather the Emims, a gigantie race, that dwelt began with predictions of ruin to the Syrians, in the neighbourhood of mount Seir. These ra Philistines, Tyrians, Edomites, Ammonites, and vagers, it seems, Anah came up with, and defeatMoabites, chap. i. ii. He next inveighs against ed. In this sense, the Chaldean and Samaritan the idolatry, the oppression, carnal confidence,version understand the text, Gen. xxxvi. 24. Nor wantonness, selfishness, and obstinacy of Israel is it strange to take matzah or found in this sense. and Judah; and threatens them with distress, ra- See Judg. i. 5. 1 Sam. xxxi. 5. Psalino xxi. 3. vage, captivity, and desolation, on account there-isa. x. 10.

of; and particularly, that the family of Jeroboam, ANAK, the son of Arbah, and father or chief of however then prosperous, should be quickly cut the gigantic Anakims; his sons were Sheshai, off by the sword. By representing him as a trai-Ahinam, and Talmai: These Anakims or chiltor to the government, and troubler of the people,dren of Anak were considerably numerous, dwelland by threatening him if he staid at Bethel, Ama-ing in Hebron, Debir, Anab, and other places, ziah the idolatrous priest thought to intimidate Josh. xi. 21. Their fierce looks and extraordihim, and stop his mouth. He boldly averred to nary stature quite terrified the unbelieving spies the priest, that sudden ruin should seize the fami- which Moses sent to view the promised land, ly of Jeroboam, and the kingdom of the ten tribes, Numb. xiii. 33. About 45 years after, Caleb begand added a prediction of woe to AMAZIAH'S Ownged to have their residence to be his portion in family, Amos ii-vii. He proceeded to threaten Canaan, that he might have the honour of rootthem with unavoidable ruin and captivity, foring them out. Obtaining his desire, and assisted their oppression, their fraud, breach of the sab-by his brethren of Judah, he cut them off from bath, &c.; and shuts up his work with a prophecy Hebron; and Othniel, his nephew and son-in-law, of the Jews return from Babylon; of the ga-expelled them from Debir, Josh. xiv. 6.-15. xv. thering of the Gentiles to Christ; and of the con-13.--19. Judg. i. Bochart thinks the remains version of Israel and Judah, and their return to of the Beneanak, or children of Anak, retired their land, in the beginning of the glorious Millen-northward, to the territories of Tyre and Zidon, nium, chap. viii. ix. and gave thereto the name of Pheniciu.

Amos might live to see a great part of his pre- ANAMIM, or ANAM, the second son of Mizdictions fulfilled, in the civil wars, and begun capraim. His posterity peopled part of Africa, protivity of the ten tribes. It has been pretended,bably that westward from Egypt, where we find that the style of this prophet is of the low and a temple sacred to Jupiter-Ammon; and where vulgar kind; and that he was rude in speech: the Nasamones, or men of Amon, lived; and from but scarce can language be more lofty than his whom probably sprung the Amians and Garadescription of God: "Lo, he that formeth the mantes, or foreign and wandering Amons, Gen. *mountains, and createth the wind, and declarethx. 13.

"unto man what is his thought, that maketh the ANANIAS, and SAPPHIRA his wife, were "morning darkness, and treadeth on the high among the first professors of christianity at Jeru-. "places of the earth, the Lord, the God of hosts,salem. They sold their estate, and pretended to "is his name," chap. iv. 13. How pitiful the rap-give the whole price into the common stock of tures of Homer to these of the herdsman! the believers, but retained part of it for their own

