While a little bit of the overall context might not be grasped due to this quote coming toward the end of John Calvin’s instruction regarding angels in the Institutes, nevertheless his pastoral approach is readily understood. Under the heading, “God makes use of the angels, not for his own sake, but for ours,” Calvin writes,
[God] makes use of angels to comfort our weakness, that we may lack nothing at all that can raise up our minds to good hope, or confirm them in security. One thing, indeed, ought to be quite enough for us: that the Lord declares himself to be our protector. But when we see ourselves beset by so many perils, so many harmful things, so many kinds of enemies – such is our softness and frailty – we would sometimes be filled with trepidation or yield to despair if the Lord did not make us realize the presence of his grace according to our capacity. For this reason, he not only promises to take care of us, but tells us he has innumerable guardians whom he has bidden to look after our safety; that so long as we are hedged about by their defense and keeping, whatever perils may threaten, we have been placed beyond all chance of evil” (I.14.11).