It is believed in the Christian world that angels have assumed human bodies, and have thus appeared. Yet they did not assume them, but the eyes of man s spirit were opened, and so they were seen. In this way did angels appear to Abraham and others; in this way did the horses and chariots of fire appear around Elisha, where it is said, 'Open his eyes'.* It is well known that the Lord appeared thus; but with the difference that the Lord appeared as to the body which He had in the world, angels, however, as to the bodies which spirits have, which are in human form, but not as the Lord was. * 2 Kings v 17.