AMPHIPOLIS, a city of Macedonia, on the use. Though he knew the Apostles were qualiconfines of Thrace. It was built by Cimon the|fied by the Holy Ghost with the gift of discerning famed Athenian, about 470 years before Christ, secrets, he affirmed to Peter that he had brought and peopled with 10,000 of his countrymen. It the whole price. Peter sharply rebuked him for was taken from the Athenians by Brasidas thehis dissimulation; in that, when he might lawLacedemonian. As it was a terrible thorn in the fully have kept the whole, he had pretended to side of the Macedonian kingdom, Philip the fa-devote ali to the service of Christ, and yet retainther of Alexander seized on it. It was surround-led part to himself. While he spake, Ananies ed by the river Strymon. Paul and Silas passed was struck dead by the immediate vengeance of through it in their way from Philippi to Thesalo-Heaven, and was carried to his grave. nica; but we never read of any noted Christian About three hours after, Sapphira came in, and church there, Acts xvii. 1. It is now called Em-being interrogated, whether their land was sold beli by the Turks, and is a place of very small for so much as her husband had said, she affirmed it was: Peter rebuked her, for agreeing with her

consequence.

AMRAM, the son of Kohath. He married husband to tempt the Lord, and put him to the Jochebed his cousin, or rather his aunt, the daugh-trial, if he could discern and punish their fraud ter of Levi; and had by her Aaron, Mose, and he told her that the persons who had just interred

her husband, should immediately carry her to her city of ANATHOтн, which stood about three miles grave. While he spake, she was struck dead in north from Jerusalem, and which was given to his presence. This happened 4. D. 38 or 34, a the priests by the tribe of Benjamin, 1 Chron. little after Christ's ascension, and made an awfulvii. 3. vi. 60. Here Solomon confined Abiathar, impression on both friends and foes of the Chris-the deposed high-priest, 1 Kings ii. 26. It was tian faith, Acts v. 1,-11. harrassed by Sennacherib, Isa. x. 30. Here the ANANIAS, a disciple of Jesus Christ, perhaps prophet Jeremiah was born; and for their persecuone of the seventy. He preached the gospel at|tion of him, were the inhabitants terribly punishDamascus; and being directed in a vision, to asked by the Chaldeans, Jer. i. 1. xxix. 27. xi. 23. at the house of Judas, for SAUL of Tarsus, who 128 of them returned from Babylon, Neh. vii. 27. was just come to the place; he begged to be ex-Ezra ii. 23. and rebuilt their city, Neh. xi. 32. cused, as he was informed that Saul was an out- ANCESTORS; those from whom one is de

rageous persecutor, and had come with orders scended; ancient fathers, Lev. xxvi. 45. from Jerusalem to imprison all the Christians he ANCHOR, an instrument for fastening, or stopcould find in that city. The Lord assured himping the course of a ship at sea. The most anthat he was in no danger; for whatever Saul had cient anchors were made of large stones: such been, he was divinely chosen to be a preacher of were the anchors of the Argonauts, who m de Christ to the Gentiles, and an eminent sufferer their voyage up the Hellespont, about the time for his sake. Encouraged herewith, Ananias re-of Asa. They were afterwards made of wood, paired to the house, found Saul blind; put his with great weights of lead, or basket-fulls of stones hands on him, and in Jesus's name bid him re-at the end of them: and such to this day are the ceive his sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost; whereupon there fell scales from his eyes, and he recovered his sight, was baptized, and received the Holy Ghost, Acts ix, 1,-18.

anchors of the Japanese. The anchor with two teeth or barbs, was devised by Eupalamius' or Anarchar is, the Scythian philosophier, not long after the Jews returned from Babylon. In large ANANIAS, the son of Nebedeus, about A. D. vessels they had three or four anchors; one of 48, succeeded Joseph, the son of Camith, in the which, never used but in cases of extreme necessiJewish high-priesthood. Quadratus, the Romanty, was called the sacred anchor, and is now called governor of Syria, having quelled some distur-the sheet anchor. The anchors were anciently cast bances raised by the Jews and Samaritans in Ju-from the stern or hinder part of the ship, Acts dea, sent Ananias to Rome, to give account of his xxvii. 20. The modern anchor is a large piece behaviour amidst these commotions. The high-of iron, in the form of a hook, that, on which side priest having cleared himself to the content of Claudius the emperor, was dismissed home to his country.

the dark nights of temptation and desertion; or Jesus, by his ascension, infallibly secures the safety and happiness of his people, Heb. vi. 19.

