Many poets and artists of modern times appear to have lost sight of the
traditions of sacred art, and in their endeavours to spiritualise the
character of angelic beings have in this respect been led to portray them
as altogether feminine in form and appearance. This error should be
carefully avoided, because in a spiritual as well as in a human sense the
vigorous active principle they represent, besides having the warrant of
Scripture, is more fitly represented by man than by woman.
Mahomet, who borrowed his ideas mostly from the Christians, in this
instance, possibly to guard his followers from some latent form of
idolatry, said of angels with some show of reason, that "they were too
pure in nature to admit of sex," but to meet the ideas of his followers he
invented another race of celestial beings for the delight and solace of
the faithful in the paradise to which he lured them.
_Ministering Spirits or Guardian Angels._--These form a frequent theme of
poets and artists. The idea was apparently evolved from the mention of
"ministering spirits" before the throne of God in holy writ, and from the
ecclesiastical legends and traditions of the Christian mythology of early
date, derived from still earlier sources. Thus Milton speaks of--
"one of the Seven
Who in God's presence, nearest to the throne
Stand ready at command, and are his eyes
That run thro' all the heavens, and down to earth
Bear his swift errands."
_Paradise Lost_, iii.
According to ancient Jewish belief, each person had his or her guardian
angel, and a spirit could assume the aspect of some visible being:
"But she constantly affirmed that it was even so.
Then said they, 'It is _his angel_.'"
_Acts_ xii. 15.
"Brutus as you know was Cæsar's _Angel_:
Judge, O ye God, how dearly Cæsar loved him."
SHAKESPEARE, _Julius Cæsar_, Act iii. sc. 2.
Spenser finely expresses the idea of the good and evil influences
continually warring unseen about us, and his gratitude for the effective
protection of the guardian spirits:
"How oft do they their silver bowers leave,
To come to succour us that succour want!
How oft do they with golden pinions cleave
The flitting skies, like flying pursuivant,
Against fowle fiends to ayde us militant!
They for us fight, they watch, and dewly ward,
And their bright squadrons round about us plant;
And all for love, and nothing for reward:
O why should heavenly God to men have such regard?"
Milton beautifully assumes the pure nature of saintly chastity attended by
ministering spirits:
"A thousand liveried angels lackey her,
Driving far off each thing of sin and guilt,
And in clear dream and solemn vision,
Tell her of things that no gross ear can hear;
Till oft converse with heavenly habitants
Begins to cast a beam on the outward shape."
"Comus."
And Scott, in figurative language, apostrophising woman in her higher and
more spiritual sphere, says in "Marmion":
"When pain and anguish wring the brow,
A ministering angel thou!"
Shakespeare expresses a prevailing idea that the pure in heart will become
ministering angels in heaven; Laertes, at the grave of Ophelia, fiercely
thunders forth:
"I tell thee, churlish priest,
A ministering angel shall my sister be
When thou liest howling."