But then it would have afforded Christians little encouragement to follow their example, when they found Abraham declaring himself unable to aid them in attaining the object of their prayer, or in any way to assist them at all.  Without one single exception, we find our blessed Lord’s example, precepts, and doctrines to be decidedly against the practice of invoking saint or angel; whilst not one solitary act or word of His can be cited to countenance or palliate it.

Next it follows, that we inquire into the conduct and the writings of Christ’s Apostles and immediate followers, to whom He graciously promised that the Holy Spirit should guide them into all truth.  In the Acts of the Apostles, various instances of prayer attract our notice, but not one ejaculation is found there to any other being save God alone.  Neither angel nor saint is invoked.  The Apostles prayed for guidance in the government of Christ’s infant Church, but it was, “Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men.” [Acts i. 24.] They prayed for their own acceptance, but it was “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” [Acts vii. 59.] They prayed for each other, as in behalf of St. Peter when in prison; but we are expressly told, that the prayer which was made without ceasing by the Church for him was addressed to god. [Acts xii. 5.]

To deliver St. Peter from his chains, an angel was sent on an especial mission from heaven; but though St. Peter saw him, and heard his voice, and followed him, and knew of a surety that the Almighty had employed the ministration of an angel to liberate him from his bonds, yet we do not hear thereafter of {50} Peter having himself prayed to an angel to secure his good offices, and his intercession with God, nor has he once indirectly intimated to others that such supplications would be of avail, or were even allowable.  He exhorts his fellow-Christians to pray, “Watch unto prayer,” but it is because “The eyes of the lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers.” [1 Pet. iv. 7; iii. 12.] He Himself prays for them, but it is, that the God of all grace might make them perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle them.  He suggests no invocation of saint or angel to intercede with God for them.  He bids them cast all their care upon god, on the assurance that God Himself careth for them.

Precisely the same result issues from a contemplation of the acts and exhortation of St. Paul.  He too experienced in his own person the comfort of an angel’s ministration, bidding him cast off all fear when in the extreme of imminent peril. [Acts xxvii. 23, 24.] Many a prayer of that holy Apostle is upon record; many an earnest exhortation to prayer was made by him; we find many a declaration relative to his own habits of prayer.  But with him God and God alone is the object of prayer throughout:  by him no saint or angel or archangel is alluded to, as one whose intercession might be sought by himself or by