soever it fall, it may fix in the sand or earth; this is fastened to a large beam of wood, which, by a strong cable rope, is fastened to the prow or foreSome years after, Paul, being apprehended, and part of the ship. Hope is the anchor of our soul, brought before this high-priest, had begun, in the sure and stedfast, entering into that which is withmost discreet manner, to speak in his own defence, in the vail: by going out of ourselves, and fixing affirming, that he had lived in all good conscience on Jesus and unseen things; by fixing on the deep before God to that day: Ananias, in a furious and hidden promises and perfections of God, it efmanner, ordered some of the by-standers to smitefectually secures our soul from being tossed to and him on the mouth. Not knowing him to be the fro amid storms of trouble, and keeps it settled in high-priest, or not acknowledging him such, Paul replied, "God shall snite thee, thou whited "wall," thou bypocritical person:" for, sittest "thou to judge me according to the law, and yet ANCIENT; (1.) Old; of former time, 1 "commandest me to be smitten contrary to the Chron. iv. 22. (2.) Very old men, Job, xii, 12. "law" Ananias too, and others, encouraged a ANCIENTS are either men of former times, 1 Sam. number of assassins to murder Paul secretly; but xxiv. 13. or governors civil or ecclesiastic, Isa. this being prevented by the apostle's transporta-iii. 14. Jer. xix. 1. God is called the Ancient of tion to Cesarea, Ananias went thither to prose-days, because he existed from all eternity, Dan. cute him. Paul's appeal to Cæsar put off the af-vii. 9. The Lord's ancients, before whom he will fair to Rome. Acts xxiii. 1,-5. reign gloriously, are his ancient people of Judah When Albinus succeeded Festus in the govern-and Israel, whom, in the glorious Millennium, he ment of Judea, Ananias, by ingratiating himself will convert to the Christian faith, and rule over, into his favour, procured impunity for a number as a glorious church, Isa. xxiv. 23.

of his friends, who plundered the country. At the AND, is a connective particle; but it were to same time, vast numbers of outrageous assassinshe wished that our translators had sometimes givinfested Judea; whenever any of their party fellen us another word in its stead, which might have into the hands of the governor, they apprehended better expressed the sense of the original. It sigsome of the high-priest's friends, and once Elea-nifies, (1.) Because; for, 1 Cor. viii. 4. Col i. 14. zar his sou; that, to obtain the rescue of his 2.) But; nevertheless, John, vii. 30. Very often friends, he might procure from the governor the it ought to be so rendered, particularly when it enlargement of their associates. At last, Eleazar is a translation of the Greek particle Dɛ. (3,) putting himself at the head of a body of mutineers, Even; that is, John iii. 5. Thus, the great God who seized on the temple, and prohibited to offer|AND our Saviour, ought to run, the great God sacrifices for the emperor, the assassins joined EVEN our Saviour Jesus Christ, Tit. ii. 13: in like him: they pulled down Ananias' house, and find-manner ought the texts, 2 Pet. i. 1. 1 Tim. i. 1. ing himself and one of his sous hid in an aqueduct, Jude 4, &c. to be read and understood. (4.) they killed them both. Therefore, Mark iv. 26. And they were astonishANATHOTH, the son of Becher, and grand-ed, might run, therefore they were astonished. hild of Benj umin. Possibly he gave name to the ANDREW, the brother of Simon Peter, a na

