Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/280

 devotion, for  their  benevolence;  and  confidence  in  their vigilant custody."  "If  I  should  give  myself  to  be thy  servant,"  said  young  Tobias  to  Raphael  his guardian,  "  I  should  not  make  a  worth}'  return  for thy care."  (Tob.  ix.  2.)  Reverence,  therefore,  your angel  guardian  with  affection;  and  do  not  presume  to do  in  his  presence,  that,  which  you  would  be  ashamed of  doing  before  men.  "  Take  notice  of  him,  and  hear his voice,"  says  the  Lord,  "and  I  will  be  an  enemy  to thy  enemies,  and  I  will  afflict  them  that  will  afflict  thee" (Exod.  xxiii.  21),  "  and  my  angel  shall  go  before  thee." (Exod.  23.)

I. Our  heavenly  Father  has  not  only  provided  us  with angel-guardians, but  also  with  patrons,  advocates,  and models, in  the  Saints,  who  reign  with  God  in  heaven. He is  our  judge,  and  we  have  in  the  saints  interposers to plead  in  our  behalf,  and  to  move  Him  to  mercy. "Go to  my  servant  Job,"  He  says,  "and  offer  for  yourself a  holocaust,  and  my  servant  Job  shall  pray  for  you; his  face  I  will  accept,  that  folly  may  not  be  imputed  to you." (Job. xlii.  8.)

II. With what  care  and  affection  the  Saints  in  heaven perform their  office,  and  what  benefits  result  to  us  from their intercession! It is  said  of  holy  Jeremias,  in  the second book  of  Machabees,  "  This  is  a  lover  of  his  brethren and  of  the  people  of  Israel,  this  is  he  that  prayeth much  for  the  people,  and  for  all  the  holy  city. "  (2.  Mach. xv.  14.)  What  confidence  may  we  not  place  in  the  protection of  advocates  so  powerful! If it  be  an  object  of high  importance  to  possess  a  powerful  friend  in  the