SECT. II.
The Evasions his Adversaries use to escape the force of these Proofs of Scripture from the Apparition of Angels, with the Author's Answer.
There are several Evasions, by which some endeavour to escape these Texts; as First, the Sadducees of old and Familists of later Days, who hold, to wit, these, That the Angels we read of, were but Divine Graces; the other, That they were Divine Phantasms created to serve a present occasion, which ceased to be as soon as they disappeared. One would think, that none that ever had read the Scriptures, should entertain such a Conceit as this, that is so contrary to the account they every where give of those Cœlestial Creatures. But there is nothing so absurd, but some Men will embrace to support their Opinions.
Let us consider a little how differently from this vain Fancy the Scripture describes them. They are called Spirits, an Attribute given to God himself, the prime Subsistence, who is by way of Eminence called the Father of Spirits, not of Phantasms. And Spirits imports as much Substance as Body, though without gross Bulk. We read of elect Angels, and the Angels that stand before the Throne of God continually, and that always behold the Face of God. Of the fallen Angels, that kept not their first Station, that are held in the Chains of Darkness; and of everlasting Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels, against the Judgement of the great Day. Both had their Order of Superiority and Inferiority, Michael and his Angels, the Dragon and his Angels. We are made little lower than the Angels. In Heaven we shall be as the Angels of God. Of the Day of Judgement knoweth no Man, no not the Angels. Let all the Angels of God Worship him.
Which Descriptions of the Nature, Order, Condition, Attributes of Angels, and infinite more such, up and down the Scriptures, are not applicable to Phantasms, but demonstratively prove, that the Angels of whose Apparitions we hear so frequently there, were real permanent Subsistencies, and not meer Phantasms and Shadows.