tive of Bethsaida, and apostle of Jesus Christ.dies, or their method of communication among He was originally a fisherman. When John Bap- themselves. Their power too is very extensive; tist commenced preacher, Andrew became one of but reaches to nothing strictly called miraculous. his followers. Hearing him one day point forth Their number is very great, amounting to a vast Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God, which taketh many millions, Psalm Ixviii. 17. Matt. xxvi. 53. away the sin of the world, he, with another of Rev. v. 11. Dan. vii. 10: and their names, of Joan's disciples, followed Jesus, and continued archangels, thrones, dominions, principalities, and with him all that night. Next day, he met with powers, suggest an order among them, though of his brother Simon, and introduced him to Jesus. what kind we know not, Col. i. 16. The elect After passing a day with him, they returned to angels kept their first estate. These, besides their ordinary employment of fishing. Some their honorary attendance on God, are, to their months thereafter, Jesus found them so employed great satisfaction, subjected to Christ as Media on the sea of Galilee; he called them to be his tor, and by him reconciled to the saints, and sent followers, and promised to make them fishers, or forth to minister to, teach, reprove, comfort, di gainers of the souls of men. They directly left rect, and protect, them that shall be heirs of sal their nets, and followed him; nor do they ever vation; and to transport their souls to heaven at seem to have left him again, John i. 35,-44. death. How useful they are to the saints, in Mat. iv. 18,-20. About a year after, when Jesuggesting good thoughts, in restraining Satan, in sus asked his disciples how he should find bread averting danger, and in assisting and providing for the 5000 people who had attended him three for them, we can hardly conceive, Psalm xxxiv. days; Andrew replied, that a lad of the company 7. Heb. ii. 14. Mat. xviii. 10. Angels were stahad five barley-loaves and two small fishes, butitioned to prevent fallen man's approach to the what, said he, are these among so many? John vi.||tree of life, Gen. iii. 24. Two of them appeared 9. Just before our Saviour's passion, some Greeks to, and did eat and drink with ABRAHAM in his applied to Philip, to procure them a sight of him.tent, consuming the provision in a manner we Philip and Andrew together, informed Jesus; and know not: these two being courteously invited the Greeks were,doubtless, admitted, John xii. 22.||by Lor, lodged with him; smote the lewd SodoTwo or three days after, Andrew and some others mites, who threatened to abuse them, with blindasked Jesus concerning the time of the destruction ness; warned Lor of the approaching overthrow of the second temple, and the signs of his coming, of Sodom; excited and assisted him to escape Matth. xiii. 3, 4. After Christ's ascension, An-from it. Two companies of them attended Jacob drew preached some years at Jerusalem. It is in his return from Mesopotamia, to protect hin aid, he at last preached the gospel n Scythia, from the fury of Laban and Esau. Angels smote and was crucified at Patræ of Achaia. the first-born of Egypt, and assisted the Hebrews

ANER, ESCOL, and MAMRE, were three Ca-in their going out of that country, and in their maanitish princes, who assisted Abraham in his march through the wilderness. Thousands of them pursuit and defeat of CHEDORLAOMER and his attended JEHOVAH at the giving of the law from allies. Not imitating the generosity of that pa-Sinai; and perhaps formed the audible voice in triarch, they took their share of the booty which the air, by which it was expressed. Gen. xviii. had been taken from the Sodomites, and recover-xix. xxxii. Exod. xii. xxiii. 20. Numb. xx. 16. ed. Ge. xiv. 13,-24. Psalm 1xviii. 17. Acts vii. 53. Gal. iii. 19. Heb. ASER, a city of the half-tribe of Manasseh, onii. 2. When God offered the Hebrews an angel the west of Jordan: It either was the same with as their great guide, Moses refused him, sensible Taanach, or exchanged for it, 1 Chron. vi. 70. that nothing less than the patience of God was able Josh. xxi. 25. to endure such perverseness as was in Israel. An ANGEL, or messenger, is the common name angel of the Lord feasted ELIJAH in the wildergiven to those spiritual and intelligent beings, by ness of Judah; and afterwards angels carried him whom God partly executeth his providential soul and body to heaven. Troops of them prowork, and who are most ready and active in his tected ELISHA at Dothan. To punish David's service. The light of nature gives strong reason numbering of the people, an angel slew 70,000 of to suppose the existence of such beings; but scrip- them in one day. An angel in one night cut off ture alone renders it indubitable. In vain a great 185,000 of Sennacherib's army, and delivered Jemany of the fathers, the Socinians, and other rusalem from his fury. Angels frequently conmodern authors, pretend, that they were created versed with Daniel, Zechariah, and John the dilong before the foundation of the world: Moses, vine. Exod. xxiii. xxiv. 1 Kings xix. 2 Kings may, God assures us, that the hosts of heaven ii. 11. vi. 17. xix. 35. 2 Sam. xxiv. 16, 17. An were created during the first six days mentioned angel, at times, troubled the waters at the pool by him, Gen. ii. 1. Exod. xx. 11. When God of Bethesda, John v. 4.

