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 gels to be; for the human form is the perfection of all forms, and true human life, therefore, the perfection of all life; and a good man such as an angel is declared to be, is the perfection of created beings.

That this conclusion is legitimate, may be further argued from the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ in whom dwelt "all the fulness of the Godhead bodily," was in the form of a man, not only while He tabernacled in the flesh, but when He subsequently appeared in the spiritual realm to the opened eyes of his disciples. A fact which proves that the human form is capable of receiving the divine love and wisdom in all fulness. Hence it must be the perfection of all forms; and among created beings, therefore, there cannot be any higher order—any nearer to the Divine image and likeness—than man.

But we have further and more conclusive evidence from Scripture. For many instances of the appearance of angels to men in the flesh, are therein recorded; and in every such instance they appeared in the human form—as men. Not only so, but they are often called men by the inspired writers. Thus when the Lord appeared to Abraham in the plains of Mamre through the medium of angels, it is said: And he lifted up his eyes and looked, and lo, three men stood by him" (Gen. xviii. 2). So of the two angels that appeared to Lot as he sat in the gate of Sodom. These are afterwards called men. The Sodomites inquiring after them, said: Where are the men who came in to thee this night" (Gen. xix. 5)? And Lot said: "Unto these men do nothing " (v. 8. See also vs. 10, 12, 16). Again,