Chap.XVriI. ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. 257 



What I have hitherto faid confiders the goodnefs of God, as it rc- 

 fpeds the whole fpecies. But his goodnefs is particularly exerted with 

 refpe£l to nations: For we are told in our fcripture (Deut. Chap. 32. 

 V. 8.) that when the Mod High divided to the nations their inheri- 

 tance, he fet bounds to the nations according to the number of his 

 angels : — So it is tranflated in thtfeptuagifit, as I have elfew^here ob- 

 ferved* ; and 1 can have no doubt but it is rightly tranflated, and that 

 it is a moft grofs error of our tranflators when they make it to be, 

 that he fet the bounds of the people according to the number of 

 the children of Ifrael ; which is both a grofs error in the tranfla- 

 tion, and gives no meaning to the paffage. For as God was to 

 exert his providence and goodnefs with refpe£l to particular na- 

 tions, it was mofl: natural that he fhould give each of them a tu- 

 telary angel: And, accordingly, we read in Daniel of the go- 

 vernors and princes of different nations who appeared to Daniel in 

 a vifion, and whom I underftand to be the angels of thefe nations. 

 Among thofe is reckoned Michael, who gets the fame name of 

 oL^yu)) which is given to the angels of the other kingdoms, but who 

 certainly was not a prince, but a guardian angel, of the people of If- 

 rael : and the New Teftament fpeaks of genii or fpirits prefiding 

 over churches; and tliey are called there the angels of churches f. 



And not only with refped to particular nations does the goodnefs of 

 God exert itfelf, but alfo with relpedt to individuals of the feveral 

 nations : For we are told in the i8th Chapter of St Matthew, v. jo. 

 that the children have tutelary angels ; and in the 1 2th Chapter 

 and 15th verfe of the Ads of the Apoftles we read of the angel of 

 Peter the Apoftle. And I think it is perfedly fui table to the good- 

 nefs and providence of God, that he {hould commit to the care of 



Vol. VI. K k his 



♦ Vol. IV. p. 163. 



t See Revelations, Chap. I. v. lad. 