founded the earth on the first or second day, they An angel foretold the birth of Jesus Christ, and sang together, and shouted for joy, Job xxxviii. of John Baptist. Multitudes attended our Sav6,7. They were created with eminent wisdom, iour's birth and published it to the shepherds of holiness and purity, and placed in a most happy Bethlehem. An angel warned Joseph and Mary and honourable estate; but capable of change. to flee into Egypt with the divine babe; and to Their knowledge is great, but not infinite: they return thence into Judea. Angels ministered to desire to look into the mystery of our salvation, Jesus in the wilderness, when the devils left him. and learn from the church the manifold wisdom An angel assisted him in his bloody agony. Two of God. Nor can they search the hearts of men, of them rolled the stone from the mouth of his nor know future things, but as particularly in sepulchre, and informed the women that he was structed of God, 1 Pet. i. 12. Eph. iii. 10. Jer. risen from the dead. Multitudes of them attended vii. 10. Mat. xxiv. 36: nor do we understand him in his ascension, some of whom informed the* their manner of knowing things corporeal and gazing disciples, that they should in like manner visible: nor the manner of their impressing bo-ll see him return from heaven. An angel liberated

and seduced the prophets of Baal to entice Ahab to go up and fall at Ramoth-Gilead. Vast numbers of them were permitted to take a formal possession of the bodies of men in our Saviour's time, that his power might be rendered conspicuous in casting them out. All along these spirits have, by means of heathen and other persecutors, and of subtle heretics, terribly harassed the Christian

