ANGEL, andANGEL of the COVENANT. zE t SitelUSiSfra, A N G- E I.., A N D ANGEL OF THE COVENANT. THE Word ANGEL * lignifies Onefent ; and, when fent from JEHOVAH, filch Angel has a Com- nìifìion to execute or reveal his Will. In this Senfe, It is a moftvulgar Error, that an Angelis merely a Being, who, like a Bird with Wings, flies about accomplilhing the Command- ments of GOD. Popery and its ridiculous Legends have contri- buted exceedingly to imprefsflch an Idea; and the Ingenuity of Painters has eflablifhed the grofs Opinion of angelic Plumage by Symbols, which fhould only convey, under a natural Image, the wonderful Celerity and Readinefs of this and every other Order of fpiritual Beings to execute the Will of their Creator." But the Word -I&so, which we, from the Greek ayysrcm, tranflate Angel, is not confined to any Rank of Beings, fpiritual or corporeal ; but is applied to both. It flriltly lignifies any one commioned orfens. So David fent o+Drtrm, human Mengers to7abefh Gilead. z Sam. ii. S. The Word Apoflle feems to convey nearly the fame Idea as the Word Angel. The former Term is fuppofed to have been adopted by the Holy Spirit in the Books of the New Teftament, on account of the Ambiguity of the latter, and its ufual Applica- tion to miniflring Spirits. An Apoflle is thought to mean as much as the Word Ambafador (t Cor. v. zo.), who not only imparts a Meffage, but reprefents the Perfon by whom he is fent; and an Angel, in the flricì Senfe, to imply only, what is ordinarily under- stood by a Menger. Vide Seafa. D¿Q: Hill. de Ape. §. 6. but
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