MICHA.EL, THE ARCHANGEL, meaning in Hebrew, " Who is like God," in Scripture a prince among the angels, whom the Divine Being, that appeared to • Daniel in human form, described as a guardian of the Jewish people co-operating with him in their behalf, thwarting the efforts of their human adveisaries and resisting also the schemes of Satan against them. This is in accordance with other Scripture teachings concerning the angel Jehovah as directing the history of Israel and concerning the angels as subject to him in the work of redeeming tnen. In the epistle of Jude Michael is called the archanael, and it is said concerning him that " when, contending with the devil, he disputed Rant the body of Moses, he durst not bring against Satan a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee." Some interpret this passage as affirming a dispute about the literal body of Moses which the Lord buried in a sepulcher unknown to men. Others regard the " body of Moses" as a symbolical phrase for the 'Mosaic law and institutions, in accordance with the common usage ttmong Christians in speaking cf the church as the "body of Christ." In the book of Revelation, xii. 7-9, in language which is symbolical whatever its precise siguifieance rnay be, it is declared ?hat "there NVIS war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and bis angels, who prevailed not, neither WaS their place fouud any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out,
that old serpent, called the devil and Satan, who deceiveth the whole world: WaS out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him," The nature and method of this WM' against Salmi are pot explained; the fact itself is revealed with that mysterious vagueness which hanms over all angelic ministration, but also with positiveness. In addition to what the SCriptures reveal concerning the archangel there are various legends connected with his canonization as a saint in the church of Rome, where his festival. called Michaelmas, is celebrated on Sept. 29. In legendary art he is represented as young and beautiful, winged, in armor, bearing the shield and lance, with his foot on the evil one, ready to pierce and bind him. An old English gold coin bearing his image was therefore called an "ang-el." Of such Shakespeare speaks, when he says of a rich man, " he bath a legion of angels" in his purse.