Testimony against John van Leyden, Part 1

“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ,” 1 Cor. 3: 11.

Grace, peace, and mercy, from God the Father, through Jesus Christ, be with all true brethren and fellows scattered hither and thither.

The eternal, merciful God, who has called us from darkness into his marvelous light, nay, who has led us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, Jesus Christ, must keep us upon the right way, that Satan by his wiles does not deceive us, and that no root of bitterness spring up among us to make confusion, and many be thereby made unclean, as is, alas, now the case to some extent. And thus it must be that sects will arise amongst us that the tried may be made manifest, 1 Pet. 2: 9; Col. 1:13; Heb. 11:15; Deut. 29: 18; 1 Cor. 1: 18.

Let none be offended thereat. But let all give heed to the word of God, and abide by it, that they may be delivered from the strange woman, as Solomon says (by which woman we should understand all the false teachers), “Even from the stranger which flattereth with her words; which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God,” Prov. 2: 16; 4: 6, 7. This is the true nature of all false teachers.

First, they forget the pure doctrine of Christ, and choose a strange doctrine. They enchant others so that they can not believe the truth, and use smooth talk, as Paul says, “By good words and fair speeches they deceive the hearts of the simple,” Rom. 16: 18.

Secondly, they leave their Master, Christ, whom alone, they should hear, as the Father testifies of him, saying, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Hear ye him,” Matt. 17: 5; Mark 9: 7; Luke 9: 35. But this voice from the Father, all false teachers forget, and they leave their only Master, Christ Jesus; for as they are not of his sheep they hear not his voice, Matt. 23: 9; Jn. 10: 26.

Thirdly, the false teachers forget the covenant of God; and that to which we should give most heed, they pay no attention, as Christ reprovingly said unto the Pharisees, “Ye pay tithe of mint, and anise, and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Ye blind guides! which strain at a gnat and swallow a camel,” Matt. 23: 23, 34; and as Paul said, “The end of the commandment is charity, out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned; from which some having swerved, have turned aside unto vain jangling; desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say nor whereof they affirm,” 1 Tim. 1: 5—7. Thus all false teachers forget the covenant of God whereby they are bound to him, as is, alas, the case with many at present, who have forgotten all upon which they were baptized, namely, the cross, and would recommend and make use of the sword. May the Almighty God save all true christians from this, and may he give them wisdom and intelligence to keep the covenant of God, and to be always mindful of what kind of a spirit Christ wants his disciples to be, Luke 9: 55.

Grant that they may be aware of this strange woman; for her house is inclined to death, and her ways to corruption. All those who enter in unto her, will not come out again, nor do they get on the way of life. And this strange woman now reigns extensively, and as she deceives many, as did and yet does the prophetess Jezebel, and as the serpent deceived Eve; therefore we will, by the grace of God, discover some things, that those who are yet blind may become seeing, and that when they acknowledge anti-christ to be an abomination standing in the holy place, they may see all deceit, Rev. 2: 20; Gen. 3: 13; Matt. 24: 15; Mark 13: 14; Luke 21: 7; Dan. 9: 17; Rev. 17: 18. And that, as they will not drink of the cup of the Babylonian whore, they may beware of the venom of the serpent, and that if they be bitten by the serpent, they may become aware of it and get rid of the venom by looking on the true serpent, and be thus cured. All of which God must give us, Num. 21: 6; Jn. 3: 14.

We should not have written, but it becomes necessary; partly because we can not tolerate the shameful deceit and blasphemy against God, that a man be placed in Christ’s stead; partly, because we are not allowed a verbal, scriptural defense against such deceit and abominable heresy concerning the promised David, and other articles. But it is the nature of all impostors and erring spirits to flee from the word of God, as Christ says, “For every one that doeth evil, hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God,” Jn. 3: 20, 21. Therefore, he that flees from the light, that is, from the word of God, manifests that his deeds are not wrought in God.

