a fountain: As the sun standeth in the midst among the planets, and is a king of the stars, and the heart of nature in this world, so great also is a Cherubim or king of angels. 21. As the six planets with the sun are leaders of hosts, and give up or submit their will to the sun, that it may reign and work in them, so all the angels give up or submit their will to the king, and the princely angels are in council with the king. 22. But thou must know here that they all have a lovewill one to another, none of them grudgeth the other * his form and beauty; for as it goeth among the spirits of God, so it goeth among these. * " none of them grudgeth the other," etc., " none grudgeth the other his form and beauty; for it is (or goeth) among them as among the spirits of God " (St Martin). 23. They all have jointly and equally the divine joy, and they equally enjoy the heavenly food, therein there is no difference. 24. Only in the colours and strength of power is there a difference, but no difference at all in the perfection; for every one hath in him the power of all the spirits of God; therefore when the light of the Son of God shineth on them, then each angel's quality sheweth itself by the colour. 25. I have reckoned up only some few of the forms and colours of them, but there are a great many more that might be written down, which I will omit for brevity's sake. 26. For as the Deity presenteth itself infinitely in its rising up, so there are unsearchable varieties of colour and form among the angels: I can shew thee no right similitude of it in this world, unless it be in a blossoming field of flowers in May, which yet is but a dead and earthly type. Of the Angelical Joy. Question. 27. Now it may be asked, What then is it that the angels do in heaven? Or to what end and purpose hath God created them? Answer. 28. You may observe this, you greedy, covetous, griping persons, you who in this world seek after pride, state, dignity, honour, fame, glory, power, money and goods, and squeeze out the sweat and blood of the poor, oppressed and distressed, and spend their labours upon your gallantry, bravery and stateliness, and think yourselves better than plain and simple lay, vulgar people, and suppose it is what God hath created you for. Question. Why hath God created angelprinces and notmade them all equal, or alike? Answer. 29. Behold, God is the God of order; and as it is, and as it goeth and moveth in his government in himself, that is, in his birth or geniture, and in his rising up, so also is the order of the angels. 30. Now as there are in him chiefly seven qualities, whereby the whole divine being is. driven on, and sheweth itself infinitely in these seven qualities, and yet these seven qualities are the chief or prime in the infiniteness, whereby the divine birth or geniture stands eternally in its order unchangeably: 31. And as in the midst or centre of the seven spirits of God the heart of life is generated, whence the divine joy riseth up; thus also is the order of angels. 32. The angelprinces were created according to the spirits of God, and the Cherubim according to the heart of God: And as the divine being worketh, so also do the angels. 33. That quality which riseth up in God's being, and chiefly sheweth itself in its working, as in the rising up of the tone or tune, or of the divine working, wrestling and fighting, that angelical prince who is most strongly addicted to that quality begins, in his rank or file and round, with his legions, with singing, ringing forth, dancing, rejoicing and jubilating. 34. This is heavenly music, for here every one singeth according to the voice of his quality, and the prince leadeth the choir or chorus, as a chanter or singingmaster with his scholars; and the king rejoiceth and jubilateth with his angels, to the honour of the great God, and to the increasing and multiplying of the heavenly joys, and that is in the heart of God as a holy sport or scene; and to that end also are they created for the joy and honour of God. 35. Now when the heavenly music of the angel riseth up, then in the heavenly pomp, in the divine Salitter, there rise up all manner of vegetations, springings or sprouts, also all manner of figures, shapes or ideas, and all manner of colours; for the Deity presenteth, sheweth or discovereth itself in endless and unsearchable varieties of kinds, colours, ideas, forms and joys.
a fountain: As the sun stands in the midst among the planets, and is a king of the stars, and the heart of nature in this world, so great also is a Cherubim or king of angels. 21. As the six planets with the sun are leaders of hosts, and give up or submit their will to the sun, that it may reign and work in them, so all the angels give up or submit their will to the king, and the princely angels are in council with the king. 22. But you must know here that they all have a lovewill one to another, none of them grudgs the other * his form and beauty; for as it goes among the spirits of God, so it goes among these. * " none of them grudgs the other," etc., " none grudgs the other his form and beauty; for it is (or goes) among them as among the spirits of God " (St Martin). 23. They all have jointly and equally the divine joy, and they equally enjoy the heavenly food, therein there is no difference. 24. Only in the colours and strength of power is there a difference, but no difference at all in the perfection; for every one has in him the power of all the spirits of God; therefore when the light of the Son of God shines on them, then each angel's quality shows itself by the colour. 25. I have reckoned up only some few of the forms and colours of them, but there are a great many more that might be written down, which I will omit for brevity's sake. 26. For as the Deity presents itself infinitely in its rising up, so there are unsearchable varieties of colour and form among the angels: I can show you no right similitude of it in this world, unless it be in a blossoming field of flowers in May, which yet is but a dead and earthly type. Of the Angelical Joy. Question. 27. Now it may be asked, What then is it that the angels do in heaven? Or to what end and purpose has God created them? Answer. 28. You may observe this, you greedy, covetous, griping persons, you who in this world seek after pride, state, dignity, honour, fame, glory, power, money and goods, and squeeze out the sweat and blood of the poor, oppressed and distressed, and spend their labours upon your gallantry, bravery and stateliness, and think yourselves better than plain and simple lay, vulgar people, and suppose it is what God has created you for. Question. Why has God created angelprinces and notmade them all equal, or alike? Answer. 29. Behold, God is the God of order; and as it is, and as it goes and moves in his government in himself, that is, in his birth or geniture, and in his rising up, so also is the order of the angels. 30. Now as there are in him chiefly seven qualities, whereby the whole divine being is. driven on, and shows itself infinitely in these seven qualities, and yet these seven qualities are the chief or prime in the infiniteness, whereby the divine birth or geniture stands eternally in its order unchangeably: 31. And as in the midst or centre of the seven spirits of God the heart of life is generated, whence the divine joy rises up; thus also is the order of angels. 32. The angelprinces were created according to the spirits of God, and the Cherubim according to the heart of God: And as the divine being works, so also do the angels. 33. That quality which rises up in God's being, and chiefly shows itself in its working, as in the rising up of the tone or tune, or of the divine working, wrestling and fighting, that angelical prince who is most strongly addicted to that quality begins, in his rank or file and round, with his legions, with singing, ringing forth, dancing, rejoicing and jubilating. 34. This is heavenly music, for here every one sings according to the voice of his quality, and the prince leads the choir or chorus, as a chanter or singingmaster with his scholars; and the king rejoics and jubilats with his angels, to the honour of the great God, and to the increasing and multiplying of the heavenly joys, and that is in the heart of God as a holy sport or scene; and to that end also are they created for the joy and honour of God. 35. Now when the heavenly music of the angel rises up, then in the heavenly pomp, in the divine Salitter, there rise up all manner of vegetations, springings or sprouts, also all manner of figures, shapes or ideas, and all manner of colours; for the Deity presents, shows or discovers itself in endless and unsearchable varieties of kinds, colours, ideas, forms and joys.
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