Page:History of the Nonjurors.djvu/347

angel that appeared. But the Fathers generally believed it was our Saviour under this quality and denomination. Particularly St. Justin Martyr, St. Irenæus, Tertullian, and St. Athanasius declare for this opinion. Justin Martyr, Cum Try. Iren: lib. 4. cap. 22. Tertul. lib. acta Judeos. Athan. lib. 4. Cont. Arian. Thus the Fathers observe, that when the angels appeared, they refused adoration, as the angel that appeared to Manoa and St. John. Judges and Revelation. Besides it is not the same thing to worship visible and invisible angels. When they are visible there is a regard due to the superiority of their nature, to their character and message; which reasons for regard don't hold, when they are unseen and possibly out of reach. Further Origen tells Celsus he slandered the Jews (Origin Cont. Cels. lib. i.) in saying they worshipped angels. "That nothing is to be worshipped but God Almighty: neither are prayers addressed to any but the sovereign being. That the right way of worshipping God is by directing our devotions to him, without any application to angels. That if we are so happy as to have God's favour, all the angels and blessed spirits will be our friends, and pray for us without application." Ibid. There are several texts in the Old and New Testament from whence we may conclude the worshipping of angels unlawful. Deut. iv. 13, with reference to verse 4. 1 Sam. vii. 3, where the word in LXXII. is δεδευσατε, which overthrows the distinction between Latria and Dulia. To these we may add Luke iv. 8, Col. ii. 18, 19, with Theodoret's comment. To mention some more of the Fathers, Irenæus (lib. 2. cap. 1.) declares expressly, "The Church did not work any miracles by invocation of angels, or by an unlawful curiosity." Theophilus Antio-