SECTION II; 531 given for á very dangerous mistake to all the readers of this his- tory, If God himself, even Jehovah, the God of Israel, did not appear ; if the angel 'who appeared and spake was not so inhabited by God, so united to God and so intimately one with God, as to lay a foundation for all this representation of things. All these considerations joined together in this view appear to me richly sufficient to answer the present objection, and to preclude the notion of a common angel sent in the name of God and assuming the peculiar titles of godhead. Surely this angel or spirit was God himself, that is, was intimately and personally united to the God of Israel, and thereby became one complex person in two distinct natures,, one common principle of intelli- gent action, and had a right to those divine titles according to the forms of language in all nations.- Objection V. Though it should be allowed that God was present with this angel, and resided in him, and spake by him, yet is this sufficient to make a personal union between God and the angel ? or is it ground enough to say that God and the angel were one complex person ? Answer. The most common and most familiar idea that we have of a complex person is human nature or man, who is made up of a soul and body. Let us now consider whether most of those mutual relationsor communications between soul and body which render man a complex person are not found in this glori- ous person composed of the great God and this angel. Has the body of a man a nearer relation to his soul than any other body in the world ? So had this angel anearer relation to God than any other creature whatsoever. Is the soul said to inhabit thebody, or reside in it constantlyduring the whole term of life? So did God constantly reside in this glorious angel. Does the soul influence the body to its chief human actions ? So did God influence this angel. Is the body the constant and immediate instrument of the soul, whereby it speaksand acts and conveys its mind to men ? Such was this angel to the great God who dwelt in him. Is the body obedient to the volitions of the indwelling soul ? Much more is this angel to the indwel- ling God. Is the soul immediately conscious of many of the motions of the body ? Much more is God immediately con- scious of every motion, action and occurrence that relates to this angel. Are the properties and actions of the body sometimes attributed to the soul, and the properties and actions of the soul sometimes to the body, in the common language Of men ? So in the language of scripture the names, titles and properties of the great God are attributed to this angel; the appearances, speeches, voice, words, motions and actions of this angel are at- tributed to God. And if man upon these accounts be called a tl2
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