But if there are some who can not yet see this they need the eyesalve which is spoken of in the revelation of John, Rev. 3: 18. O, God, what perilous times these are! How the prophet Baal conspires with the Moabite king, against the Israel of God! Num. 24; 25.

The Egyptian sorcerers, how they stand against the true Moses! Ex. 6.

The lying Pashur, how he is heeded, because he prophecies prosperity, of which nothing is realized! Jer. 20; 2 Tim. 3.

How the false Hananiah deceives the pious children of Israel, and makes them trust in falsehood! Jer. 28.

The Almighty God shall raise a Jeremiah to reprove the deceiver of the people, who shall speak nothing but that which God commands him to speak, and the Lord will place his word in the mouth of this Jeremiah, as a fire, and all false teachers as stubble, that truth may prevail, Jer. 1: 17.

And if ever so many prophets of Baal be raised, yet the Lord will leave behind a Micron who shall promulgate the true word of the Lord. But sufficient of this. We shall commence the matter to the honor of God, and to the edification of the church.

In the first place. It is incontrovertible that Almighty God has made his Son, Christ Jesus our Lord, King of all the earth and of his faithful church. That Christ is the King of all the earth is abundantly testified to by the Scriptures; particularly the prophet David, who says, “The Lord most high is terrible; He is a great king over all the earth,” Ps. 47: 2; and, “God is gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God, sing praises, sing praises unto our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding. God reigneth over the heathen; God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness,” Ps. 47: 2, 5—8.

Therefore, as true as Christ is God, so true he is King of all the earth.

Paul testifies this to the Ephesians, saying, that God, the Father, “raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. And he hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church,” Eph. 1: 20—22.

Christ testifies of himself that he is a mighty King, saying, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth,” Matt. 28: 18. Paul says that Christ is the express image of God, upholding all things by the word of his power, Heb. 1: 3.

Thus Christ is the king of all the earth notwithstanding the wicked may deny it. Therefore the prophet says, “The Lord reigneth; let the people tremble; he sitteth between the cherubim; let the earth be moved,” Ps. 99: 1. Still they can do nothing more than the Lord allows them to do, Jn. 19: 11; and none can withstand him. The mountains melt as wax before the Lord, the ruler of all the earth, Ps. 97: 5.

Further, that Christ is king of his believing church is clearly testified to by the Scriptures. Thus speaks Isaiah, “Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end,” Isa. 9: 6.

The house of Jacob is the believing church as is generally understood. Of this, Christ is king, as the angel clearly testified; and as Jeremiah says concerning Christ, that he would be a king who should reign and prosper, Jer. 23: 5. Also Isaiah says, “Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment,” Isa. 32: 1.

As Christ is king, both of all the earth and of his believing church, as we have shown by the plain Scriptures, according to the grace received of God, how can John Van Leyden, now, call himself a joyous king of all, who is become the joy of the miserable?

If he would be our king, our Lord, then Paul and Isaiah must stand back. Paul says, “For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth (as there be gods many, and lords many), but to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him,” 1 Cor. 8: 5. Isaiah says, “The Lord is our judge, the Lord is our law-giver, the Lord is our king,” Isa. 33: 22.

Behold, as true as Christ is our judge, and as sure as he is our law-giver, so sure is he our king. Where, now, is John Van Leyden? O, abominable blasphemy against God, that a man should call himself the joyous king of all! while it is written, O Lord, Lord God, Creator of all things, who art fearful, and strong, and righteous, and merciful, and the only and gracious King,” 2 Mac. 1: 24; who alone art good, who alone art a mighty king, who alone art righteous, omnipotent, and eternal, who deliverest Israel of all evil. Paul says, “I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession: that thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ; which in his time he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords,” 1 Tim. 6: 13—15. Again, it is the greatest blasphemy a man can speak, that John Van Leyden asserts that he is become the joy of the miserable.

