The Institution of Christian Religion

If one should read that book, he would think that the man were slipped down from heaven, & did tell of things not that he had learned by hearsay, but that he had seen with his eyes.¹ But Paul which was ravished above the third heaven, hath uttered no such thing, but also protesteth, that it is not lawful for man to speak the secretes that he had seen. Therefore bidding farewell to that trifling wisdom, let us consider by the simple doctrine of the Scripture, what the Lord would have us know concerning his angels.

If one should reade that boke, he would thinke that the man were slypped downe from heauen, & did tell of things not that he had lerned by heresay, but that he had seen with his eies.¹ But Paule whiche was rauished aboue the thirde heauen, hath vttered no suche thynge, but also protesteth, that it is not lawfull for man to speake ye secretes that he had sene. Therfore bidding farewell to that triflyng wisedome, lette vs consider by the simple doctrine of the Scripture, what the Lorde wold haue vs knowe concernyng his angels.

1. 1i. Cor. xii.ii.

It is commonly red in the Scripture, that the Angels are heavenly §5Spirits, whose ministration and service God useth for putting in execution of those things that he hath decreed. For which reason the name is given them, because God useth them as messengers, to show him self unto men. And upon like reason are derived the other names that they are called by. They are named armies, because they do like a guard environ their prince, and do adorn and set forth the honourable show of his majesty, and like soldiers they are alway attending upon the ensign of their captain, and are ever so prepared and in readiness to do his commandments, that so soon as he doth but beckon to them, they prepare them selves to work, or rather be at their work already. Such an image of the throne of God to set out his royalty, the other prophets do describe,