Elijah , as he was about to perish from weariness and hunger in the desert ; to Elisha , with chariots and horses of fire surrounding the little town where he was shut in by his foes ; to Daniel , while seeking divine wisdom in the court of a heathen king , or abandoned to become the lions ' prey ; to Peter , doomed to death in Herod ' s dungeon ; to the prisoners at Philippi ; to Paul and his companions in the night of tempest on the sea ; to open the mind of Cornelius to receive the gospel ; to dispatch Peter with the message of salvation to the Gentile stranger-- thus holy angels have , in all ages , ministered to God ' s people .
A guardian angel is appointed to every follower of Christ . These heavenly watchers shield the righteous from the power of the wicked one . This Satan himself recognized when he said : " Doth Job fear God for nought ? Hast not Thou made an hedge about him , and about his house , and about all that he hath on every side ?" Job 1:9 , 10 . The agency by which God protects His people is presented in the words of the psalmist : " The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him , and delivereth them ." Psalm 34:7 . Said the Saviour , speaking of those that believe in Him : " Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones ; for I say unto you , That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of My Father ." Matthew 18:10 . The angels appointed to minister to the children of God have at all times access to His presence .
Thus God ' s people , exposed to the deceptive power and unsleeping malice of the prince of darkness , and in conflict with all the forces of evil , are assured of the unceasing guardianship of heavenly angels . Nor is such assurance given without need . If God has granted to His children promise of grace and protection , it is because there are mighty agencies of evil to be met--agencies numerous , determined , and untiring , of whose malignity and power none can safely be ignorant or unheeding .
Evil spirits , in the beginning created sinless , were equal in nature , power , and glory with the holy beings that are now God ' s messengers . But fallen through sin , they are leagued together for the dishonor of God and the destruction of men . United with Satan in his rebellion , and with him cast out from heaven , they have , through all succeeding ages , co-operated with him in his warfare against the divine authority . We are told in Scripture of their confederacy and government , of their various orders , of their intelligence and subtlety , and of their malicious designs against the peace and happiness of men .
Old Testament history presents occasional mention of their existence and agency ; but it was during the time when Christ was upon the earth that evil spirits manifested their power in the most striking manner . Christ had come to enter upon the plan devised for man ' s
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