tavern, I went into Lincoln's Inn walks; and having taken a round or
two, I sat down, according to the allowed familiarity of these
places, on a bench; at the other end of which sat a venerable
gentleman, who, speaking with a very affable air, "Mr.
Bickerstaff," said he, "I take it for a very great piece of good
fortune that you have found me out." "Sir," said I, "I had never,
that I know of, the honour of seeing you before." "That," replied
he, "is what I have often lamented; but, I assure you, I have for
many years done you good offices, without being observed by you; or
else, when you had any little glimpse of my being concerned in an
affair, you have fled from me, and shunned me like an enemy; but,
however, the part I am to act in the world is such that I am to go
on in doing good, though I meet with never so many repulses, even
from those I oblige." This, thought I, shows a great good nature,
but little judgment, in the persons upon whom he confers his
favours. He immediately took notice to me that he observed, by my
countenance, I thought him indiscreet in his beneficence, and
proceeded to tell me his quality in the following manner: "I know
thee, Isaac, to be so well versed in the occult sciences that I need
not much preface, or make long preparations, to gain your faith that
there are airy beings who are employed in the care and attendance of
men, as nurses are to infants, till they come to an age in which
they can act of themselves. These beings are usually called amongst
men guardian angels; and, Mr. Bickerstaff, I am to acquaint you that
I am to be yours for some time to come; it being our orders to vary
our stations, and sometimes to have one patient under our
protection, and sometimes another, with a power of assuming what
shape we please, to ensnare our wards into their own good. I have
of late been upon such hard duty, and know you have so much work for
me, that I think fit to appear to you face to face, to desire you