Metaphor. | Parallel
The Face of a Man notes Understanding, and the Excellency of Reason, by which all human Actions are managed. | Angels have great Knowledge and Understanding. By their Likeness unto Man, is laid before us the Rationality, Knowledge, and Understanding of Angels. They are not ignorant Creatures, but ipsae Intelligentiae, the most understanding Creatures in Heaven and Earth.1 The Woman of Tekoah said to David, He was wise according to the Wisdom of an Angel of God, to know all things that are upon the Earth: That is, he was very wise,2 as Angels are, to search out Understanding, and discover things. Therefore Jerome thinks they are called Cherubims, from their much Knowledge; Cherubims, as it were, Rabbis, and Teachers of others. And this Office some Angels have done. Gabriel, make this Man understand the Vision. 3I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy People in the latter Day. Angels (saith one) are good Philosophers, they know the Principles, Causes, Effects, Life, Motion, and Death of natural things; they are great Statists, and know the Affairs of Kingdoms. Dan. 10.13. saith Gabriel, I remained with the Kings of Persia, &c. They are said to be full of Eyes before and behind, because they see what is past, and what is to come. Besides, they have much revealed to them by God, by Christ, nay, and understand many things by the Church, as concerning the Mysteries of the Gospel; so Eph. 3.10. 2 Pet. 1.12. Which things the Angels desire (saith Peter) to look into, [Greek or Hebrew], the Word notes, bowing down to pry heedfully into a thing. Cherubims were made looking down towards the Mercy-Seat; so here, Angels look into the things of Christ, (as it was there figured forth) in whom are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge. 4They have much experimental Knowledge, arising from things done daily in the World, and in the Church; Angels love to be at the Congregation, to meet the Saints; they understand partly by their Essence, and partly by Species communicated to their Understandings, as to ours, &c.
II. The Face of a Man hath much Awe and Majesty in it; nothing (as is observed by some Naturalists) carries more Terror in it to sensitive Creatures, than the Face of a Man. | II. Angels are very Majestical Creatures; many have been greatly terrified and astonished at the sight of them.
Metaphor. | Parallel
THe Face of a Man notes Understanding, and the Excellency of Reason, by which all human Actions are managed. | ANgels have great Knowledg and Understanding. By their Likeness unto Man, is laid before us the Rationality, Knowledg, and Understanding of Angels. They are not ignorant Creatures, but ipsae Intelligentiae, the most understanding Creatures in Heaven and Earth.1 The Woman of Tekoah said to David, He was wise according to the Wisdom of an Angel of God, to know all things that are upon the Earth: That is, he was very wise,2 as Angels are, to search out Understanding, and discover things. Therefore Jerom thinks they are called Cherubims, from their much Knowledg; Cherubims, as it were, Rabbies, and Teachers of others. And this Office some Angels have done. Gabriel, make this Man understand the Vision. 3I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy People in the latter Day. Angels (saith one) are good Philosophers, they know the Principles, Causes, Effects, Life, Motion, and Death of natural things; they are great Statists, and know the Affairs of Kingdoms. Dan. 10.13. saith Gabriel, I remained with the Kings of Persia, &c. They are said to be full of Eyes before and behind, because they see what is past, and what is to come. Besides, they have much revealed to them by God, by Christ, nay, and understand many things by the Church, as concerning the Mysteries of the Gospel; so Eph. 3.10. 2 Pet. 1.12. Which things the Angels desire (saith Peter) to look into, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, the Word notes, bowing down to pry heedfully into a thing. Cherubims were made looking down towards the Mercy-Seat; so here, Angels look into the things of Christ, (as it was there figured forth) in whom are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledg. 4They have much experimental Knowledg, arising from things done daily in the World, and in the Church; Angels love to be at the Congregation, to meet the Saints; they understand partly by their Essence, and partly by Species communicated to their Understandings, as to ours, &c.
II. The Face of a Man hath much Awe and Majesty in it; nothing (as is observed by some Naturalists) carries more Terror in it to sensitive Creatures, than the Face of a Man. | II. Angels are very Majestical Creatures; many have been greatly terrified and astonished at the sight of them.
- 1Greenhill.
- 22 Sam. 14.20.
- 3Dan. 8.16.
- 4Col. 2.3.
