CHAP. VIII. How Speech is attributable to Angels?
I. Speech is twofold. NOtwithstanding that Angels are simple Beings, and do not consist of Soul and Body; yet most Metaphysicians Attribute Speech to them, whereby they are capable of conversing with one another. For that is not only call'd Speech, which is performed by the outward Organs of the Body, but also that inward speaking of the Mind, whereby it thinks or perceives; according to that Expression of the XIV. Psalm. The Fool hath said in his Heart, &c. and suitable to that way of speaking we so frequently use, when we say to others What saith your Heart to this or that? And of this man∣ner of Speech Divines are to be understood, when they enquire whether Angels Speak, and make known their Conceptions to one another.
II. 'Tis not ne∣cessary that Angels should speak to one another. This Question may be resolv'd from the Third Chapter; for seeing that Angels penetrate each o∣thers Thoughts, and Voluntary Determinations, they do not seem to need Speech, because this is on∣ly requisit for Communication, and mutual Society. For there are four things required to Speech. First, that it be free, according to the will of the Speaker. Secondly, That it be discovered only according to his intent and likeing; so as to reveal secrets to those to whom it is directed, and conceal them from others tho' present. Thirdly, that the Speaker be able to excite him whom he is about to speak to, tho' he may be busied about other thoughts. Fourth∣ly, That he that hears may know from whom the Speech procceds.
III. Angels cannot speak ac∣cording to these Con∣ditions of Speech. But how shall the Speech of Angels be Free▪ when their thoughts are always open to others? and seeing it is not in their Power to conceal their thoughts from others? How will they be able to chuse their Auditors, so as not to open their Secrets, but to whom they please, since it is not in their Power to hide them, and that their Perceptions are as Natural as their Substance? Moreover how will they be able to excite their Auditors to the under∣standing of what they have to say, since they have nothing new to manifest to them? Lastly, how shall the Auditor know him that speaks to him, and Distinguish him from others, if he be not call'd upon, and if from his knowledg nothing accrue to him? Wherefore we must conclud•• that An∣gels do not discourse together after the manner of Men; but that they so understand each others Conceptions, as that nothing is hid from them. Whence Divines tell us that the Language of Angels is their Understanding.
IV. Some Scrip∣tures ex∣plained which at∣tribute Speech 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Angels. Neither is it any contradiction to this, what the Scripture mentions of the Discourse and Speech of Angels, as that of the 7th of the Revelation, where an Angel is said to call with a loud Voice to the four Angels; and in the 6th of Isaiah tis said that the Seraphims cried one to the other and said, &c. And the Apostle saith in the 13 Chapter of the first Epistle to the Corinthians, If I speak with the Tongues of Men and Angels, &c. because the Speeches here spoken of are Visionary and only seem'd to be utter'd by the Angels. For Spirit▪ do not discourse together by an outward Voice for∣med in the Air; neither do they discover their thoughts as we do by any outward Organs. There∣fore these Speeches were seemingly heard by the Prophets, for their Illumination, and that Posterity Reading their Writings, might be acquainted with those Mysteries, and be assur'd of them by their Testimony. As to that Expression of the Apostle, who Attributes Tongues to Angels, this must not be understood of those Internal Speeches which An∣gels use amongst themselves; but of those which An∣gels in former times used amongst Men, to manifest their Conceptions unto them, which tho' they were known and understood by Believers, yet served only to strike Unbelievers with Wonder, and Astonishment. And that this is the Genuine Sense of the Apostle in this place, appears from the Words immediately following, and have not Cha∣rity, I am become as sounding Brass, or a Tinkling Cymbal; which is only applicable to outward Speech∣es, that is, to Sounds and Voices utter'd by Bodily Or∣gans, which we know cannot be fram'd by Angels.
V. The Man∣ner how the Angels speak is in∣explicable. Neither indeed can it be shewed, how Angels Speak or Discourse, since it may be question'd whe∣ther the signs wherewith they express their Thoughts be Spiritual or Corporeal. And again, whether those Signs be Natural, or Voluntary. Whether all Angels make use of the same Signs, or every one of them have Signs peculiar to themselves. How it comes to pass, that when one Angel speaks, all the rest (without any difference) do not hear his Speech? By what Artifice their Communication may be hindred? Whether against their Will they perceive the Speeches of others; or whether their Consent be required to the perception of them? Whether Angels can reveal their Thoughts to some, and hide them from and impose them upon others? Which things, and many other such like, cannot be attributed to these Heavenly Spirits, and therefore prove their Conversation to be diffe∣rent from ours.
VI. Superior Angels in∣form the Inferiour of things unknown to them. It remains therefore, if Speech be attributable to Angels, that the same only belongs to Superiour Angels, with respect to such as are Inferiour: For seeing that Speech is the manifestation of some∣thing unknown, if any New thing be discovered to them, it must proceed from the Superiour Angels. Wherefore Divines admit Illumination, which is a kind of Speech, to be amongst Angels, whereby