For by Archangells were shewed, the greater secrets vnto Prophets, us this:[1]Ecce virgo concipiet, &c. Behold a virgin shall beare a sonne, and thou shalt call his name Emanuel. And by Angels is shewed the lesse,[2] as this: Episcopatum eius accipiat, &c. His habitation bee voyde, and no man bee dwellyng therein, and his Bishop right let another take. And this was sayde of Iudas the traitour that hung himself:[3] and Mathias was chosen Apostle in his stéede. Ephionia is sayd of Ephi, that is, vnder, and Phanos, that is, shewing. For the lykenesse of God is shewed in a lower manner in orders of this Hierarchie, then in other orders of the higher Hierarchie.
¶Of the order of Vertues. Cap. 16.
The seuēth order is of vertues. Uertues be a company of Angells, and their seruice is to vertues and to do miracles, in them principally the vertue of God shineth: and therefore they be called vertues as Isidore saith. The Angells of this order, receiue illumination, purgation, and perfection of the orders of the middle Hierarchie. Therefore Denys saith, that vertues haue strength to worke as God graunteth them, yt which strength chaungeth not. In this they be formed and lyke to God: for they haue taken unchangeable strength of vertue, to doe all deedes. And therefore Denys touching the working vertue of these spirites saith, That the name of these holy vertues, meaneth a mightie strength, that chaungeth not, that is giuen them after the lykenesse of God, the which is neuer feeble, neuer vnstedfast to receiue the illuminations and shewing of God: as though-he-would meane, In yt these Angells be called vertues, it is knowen that they are confirmed & like to God: for the vertue of God is strong & mightie to worke, and faileth not for difficultie of any worke, and is vstedfast to dure and last and wearieth not, neyther féebleth for so long duing of time. So these Angelles be lyke: for they are found strong, and incommutable to doe all déedes. Therefore they be vertuous, not onely in working, but also in receiuing of lyght and of brightnesse. For the vertue of these Angells, though it séeme feeble and vnstedfast, is likened to the vertue of God, and is not féeble, but by grace they are likened to the vertue of God. They be féeble concerning their vnablenesse without God, by condition of kinde, but they are not féeble by any corruption: but they receiue all that is due to a creature, that is to meane, sufficient strength according to the kind there of. Therefore Denys sayth, that they haue motion like to God, that beareth them stedfastly, into the passing Essence of God, for by that vertue, they and us to Godward: and therefore theyr vertue is borne vp, into the passing vertue of the Creator, therfore the likenesse of the Image of God is found in them. The likenes of that they resolue, they send it forth to the neather Angells, they take by gifte, and giue foorth by example. Denys saith, that the office of these Angells is to teach Prelates to doe the office of Prelacie, profitably, and purelye, and stedfastly, that they may beare their charge patiently: Gregory. 4. Mor, saith. That the office of these Angelles, is to teach them that haue vertue, how they should in themselves repaire the image of God: and reforme it, and kéepe it, and save it mightely. And so by the seruice of these Angels the vertue of doing miracles, is graunted to the perfect, that they may be brought to the first state, in the which God made man to his owne Image and lykenesse. By such miracles shewed, the Angells of this order sée alwaye and behold the vertue of God, and tremble in contemplation thereof: but this feare, intirely desiring to set foorth the will of God, is not painfull, but it is rather wonderfull, & not dredfull feare, as saith Gregory in Mor. li. 4.
Of the order of Archangells. Cap. 17.
THe eight order is of Archangels that is to be understood, highest messengers,
