Chap. I.   eſſential to the Chriſtian Religion.   311

' angels of God worſhip him.' This is the
doctrine of the ſacred author. --But Chriſt,
according to the Socinians, is exalted above
the angels, not on account of his nature;
for the human is far inferior to the angelic
nature; but in virtue of the offices, truſts,
and gifts which he received. For, on their
principles, it is only on account of theſe that
he is called God. If, then, he was a mere
angel who appeared to Moſes, and delivered
the Iſraelites from Egyptian bondage; it un-
avoidably follows, that an angel was more
exalted and more honoured than Jeſus Chriſt,
contrary to God's deſign.

This appears from hence. Jeſus Chriſt,
according to our opponents, is called God,
by a kind of analogy ; but this angel calls
himſelf, ' The God of Abraham, of Iſaac,
' and of Jacob.'---Chriſt is addreſſed only
with ſubordinate worſhip; but this angel
cauſes himſelf to be adored, as the Supreme
Being. For he ſays, ' Thou ſhalt have no
' other gods before me.'---The former attri-
butes to himſelf the works or God; ſo does
the latter, in the moſt explicit manner, 'Who
' hath made man's mouth? or who maketh
' the dumb, or deaf, or the ſeeing, or the
' blind? have not I JEHOVAH ? I will ſtretch
' out my hand, and ſmite Egypt with all my
' wonders---I will bring you up out of the
' affliction of Egypt---I am the Lord thy God
                                                            ' which