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| Chapter V
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Chapter V.
For to invoke angels without having obtained a knowledge
of their nature greater than is possessed by men, would be contrary to
reason. But, conformably to our hypothesis, let this knowledge of
them, which is something wonderful and mysterious, be obtained.
Then this knowledge, making known to us their nature, and the offices
to which they are severally appointed, will not permit us to pray with
confidence to any other than to the Supreme God, who is sufficient for
all things, and that through our Saviour the Son of God, who is the
Word, and Wisdom, and Truth, and everything else which the writings of
God’s prophets and the apostles of Jesus entitle Him. And
it is enough to secure that the holy angels of God be propitious to us,4085
and that they do all things on our behalf, that our disposition of mind
towards God should imitate as far as it is within the power of human
nature the example of these holy angels, who again follow the example
of their God; and that the conceptions which we entertain of His Son,
the Word, so far as attainable by us, should not be opposed to the
clearer conceptions of Him which the holy angels possess, but should
daily approach these in clearness and distinctness. But because
Celsus has not read our holy Scriptures, he gives himself an answer as
if it came from us, saying that we “assert that the angels who
come down from heaven to confer benefits on mankind are a different
race from the gods,” and adds that “in all probability they
would be called demons by us:” not observing that the name
“demons” is not a term of indifferent meaning like that of
“men,” among whom some are good and some bad, nor yet a
term of excellence like that of “the gods,” which is
applied not to wicked demons, or to statues, or to animals, but (by
those who know divine things) to what is truly divine and blessed;
whereas the term “demons” is always applied to those wicked
powers, freed from the encumbrance of a grosser body, who lead men
astray, and fill them with distractions and drag them down from God and
supercelestial thoughts to things here below.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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