Christ became our joy at his birth, according to the testimony of the angel to the shepherds, saying, “Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord,” Luke 2: 10, 11; with this the words of David accord, “Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness,” Ps. 97 : 11, 12. “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness; come before his presence with singing, know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves: we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture,” Ps. 100: 1—3. “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, rejoice,” Phil. 4: 4. Thus all the Scriptures admonish us that we shall rejoice in Christ, our Lord; for it is he of whom the patriarch Jacob prophesied that he would be the expected one of the people, that is, the one for whom the people of God should look with great desire, as Christ also testifies, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it, and was glad,” Jn. 8: 56.

Christ is the true Melchisedec, king of Salem, that is, the king of peace; who has made peace between God, the Father and the human race, Heb. 7: 1. He is the pious Isaac who by his sacrifice has reconciled us with his heavenly Father; and his sacrifice remains worthy forever, Heb. 10: 10; 9: 12. He is the true Davtd, who has slain the great Goliath, and has taken away the blasphemer of Israel, 1 Sam. 17: 49; Eccl. 47: 4. Yea he has caused great rejoicing, as it is written, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me (says Christ), because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the Spirit of heaviness,” Isa. 61: 1—3; Luke 4: 18, 19. Behold, how clearly it is shown here that Christ is become the joy of the miserable, in whom all pious christians rejoice, saying, Rejoicing we will rejoice in the Lord; our souls shall be rejoiced in the Lord; for he has clothed us in raiments of righteousness, and surrounded us with the mantle of righteousness, as a bride ornamented with bracelets. To this the prophet Zechariah admonishes us, saying, “Rejoice greatly O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem; behold, thy King cometh unto thee; he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt, the foal of an ass,” Zech. 9: 9; Matt. 21: 2. And the king’s prophet David, says, “Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints. Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their king. Let them praise his name in the dance; let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp,” Ps. 149: 1—3.

Thus did all the saints of God, as did David, who says, “Our soul waiteth for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in him; because we have trusted in his holy name,” Ps. 33: 20, 21. And, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us; this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation,” Isa. 25: 9. By this we may see how all the saints have rejoiced in God. And how can we rejoice in man, as it is written, “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish. Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God,” Ps. 146: 3—5; who helps the miserable, and raises up the crushed. “He is their mighty protection and strong stay, a defense from heat, and a cover from the sun at noon, a preservation from stumbling and an help from falling. He raiseth up the soul, and lighteneth the eyes, he giveth health, life, and blessing,” Eccl. 34: 16, 17.

As Christ is become our joy, so every one may judge for himself what an abomination it is in the sight of God, that a man would be that which our Savior, Christ is. Is it not an abominination standing in the holy place? And what is worse yet, this John Van Leyden is not satisfied with passing himself for the joyous king of all, who is become the joy of the miserable; but he also claims to be the promised David of whom all the prophets testify; and does not admit that Christ is he who was promised.

Of such a mind are all false prophets and anti-christs. That they have on their heads names of blasphemy, and crowns like unto gold, by which is meant pride, as may be seen by the Babylonian whore who was arrayed in scarlet color, having a golden cup in her hand, full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication; for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and shall see no sorrow, Rev. 17: 4; 18: 7. But the Lord can not tolerate it, and says, “Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the chaldees’ excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah,” Isa. 13: 19. Therefore, shall her plagues come in one day, Rev. 18: 7. And not Babylon alone, but also all anti-christs, together with their deceit and false writings, shall be destroyed, as Christ says, “Every plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up,” Matt. 15: 13.

And greater anti-christ than he is who passes himself for the promised David, can not make his appearance, which promised David is Christ, as the Scriptures abundantly testify. He that hath ears to hear let him hear.

First, the prophet Hosea says, “For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without and ephod, and without a teraphim; afterward shall the children of Israel return and seek the Lord their God, and David their king, and shall fear the Lord, and his goodness in the latter days,” Hosea 3: 4, 5.

