¶Of the order of Thrones. Chap. 10.
THe thirde order is the order of Thrones, and this order hath the name of the gift of dome. For that God sitteth in them, and giueth his sentence of iudgement, and by them he disposeth all subiects, as saith Isidore. Therefore the vertue of Gods equitie is lykened to a firie throne in Daniel, yt is to meane, for c••••erenesse of knowledge, for by them, God foreseeing euery thing, discusseth readely all things, and for swiftenesse that nothing may withstand or let. Then these Angells, in which righteousnesse of Gods iudgement specially shineth, he called Thrones, of Isidore. And there∣fore Denys calleth them the highest seates, for they be high vp authoritie of God, as it were instruments of Gods Iustice, ordained to gouerne: higher, for that they followe the rule of the righteousnesse of God in iudgement, but highest, for that they be ••••re the pre∣sence of God, in the disposition of the Hierarchies. Strongly placed, for that they are couenablye and conuenientlye ioyned, touching the ioynture and con∣uenience of the iudgements of God. For it is determined and conuenient, that euery man receiue for trespasse paine, and for righteousnesse blisse, and such reward as his worke asketh, acception or reiec∣tion: and therefore payne accordeth co∣uenably to trespasse, and blysse to righ∣teousnesse. For if trepasse and blysse, payne and righteousnesse agree not, they shoulde not haue a seate ordayned coue∣nablye togethers. For compa••ion and vpright iudgement is the rightfulnesse of Domes. The seates are frée of all shamefull subiection: For euer the more subiect they be to GOD that is aboue them, the more worthye they are to bee made high by him, and in him, Sedes De•• se••re, seates that beare God, for they beare God that is aboue them, and they set foorth and shewe the might of God by diuine mouings, in creatures that he subiect.
Seates that belong to the comming of God, that is aboue vnmateriall, and aboue worldlye taking. For they take the knowledge of God without stu∣dye and wearinesse, and sendeth it forth to the lower, without grieuous suffe∣raunce, and without withdrawing.
Whereby they teach vs ghostlye, that we putting aparte materiall and earth∣lye things shoulde appoynt and make vs meete to receyue things that euer∣las••eth.
Also these seates are without ende, that is to vnderstande, without begin∣ning and ende. For in God, to whom they are nigh, is founde neyther be∣ginning neyther ende. So the Thrones receyue the vertue of God, and sen∣••eth the same to the lower. They make themselues subiect to God obedientlye and not of anye necessitie, but by ve∣rye freedome, they shewe themselues subiect in all deedes.