¶Of the middle Hierarchie. Cap. 11.
Isidore saith, That the middle Hierarchie cōtaineth these thrée orders, Principatus, Potestates, and Dominationes. Denys calleth this Hierarchie Epiphonomia, that is diuine brightnesse with reuerence, their parteners setting forth, and teaching the vse of the Lordship, and putting awaye of a thing that is contrary. The first difference is sayd for Principatus, that haue the gift of reuerence passing other: whose office is to teach, to exercise, and to do reuerence to them that be worthy, after the diuers degrées of Prelacie, as it is written: Cui honorein, honorein, Honor to whō honor pertaineth. Rom. 13. But the vse of Lordship belongeth to Dominations, which teach ye lower to gouerne, not by lyking and desire to be aboue and ouer other, but after Gods owne will, to rule one another: for God will that men be aboue other men for profite, and not for pride, that they may teach and informe them in the faith and in good manner of lyuing, and not to be outragious in the giftes that are fréelye giuen to the Lordship. Constraining of might & power belongeth to the order of Potentates, that mightely put off fiendes, that they grieue vs not so much as they woulde,[1]Preuenting vngodly desires, & vnlawfull lustes. And so is the disposition of the middle Hierarchie sette: though it séeme otherwise ordained, after Isidore and Gregory, but that belongeth not to this worke.
¶ Of the order of Dominations. Cap. 12.
THe fourth order is Dominations, as Isidore saith, which are aboue and excell other in powers and vertues, for they be aboue other companies of Angells and Lords, and are called Dominations. Gregory sayth, The office of this order, is to teach and informe men, what is néedefull in spirituall battayle, to vse in the office of Prelacie. Also they informe Prelates of the Cleargie, how they shall behaue themselues in gouerning of subiects, without oppression & tyrannie. Denys sayeth, That the seruice of these Angels, is to put of distrust and dread, and tourne to God, without bending to worldlye profite, and serue him without ceasing: which by a singular excellencie, shape onely a behest and commaundement, a sure information & warning in the neather order. The Angells of this order be frée of all manner oppressing and ouersetting, that they maye fréelye be reared vp to God ward, and be subiect to none that is lower thē God: & so they be subiect to none other, but to him alone, and by an vniuersal excellēcie they are far aboue all subiection: yet so yt no vyolence of tyrannie bendeth them to oppresse and ouerset the neather Angells. Therefore Denys sayth, That they vse their Lordship with vnlykenes of tiranny. They haue seuerity in might, and with seueritie, fréedome in goodnes: and whiles the time of Dominations, power, and might is vsed, fréedome is not taken away in their dooing, about the nether orders, yet by this liberalitie their might is no manner of wise diminished. But conforming themselues to God, as much as is possible, they follow the rule & lawe of their president. They neuer turne them to vanitie, but alway to the highest God, that Denys calleth (One) that is to vnderstande, Uniuersall. On him they set their eyen, and turne not awaye the sighte of theyr vnderstanding, from him that is Lorde of all: and therefore they are parteners, as it maye be of the forme and lykenesse of God, as Denys sayth. And so Dominations are the first in the seconde Hierarchie.
¶The order of Principatus. Cap. 13.
THe fift order is called Principatus: and holye men declare, that this order teacheth men of low estate to doe reuerence to them that be greater and in higher estate of dignitie, as to Kings,
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