It is incontrovertible that this king David can be none other than Christ Jesus, whom all must seek who want to be saved, as it is written, Seek the Lord and ye shall live, Amos 5: 4. Isaiah says, “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near,” Isa. 55: 6. For this reason David says, “I sought the Lord and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears,” Ps. 34: 5. And Christ, the wisdom of God says, He that findeth me findeth the life, and shall have the pleasure of the Lord. And what other king should the children of Israel have than Christ Jesus, the true Melchisedec, king of Salem, which is, King of peace? Heb. 7: 1; of whom the whole number of disciples have testified thus: “Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord; peace in heaven, and glory in the highest,” Luke 19: 28; 2: 14.

The Jews despised this King, Christ, and therefore they were blinded, yet they shall return and come to Christ, their King David, as Paul testifies, saying, “That blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins,” Rom. 11: 26; Isa. 59: 20. As Israel is yet to be converted unto Christ, it follows incontrovertibly that the King David, whom Israel shall seek, can be no other than Christ.

Therefore every righteous person will understand in what terrible error those are who do not believe that by David, we should understand Christ, but another man. And of such, Christ says, “I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not; if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive,” Jn. 5: 43. But those who with Jerusalem, will not receive Christ, will also be destroyed with it; and those who, with the Pharisees, oppose Christ, and yet think that they are enlightened, should also be blinded with the Pharisees. Let all pray to God for wisdom, and they shall understand that Christ is the true David, Luke 19: 7: Isa. 6: 10; Jn. 9: 12.

Again, Jeremiah says, “It shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him: But they shall serve the Lord their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them,” Jer. 30: 8, 9.

Now the commandment of the Lord is, “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve,” Matt. 4: 10. Therefore this king David is none but Christ, which the Father has raised unto us, saying, Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. And the christian church acknowledges no other king, no other Lord but Christ. Therefore all the saints say, “The Lord is our defense; and the Holy One of Israel is our King,” Ps. 89: 18. Now who is the Holy One but he of whom Isaiah testifies, saying, “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy,” Isa. 57: 16. And “These things saith he that is holy, . . . . he that hath the key of David,” Rev. 3: 7. Thus speaks Jeremiah concerning Babylon, “Recompense her according to her work; according to all that she hath done, do unto her; for she hath been proud against the Lord, against the Holy One of Israel,” Jer. 50: 29.

Thus the Holy One of Israel is none but the true God and Lord, Christ Jesus; therefore none can be the King of his believing church, but Christ, as the Spirit of God testifies through the prophet Micah, saying, “The Lord shall reign over them in mount Zion, from henceforth, even forever,” Micah 4: 7; who else is this Shepherd but Christ, of whom was prophesied, “Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd; he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young,” Isa. 40: 10, 11.

Christ testifies of himself that he is this shepherd, for he says, “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep,” Jn. 10: 11. Christ truly pastures his sheep; he is the door to the sheep-fold; all who enter into the fold through him, shall be saved; he shall go in and out, and find good pasture. Therefore David says, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters,” Ps. 23: 1, 2; and the apostle Peter says, “For ye were as sheep going astray, but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls,” 1 Pet. 2: 25. Further, the Lord God says, My servant David shall be a Prince among them. Let none be offended at God the Father, calling his Son Christ, servant, saying, “Behold my servant, whom I uphold, mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth,” Isa. 42: 1; and at another place: “Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased,” Matt. 12: 18; at still another place, the Father speaks concerning Christ, “By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many,” Isa. 53: 11.

Therefore this servant David is Christ; and he is the Prince of the christians. And who else should be a prince of the church of Christ, but Christ, as Paul testifies that he alone is the Prince; and as the prophet says, “Thou Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be not the least among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting,” Micah 5: 2.

