3 Their office: Angel is not a name of nature, but of office. Greg. Ex eo q••d est, Spiritus: ex eo quod agit, Angelus, Aug. They stand round about the Lord as a••endants, and execute his imposed hests like ready servants. A quo dominatio, ab eo denominatio: this name is given them for some supereminent quality.b He rode upon a Cherub, and did fly. They are said to have wings for their speed of obedience. Therefore Gregory says, that their titles are according to their messages. They that are sent on business of less moment, are called Angels: they that of greater importance, Archangels. The Angel sent to contract that sacred match between the King of heaven, and the Virgin Mary, was called Gabriel. Luk. 1. Gabriel signifies the power of God: a fit Ambassador for such a message; because the conception of Christ, and by it the redemption of the world; is called the Strength of Gods […], Luk. 1.51. Gabriel was sent. 1. I do not think with Hierome, because Virgins are as Angels: as Isidor. Caelibatus, quasi coeli beatus. Indeed CHRIST says, that i• heavenc they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as Angels of God. But so all the faithful are Virgins to CHRIST, and shall be made as Angels by CHRIST. 2. Nor yet so much to show that he was a high Angel, because of his high and glorious message. 3 But indeed, as Aquinas in this truly, That our •• mane nature might be repaired, after the same manner it was ruinated. As a serpe•• was sent to Eve by the Devil, to work our woe: so an Angel was sent to Mary by God, to bring news of our blisse. Ad Evam Angelus malus accessit, ut per cam […] separaretura Deo: Ad Mariam Angelus bonus venit, ut in ea Deus untretur […], Fulgent. By Eve man was separated from God, in Mary God was united to m•• an evil Angel was the worker of the separation: a good Angel was the messenger of the conjunction. So great is their office, that CHRIST himself accepted the name, Mal. 3.1. Angelus faderi•, the Angel of the Covenant, Popish writers d••y that CHRIST was ever called an Angel in the old Testament. For that, Gen. 48. ⟨p. 491⟩16. they would thence prove prayer to Angels. The Angel that redeemed me from •vill, bless the lads: but no Angel redeemed us, but JESUS CHRIST. They •y, if at any time the Son of God appeared, it was most likely to be in mount ••nai, at the giving of the Law;
3 Their office: Angel is not a name of nature, but of office. Greg. Ex eo q••d est, Spiritus: ex eo quod agit, Angelus, Aug. They stand round about the Lord as a••endants, and execute his imposed hests like ready servants. A quo dominatio, ab eo denominatio: this name is given them for some supereminent qualitie.b Hee rode upon a Cherub, and did flie. They are said to have wings for their speed of obedience. Therefore Gregory sayes, that their titles are according to their messages. They that are sent on businesse of lesse moment, are called Angels: they that of greater importance, Archangels. The Angel sent to contract that sacred match betweene the King of heaven, and the Virgin Mary, was called Gabriel. Luk. 1. Gabriel signifies the power of God: a fit Ambassador for such a message; because the conception of Christ, and by it the redemption of the world; is called the Strength of Gods 〈…〉, Luk. 1.51. Gabriel was sent. 1. I doe not thinke with Hierome, because Virgins are as Angels: as Isidor. Caelibatus, quasi coeli beatus. Indeed CHRIST sayes, that i• heavenc they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as Angels of God. But so all the faithfull are Virgins to CHRIST, and shall bee made as Angels by CHRIST. 2. Nor yet so much to shew that he was a high Angel, because of his high and glorious message. 3 But indeed, as Aquinas in this truely, That our •• mane nature might be repaired, after the same manner it was ruinated. As a serpe•• was sent to Eve by the Devill, to worke our woe: so an Angel was sent to Mary by God, to bring newes of our blisse. Ad Evam Angelus malus accessit, ut per cam 〈…〉 separaretura Deo: Ad Mariam Angelus bonus venit, ut in ea Deus untretur 〈…〉, Fulgent. By Eve man was separated from God, in Mary God was united to m•• an evill Angel was the worker of the separation: a good Angell was the messenger of the conjunction. So great is their office, that CHRIST himselfe accepted the name, Mal. 3.1. Angelus faderi•, the Angel of the Covenant, Popish writers dy that CHRIST was ever called an Angel in the old Testament. For that,
- bPsal. 18.10.
- cMat. 22.30.