p. 123 | An Angel Caught Me

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 2, 1858

An Angel Caught Me.

SOME years ago I had occasion to preach in the beautiful city of B—. I had selected as a theme the mysteries by which the dispensations of divine providence are often shrouded in this world, and the clear light, which shall, in another state, dispel our doubts and darkness—choosing, as the basis of my remarks, the words of inspiration, spoken by the apostle Paul: “Now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then shall I know even as I also am known.” I had not proceeded far before I found my heart deeply interested in the subject; while a fellow feeling was soon visible through the entire congregation, and very shortly both preacher and people seemed lost to earthly things, and absorbed in the grandeur of the theme.

In the course of my remarks I referred, for illustration, to the celebrated dream of Dr. Doddridge, in which he thought he was carried up to heaven. There, by the direction of his angel-guide, he was waiting for the master of the place, in a magnificent chamber of a palace, the walls of which were lined with the most glowing imagery, which, upon a close inspection, he found to be a panoramic history of his own life. As he proceeded to examine it, his mind was lost in wonder, love and praise; for the mysteries which, in untold instances, had shrouded his pathway, and rendered all about him dark and doubtful, were now solved, and he no longer looked through a glass darkly—no longer knew in part; but the whole of the divine plan was now fully revealed—wonderful plan, thought he—how marked with wisdom! how baptized with love! He now felt the force of Cowper’s lines: “Behind a frowning providence, He hides a smiling face.”

Proceeding in his investigations of this wonderful picture, upon which the full-orbed light of heaven was shining, he beheld himself upon a journey—which journey he instantly remembered as having taken place in time. The horse he rode had stumbled in a dangerous pass, and fell; he was thrown from the saddle with great violence, but sustained no injury. This had always been a matter of surprise to him, and he never knew by what means he had escaped an instant and awful death. Now, on this bright panorama, in the mansions of the blest, it was all explained, fully painted out—AN ANGEL CAUGHT ME IN HIS ARMS, broke the force of the fall, and he was saved. He now saw it all—saw it face to face. My own heart was deeply affected while passing through the narrative, and so were many others; while a deep stillness prevailed, allied, “To all that silent heaven of love,” for which we so much sigh.

The sermon ended, the hymn was sung, the prayer was offered, the benediction pronounced, and, as the congregation was slowly retiring, I descended from the pulpit, while there came rushing down the aisle to meet me, a tall, portly man, with a dignified and manly bearing. He had been for many years the captain of a vessel, doing business on the mighty deep. He was now a retired gentleman, and at the same time, a consistent follower of the meek and lowly Jesus, living upon his hard-earned, but honest fortune.

He stood before me with both hands extended, ready to grasp my own, while the big tears chased each other in gushing torrents down his manly cheeks. “O,” said he, “God be praised, my brother; I see it all now—an angel caught me in his arms; yes, it must have been so; nothing else could have saved me. ‘Look here,’ said he, and another flood of tears gushed from his eyes, ‘look here,’” and he pointed to his noble brow, now partly bald. On looking up, I saw where, years ago, had been cut a deep, heavy gash of several inches long, the scar of which was yet distinctly visible. Said he, “I was out upon the rough, high seas, the storm was fearful; but a sailor must know no fear—duty required that I should mount to the top of the highest mast. I did so, lost my footing and fell—fell to the vessel’s deck. Unheard of mercy, I was taken up alive; while this scar is the proof of that fall, and the evidence of my deliverance. I have wondered a thousand times that I was not destroyed. I have long been looking for the cause of my deliverance; but I have been looking through a glass darkly. Now I see, yes now I see—‘an angel caught me in his arms.’ It was this that saved me; nothing less could have done it. An angel caught me! an angel caught me! Yes, I see, I see.” And all these utterances were baptized, nay, deluged with his warm, heart-gushing tears of gratitude and love.

An angel caught me! Blessed thought! Dear reader, how often in thy life-pilgrimage has an angel caught thee in his arms, and saved thee, and thou knewest it not? Look at the numerous dangers which throng our pathway through life’s toilsome journey, and ask, How are we saved? And the answer will come up, “An angel (God’s ministering spirit) caught me.”

Mother, dost thou remember the fearful fall of thy infant, when death was looked for as the sad result, but, instead of death, that infant smiled and lived? Ah, yes; that accident is well and painfully remembered; but why did the little one live? An angel caught it, and softly gave it back to life and thee.

Youth, dost thou remember, when in thy thoughtless mirth, far from a parent’s eye, led on by rude companions, the danger to which thy waywardness exposed thee? Yes, and the memory of thy peril causes quick throbs to shoot through all thy frame. What was it saved thee? Was it strength, or skill, or nimbleness of limbs, or self-possession? An angel caught thee, and gently led thee back to friends and home.

Reader, you may tremble, perhaps, in view of life’s numerous dangers; but there is a God whose angels have charge of those who trust in him; and although this may seem, in the hours of your distrust, a dim and uncertain truth, yet the time will come when you, face to face, shall see it, and know this fact with as much clearness as ye are known of God.—Cor. Sunday School Advocate.