The Lord further speaks through the same prophet, “So shall they be my people and I will be their God, and David my servant shall be King over them; and they all shall have one Shepherd,” Ezek. 37: 24. We have heretofore clearly proven by the Scriptures that God the Father has placed no other king over Zion, than his Son Jesus Christ, and that he gave him an eternal kingdom, therefore it is needless to go over this again; and that God the Lord says, “David my servant shall be King over them, and they all shall have one shepherd,” is also understood to be said in regard to Christ; for no man can be our only shepherd; and although God gives “some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers,” Eph. 4: 11; yet the only Shepherd is Christ, and nobody else, as may be plainly understood from the words of Christ, “Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold and one shepherd,” Jn. 10: 16.

All the believing are the sheep of Christ and there is but one fold, of which Christ is the Shepherd. From this it must follow that Christ is the only Shepherd, and that no one else can be the only Shepherd. For this reason Peter calls Christ, the chief Shepherd; and Paul says, “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will,” Heb. 13 : 20; 1 Pet. 5: 4.

Thus Christ is the only Shepherd; for all the believing must hear his voice and the voice of no other. From this it follows incontrovertibly, that he is also the promised David, according to the words of the Lord, “David my servant shall be King over them; and they all shall have one Shepherd.” Besides this God says, “My servant David shall be their Prince forever.” I trust that none are so ignorant (unless he be mad, and accursed), as to understand these words as having reference to some man, that a man shall be our eternal Prince. For it is written that God alone is eternal, and alone immortal, and that he dwells in a light to which none can come. No man can be our eternal Prince; but Christ is our eternal Prince, and his kingdom is an eternal kingdom, as it is written, “Thy throne, O God, is forever,” Ps. 45: 6; Heb. 1: 8. Paul and Peter say that Christ’s kingdom is eternal; and the angel said to Mary, “The Lord God shall give him the throne of his father David, and he shall reign over the house of Jacob, forever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end,” Luke 1: 33. Again the prophet says, “His seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before me. It shall be established forever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven,” Ps. 89: 36, 37. From this all must be convinced that our eternal Prince is none but Christ, therefore our promised David is none but Christ.

Fourthly, it reads thus in one of the Psalms, “Then thou spakest in vision to thy Holy One, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people. I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him,” Ps. 89: 19, 20. Who is this mighty one on whom God laid help, but Christ Jesus who has all power in heaven and on earth, to whom God has submitted all things and to whom are committed all things pertaining to the church? Matt. 28: 18; Heb. 2: 8; Eph. 1: 22.

On this Christ, the Almighty God has laid help; for we are helped and saved by him as Christ says, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed,” Jn. 8: 36; and Paul says, “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh,” Rom. 8: 3.

Christ is the strong Samson who broke the jaw bones of the lion; he is the pious David who slew the great Philistine with whom none of the Israelites dared fight; he is the chosen one, whom the Father has chosen as his own Son, saying, “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,” Matt. 12: 18. This chosen one the Father has exalted from out the people, inasmuch as he has placed him as King of his holy mount Zion, as the Prince who shall rule his people; for this reason the church acknowledges him to be their head, and to be the most exalted of men on earth, saying, “As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste,” Cant. 2: 3. Further the Lord says, “I have found my servant David; with my holy oil have I anointed him,” Ps. 89: 20.

This anointed David is Christ; for he is the truly anointed of the Lord to whom God the Father speaks, “Thy throne, O God, is forever; a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom; thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows;” Christ says, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me.” Peter also says, “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power,” Heb. 1: 8, 9; Ps. 45: 6, 7; Luke 4: 18; Acts 10: 38.

If any one should yet be in doubts (something which is impossible, in view of such plain Scripture), then let him consider the following words, “He shall cry unto me, Thou art my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation. Also I will make him my first-born, higher than the kings of the earth,” Ps. 89: 26, 27. Christ is the first-begotten Son of God, as Paul says, God the Father has predestinated us to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the first-born among many brethren. And to the Hebrews, “When he bringeth in the first-begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him,” Heb. 1: 6; Rom. 8: 29.