existence of angel guardians implies the existence of the devil as day implies night and defence denotes offence. As an answer, therefore, I remind you to-day of that consoling doctrine; viz., that God hath given His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your feet against a stone."
Brethren, in tempting Christ with scriptural words to cast Himself from the pinnacle of the Temple, the devil trebly sinned. First, he misapplied the text. The ninetieth Psalm from which he quoted does not apply to Christ, but to the virtuous man amid the pitfalls of this world. Christ's soul enjoying perpetually the beatific vision and His body being the temple of the Most High, He had no need of angel guardians. He it is who guards them all, and though they came and ministered to Him, they came when Satan left; they came not to protect but to serve, for sin to Christ was an impossibility. To Peter in Gethsemane He said : " Knowest thou not that I can ask My Father and He will give Me presently more. than twelve legions of angels?" Were there no such things as devils or were man proof against their wiles, the need of angel guardians would cease. Again, the devil misinterpreted. The stones of which the Psalmist speaks are spiritual stumbling-blocks, over which the angels help whoever has a mind to help himself. To literally, therefore, cast one's self from a lofty tower, or plunge down the precipice of sin, relying on God for safety, would be both tempting God and presuming on His
