(_a_) It gives us a new sense of the greatness of the divine resources, and of God’s grace in our creation, to think of the multitude of unfallen intelligences who executed the divine purposes before man appeared. (_b_) It strengthens our faith in God’s providential care, to know that spirits of so high rank are deputed to minister to creatures who are environed with temptations and are conscious of sin. (_c_) It teaches us humility, that beings of so much greater knowledge and power than ours should gladly perform these unnoticed services, in behalf of those whose only claim upon them is that they are children of the same common Father. (_d_) It helps us in the struggle against sin, to learn that these messengers of God are near, to mark our wrong doing if we fall, and to sustain us if we resist temptation. (_e_) It enlarges our conceptions of the dignity of our own being, and of the boundless possibilities of our future existence, to remember these forms of typical innocence and love, that praise and serve God unceasingly in heaven. Instance the appearance of angels in Jacob’s life at Bethel (_Gen. 28:12_—Jacob’s conversion?) and at Mahanaim (_Gen. 32:1, 2_—two camps, of angels, on the right hand and on the left; _cf._ _Ps. 34:7_—“_The angel of Jehovah encampeth round about them that fear him, And delivereth them_”); so too the Angel at Penuel that struggled with Jacob at his entering the promised land (_Gen. 32:24_; _cf._ _Hos. 12:3, 4_—“_in his manhood he had power with God: yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed_”), and “_the angel who hath redeemed me from all evil_” (_Gen. 48:16_) to whom Jacob refers on his dying bed. Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene: “And is there care in heaven? and is there love In heavenly spirits to these creatures base That may compassion of their evils move? There is; else much more wretched were the case Of men than beasts. But O, th’ exceeding grace Of highest God that loves his creatures so, And all his works with mercy doth embrace, That blessed angels he sends to and fro To serve to wicked man, to serve his wicked foe! How oft do they their silver bowers leave And come to succor us who succor want! How oft do they with golden pinions cleave The flitting skies like flying pursuivant, Against foul fiends to aid us militant! They for us fight; they watch and duly ward, And their bright squadrons round about us plant; And all for love, and nothing for reward. Oh, why should heavenly God for men have such regard!”