commandments; that through thy most mighty protection, both here and ever, we may be preserved in body and soul; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen."

PREPARE the feast, the viands bring,
Heap high the festal board!
The subject welcomes Israel's King ;
The follower greets his Lord.

But who is he, the host whose care
Provides the costly feast?

And who are they assembled there
Around the heavenly guest?

"Tis MATTHEW; 'tis the publican:
The favour'd host is he,
Who sat, a much despised man,

Beside Tiberias' sea:

And they, the guests assembled round,

They boast no better name;

One in disgraceful union found,

Allied to sin and shame.

O holy Jesus, and are these

Associates meet for thee?

Is this the host thy soul to please,
And this the company?

ST. MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS.

Michael and his Angels. REV. xii. 7.

SCRIPTURAL NOTICE OF THE HOLY
ANGELS.

BESIDES the holy men, whom the Church commemorates in her annual series of services, she has also seen good to appropriate a festival to the celebration of those beings, of a nature superior to that of man, whom it pleases Almighty God to employ in his service, and for the benefit of us his inferior creatures. The festival is intitled "Saint Michael and all Angels," because St. Michael is supposed to be "recorded in Scripture, as an angel of great power and dignity, and as presiding and watching over the Church of God, with a particular vigilance and application, and as triumphing over the devil."

It should however be noticed, that, in the judgment of some learned men, Michael is not the name of one of those angelical beings, who are to come at this time under our contemplation; but rather a name, descriptive of our blessed Lord and Saviour, as leader of the hosts of heaven, and as the champion of his faithful people. According to the like judgment, in various places of the Old Testament where mention is made of "the Angel of the Lord," "the Angel of God," "the Angel of God's presence," the expression is intended, not for one of the holy angels, but for the Son of God himself, appearing as the guide and protector of his people, and anticipating his future manifestation in the form of man for the salvation of his Church.

But to whatever conclusion we may come on this question concerning Michael, it will have little effect on the provision of the Church for this day's solemnity; which she appears to have appointed, less for the purpose of commemorating the individual, than the company of "holy angels" in general, whom she notices under that general description in her Collect for the day. In pursuance then of this supposed purpose of the Church, and in accordance with the plan already observed in these notices, we will first take an historical view of

the "holy angels," so far as Scripture shall enable us; and will then make such reflexions, as may appear calculated to promote our improvement.

In proof of the existence of such a distinct order of beings as the "holy angels," very few words can be requisite. The passages in Scripture, which speak of them, are too numerous and too explicit, to leave a doubt upon the mind of any one, who takes that sacred volume for the rule of his belief. Indeed "it was so general a notion amongst the Jews, and had so clear a foundation in the sacred writings, that it is remarked as a singular opinion of a certain sect, that they held the existence of 'neither angel nor spirit.' The Sadducees, who also denied a resurrection, were the only infidels, as to this point, amongst all those who professed any regard for the books of Moses"."

Of the origin of these heavenly beings we know little more than the fact, that they were all made by God. The time indeed and the manner of their creation are not plainly expressed in Scripture; although Scripture evidently comprehends them amongst the creatures of God. Thus St. Paul distinctly in

Bp. Conybeare's Sermons.