They be called watchmen and wardeins, for they béeing neuer ouercome with sleepe of wanting skill, warne men of perills that may fall or come to passe. And they also bée named Haruesters, for they gather the people that is chosen into the Garner of the kingdome of Heauen. And they bée called Souldiers, for they warre and fight for vs against wicked fiendes. And they be called Dukes and Leaders, both because they teach vs the manner of fighting against Ghostly enimyes: and also for they shewe and teach vs the way to the countrie of blisse.
In these and manye other figures and lykenesses, Angells vertues be tokened to vs, and vnderstoode in Scriptures, touching the substaunce, vertue, and working of them. But these few that be set héere for example shall suffice at this time.
Of the orders of Angels Hierarchies, and of their offices. Chap. 6.
Seeing that the properties of Angells be in part rehearsed and determined in generall, as it belongeth to this worke, wée shall intreate of all the Hierarchies of the orders of Angells: that wée maye knowe the office, conuenience, and difference of all the orders by theyr proper conditions.
Of the three Hierarchies. Chap. 7.
The holy man Saint Denis speaketh of thrée Hierarchies, the first is aboue heauen, and standeth in three persons, the seconde in heauen, and standeth in holy Angells, the thirde vnder heauen, and standeth in Prelates. Denis sayth, that a Hierarchie is an ordeined power and might of holy things: and reasonable, holding a due principalitye ouer Subiectes. Thrée Hierarchies bée in heauen, the highest, that is called in Gréeke Epiphania, and is described of Denis in this manner.
Epiphania is in the burning hot affection in the highnesse of high motion and vnderstanding, and in the ballaunce of the perticular iudgement. And this Hierarchie conteineth thrée orders. Seraphin, that passeth other in burning of loue: and Cherubin, that is ioyfull in priuiledge of cunning: Thrones, that passe other in perpending of righteousnesse. And of the other two Hierarchies, wée shall speake héereafter in theyr owne place. In euerye Hierarchie néedeth thrée thinges, order, cunning, and working. For as Denis sayth, a Hierarchie is a godly order, cunning, and worke, lyke God, as it is possible likening and supposing thereto the illuminations by proportion, taking héede to the lykenesse of God. Loe hée setteth thrée in the discription of an Hierarchie, order, cunning, and working: for if one of these thrée should want, it is no Hierarchie. Therefore a Hierarchie is sayde a godlye order, as it were a might that is ordeyned and disposed after Gods owne will. Therefore in order is office noted, in cunning, readinesse, in working seruice.[1] Without order presumption is the worke, without worke negligence is the order, without cunning, the worke is then reprouable, and the order is vnprofitable. And therefore as well in order as in cunning and working, euerye. Hierarchie followeth the conformitie and likenesse of God: And by the manner and measure of his illuminating that God giueth thereto, bée profit•th in his order, and supposing rightlye, and working well, to the following of God as néere as is possible, hée ascendeth vp.
Such is the disposition betwéene the Angells of the order of Hierarchies. They that be of the higher orders, receiue more plenteous light of God. And then to those that bée lower then they in order, they transfound and departe the lyght, they receiued. For this lawe is holden and kepte in the order of Angelles in participation of grace and of blisse. Some be the first, and some the seconde, and some the laste: as they the which in order and in receiuing
- ↑ A good note.