the apostles at Jerusalem, brought Peter from the but it is always to promote some wicked and sirprison of Herod, and liberated Paul and Silas atful design. God ordered a number of these anPhilippi. An angel assured Paul of the safe land-gels to harass the Egyptians. One or more of them, ing of him, and of those that were with him in the permitted of God, by means of robbers, and by ship, Matth. i. 20, 21, ii. 13, 19. iv. 11. xxviii. lightning and storms, and otherwise, destroyed 25. Luke i. ii. xxii. 43. xxiv. 45. Acts i. 10, 11. the substance and family of Job, and smote his v. 19. xii. 7,--10. xvi. 26. xxvii. 3. body all over with boils. Permitted of God they Some would have every person to have an an-tempted King David to number the Hebrews; gel to attend him; every kingdom to have its particular guardian angel; if not every element of fire, water, &c. to have one to manage it: but none of these opinions are sufficiently warranted from scripture. One angel is sometimes represented as acting on multitudes; and multitudes of angels are represented as protecting one. What solemn conventions they have for giving account of their work, I dare not determine. It is, how-church. During the glorious Millennium their ever, certain, that their ministration to men no power shall be greatly restrained; at the end way interferes with their enjoyment of the beati- thereof, they shall again deceive the nations, and fic vision of God; that all of them are ineffably de soon after be publicly condemned, and shut up in lighted with the work of our redemption, and cele- everlasting perdition, 1 Pet. v. 3. Eph. if. 2. brate the same in their highest anthems of praise; Deut. xxxii. 17. 1 Cor. x. 20. 2 Kings xxi. 6. and that at the last day, all their unnumbered 2 Cor. xi. 14. Psal. lxxviii. 49. Job i. ii. 1 millions shall attend our Redeemer to judgment; Chron. xxi. 1. 1 Kings xxii. Acts x. 38. Rev. shall gather the elect from the four winds of hea- ii. 10. xii. xx. The holy angels, in their disputes ven to his right hand; and drive the damned into with devils, bring no railing accusation against their horrid regions of eternal misery. Acts xii. them, but act with mildness and meekness, as we 15. Dan. x. 20. Rev. xiv. 18 xvi. 5. Isa. ought to do with the worst, 2 Pet. ii. 11. Jude 9. xxxvii. 36. Psal. xxxiv. 7 Gen. xxxii. 1. Job. The angels, for whose sake women ought to be i. 6. ii. 1. Matth. xviii. 10. xxv. 31. xiii. 39, 49. covered in worshipping assemblies, are the good Vast numbers of angels, quickly after their crea-angels, in whose presence nothing immodest is tion, fell from their happy estate; but whether pride, envy of man's happiness, or some other crime was the cause, we are not clearly informed. These are ordinarily denominated devils, unclean Jesus Christ is called an ANGEL. He is sent by his spirits, Satan, &c. Upon their sin they were im- Father to publish and fulfil the work of our res mediately excluded the heavenly mansions, and demption, and to him hath he committed all judgirrevocably condemned to endless misery: they ment. He appeared to Hager, to Abraham, to Jacob, were not, however, confined to the prison of hell, to Moses, to Balaam, to Joshua, to the Hebrews but suffered to rove about in our world, for the at Bochim, to Gideon and Manoah, to Daniel, to trial and punishment of mankind. Such is theirZechariah the prophet, and to the apostle John, desperate malice, that, knowing every injury to in the character of an angel, Gen. xvi. xviii. Exod, mankind will certainly increase their eternal tor-iii. Numb. xxii. Josh. v. Judg. ii. 6. xiii. xxxii. ment; knowing that every temptation of saints Dan. x. Zech. i. vi. Whenever one in this characwill issue in the welfare of these, and in their own ter is represented speaking in the manner of God, aggravated unhappiness; yet they never cease or as sovereign of the church, we are to understand going about seeking whom they may devour, 2 him of our Redeemer. He is called the Angel of Pet. ii. 4. Jud. 6. 1 Tim. iii. 8. John viii. 44. the covenant: he publishes the plan, he fulfils 1 Pet. v. 8. the condition, he executes the promise of the covenant of grace, Mal. iii. 1. He is the Angel of God's presence or face: he is the Son of his love, the desire of his eyes, and the glass in which his glory is displayed; he came from his bosom, is always near him, sits at his right hand, and appears before his throne, interceding for us, Isa. Ixiii. 9.

These apostate spirits appear to have one chief, in whom, perhaps, their apostacy began, or who, perhaps, had been an archangel in his happy estate. The rest are represented as angels or servants to him; and he is called the Devil, Satan, Beelzebub, Prince of the power of the air, Prince and God of this world. It was probably he who, in the form of a serpent, seduced our first parents, and received an additional curse on that account, to be effected chiefly through our redemption by Christ. It was probably he who assaulted our Saviour in the desart, and elsewhere, and tempted him to the vilest crimes, Matth. xxv. 41. Gen. iii. Matth. iv. Luke iv. John xiv. 30.

These evil angels perpetually deceive or harass the children of men; and have, under different idols, been worshipped by the most of them. They often enter into familiar correspondence with numbers of diviners, wizards, &c. deceiving them, and enabling them to impose on or injure their fellows. These evil angels often assume the appearance of holiness, and warmly excite en to the semblances of uncommon religion;

proper; and the evil angels, to whom none ought to give an handle of temptation to levity, especially amidst the worship of God, 1 Cor. xi. 10.

Ministers are denominated ANGELS. They have a commission from God to publish his messages, and execute his work, in bringing men to his Son: and, as the angels in heaven, so ought they to excel in knowledge, humility, holiness, harmony, zeal, and readiness to serve Jesus Christ and his people; and in prying into the mysteries of our redemption, in praising God, and rejoicing over the conversion of sinners, Rev. i. 20. xiv. 6, 7, 8. A plurality of ministers are represented as one ANGEL, to denote their union and harmony, and their having one to preside in their judicative assemblies, Rev. ii. 1, 8, 12, 13. iii. 1, 7, 14. They are perhaps the angels that come from the temple and altar, and who have power over fire. They serve in God's church and worship; they de