§. 74. Of Worship.
THe evidence here noted, whereby Christ is declared to be more excellent then all the Angels, is in this act worship, enjoyned to Angels. For he that is worshiped is thereby manifested to be far more excellent then they who worship him. Worship∣ing one is much different from blessing one. That is an act of the inferiour, This of the Superiour; Without all contradiction the lesse is blessed of the better, Heb. 7. 7. And without all contradiction the better is worshiped of the lesse; especially if wor∣ship be taken as here in this place.
The a 1.1 Hebrew word used by the Psalmist, and translated worship, cometh from a root that signifieth to bow down, as Isa. 51. 23. Bow down that we may go over thee. It is most frequently used in the b 1.2 last Conjugation, which addeth much emphasis, and importeth both a reciprocall action, reflecting upon ones self thus, He bowed himself, 1 Sam. 20. 41. and also a thorow, serious performance thereof, even to the ground; and therefore the word earth, is oft added thereto, to shew a bowing as low as can be, even to the earth or ground, Gen. 33. 3. It is most frequently used for an expression of honour and reverence to another, namely, to him unto whom or before whom this gesture is performed; which some Translators set out by this Paraphrase, c 1.3 they bowed themselves presenting honour; and others expresse it by this one word d 1.4 adore or worship.
The Greek word here used by the Apostle is somewhat answerable to the He∣brew. For it is compounded of a e 1.5 word that signifieth to kisse: For they that doe honour or reverence to others use to kisse their mouth, as of old they were wont: yea (as now) their f 1.6 hands, knees, and (as it is done to the Pope) feet and shoes, yea, g 1.7 the very earth where they stand.
The frequent mention of kissing, to set out reverend and humble subjection in sacred Scripture, sheweth that this was an accustomed gesture of testifying reve∣rence and honour.
When Pharaoh advanced Ioseph next to himself, and would that all his people should yeeld reverend subjection to him, thus he expresseth it, On thy mouth shall all my People kisse, Gen. 41. 40. that is, as the last English Translators have turned it, shall be ruled; or as others, h 1.8 shall obey or shall be subject.
Thus when Samuel had annointed Saul to be King, he kissed him, 1 Sam. 10. 1. in testimony of reverence and subjection: In this respect Moses kissed his Father in Law, Exo. 18. 7. And Idolaters in this respect are said i 1.9 to kisse the calves, Hos. 13. 2. And they who would not yeeld honour and subjection to Baal, are thus set out, Their mouth hath not kissed him, 1 King. 19. 18. yea, the reverence and obedience which is required of Sonnes of men to the Sonne of God, is thus expressed, Kisse the Sonne, Psa. 2. 12.
But to let passe the Metaphor, the word used by the Apostle doth usually signi∣fie, as here it is translated, worship.
Worship is a reverend manifestation of that high esteem which we have of ano∣ther, and it is divine or civil.