Chapter VI.
On the production of the supernal spirits.
Next we must treat of the spiritual and incorporeal nature, such as is the angelic, concerning which we must consider with regard to the condition of the supernal spirits, with regard to the fall of the demons, and with regard to the confirmation of the good Angels.
It must be known, therefore, that to the Angels from the beginning of their creation four things are attributed, namely simplicity of essence, personal distinction, on account of innate reason memory, intelligence, and will, and freedom of choice for choosing good and rejecting evil. — These four principal attributes are accompanied by four others, namely vigor in operating, dutifulness in ministering, perspicacity in knowing, and immutability after choice, whether in good or in evil.
The reason for understanding the aforesaid is this: because the First Principle, by the very fact that it is first, produced all things from nothing, therefore it ought to have produced not only near to nothing, but also near to itself; not only a substance far from itself, namely corporeal nature, but also one near to it: and this is the intellectual and incorporeal substance, which, by the very fact that it is most like God, has simplicity of nature and personal distinction, so that it may be likened to God on the part of substance, whether common or individual.
It has also in the mind the image of the Trinity according to memory, intelligence, and will; it has also freedom of the will, so that it may be likened to God on the part of power, whether natural or elective, so that natural power may be marked with the image of God, and elective power with freedom of choice. For it would in no way arrive meritoriously at the glorious reward, which makes each one blessed, unless it had free choice of the will; but this cannot exist except in a rational substance, which is accompanied by memory, intelligence, and will. But where there is reason, there must be "an individual substance of a rational nature"; it is also necessary that it be a spiritual and incorporeal substance, and through this simple, lacking all quantitative dimension.
Such a substance, by the very fact that it is simple, is powerful in operating; by the very fact that it is powerful and personally distinct, there belongs to it distinction of office in ministering; by the very fact that it is simple and powerful, there belongs to it perspicacity in discerning; by the very fact that it is simple and perspicacious, having a deiform intellect, therefore it has stability after choice in what has been chosen, whether in good or in evil. — And these conditions generally accompany the general condition of the supernal spirits.