14. What wouldest thou then? That He
who came for our salvation should become a minister of destruction
because men could not bear Him? or that He should suit His grace to our
measure? Daniel could not bear the vision of an Angel, and wert
thou capable of the sight of the Lord of Angels? Gabriel
appeared, and Daniel fell down: and of what nature or in what
guise was he that appeared? His countenance was like
lightning Dan. x. 6.; not like the sun:
and his eyes as lamps of fire, not as a furnace of fire:
and the voice of his words as the voice of a multitude, not as
the voice of twelve legions of angels; nevertheless the Prophet fell
down. And the Angel cometh unto him, saying, Fear not, Daniel,
stand upright: be of good courage, thy words are
heard Dan. x. 12.. And Daniel
says, I stood up trembling Ib. x.
11.: and not even
so did he make answer, until the likeness of a man’s hand touched
him. And when he that appeared was changed into the appearance of
a man, then Daniel spoke: and what saith he? O my Lord,
at the vision of Thee my inward parts were turned within me, and no
strength remaineth in me, neither is there breath left in
me Ib. x. 16,
17.. If an Angel
appearing took away the Prophet’s voice and strength, would the
appearance of God have allowed him to breathe? And until there
touched me as it were a vision of a man Ib. x.
18.,
saith the Scripture, Daniel took not courage. So then after trial
shewn of our weakness, the Lord assumed that which man required:
for since man required to hear from one of like countenance, the
Saviour took on Him the nature of like affections, that men might be
the more easily instructed.