§. 41. Of Christs Excellencies above Angels.
IN all the sorementioned Excellencies is Christ more excellent then Angels. For
- 1. Christs divine nature is infinitely more excellent then an angelical spirit: Yea his humane nature, by the hypostatical union of it with the divine, hath likewise a dignity infinitely surpassing an Angels nature.
- 2. Christ is the express image of the person of his Father, which is more then to be created, as Angels were, after Gods image.
- 3. Christ is the brightness of Gods glory: Therefore more glorious then the most glorious Angels.
- Christ is in Heaven at the right hand of the Throne of the Majesty. Therefore in place of residency higher then Angels.
- 5. Christs function, to be a Mediator betwixt God and man, is greater then any of the functions of Angels.
Therefore Christ is more excellent then Angels in their greatest excellencies. Yet there is a greater excellency, wherein Christ doth further excell Angels, comprised under this phrase, a more excellent Name. This doth the Apostle largely insist upon and copiously prove: and that upon this ground.
Superstitious persons, especially the Jews, among whom many extraordinary* 1.1 things were done by the ministry of Angels, had in all ages too high an admiration of Angels: so as they have deified them, and yeelded divine worship unto them, whereby the glory of God hath been obscured, and Christ the less esteemed. It was therefore requisite to set out Christs glory so, as it might appear how, beyond com∣parison, Christ excelleth them: which in the general is thus expressed, He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent Name then they.