He who from among these angelic powers was set over πρωτοστάτης. Cf. Chrysost., Epist. ad Ephes., hom. 4, &c. the earthly realm, and into whose hands God committed the guardianship of the earth, was not made wicked in nature but was good, and made for good ends, and received from his Creator no trace whatever of evil in himself. But he did not sustain the brightness and the honour which the Creator had bestowed Text, ἐδωρήσατο. R. 1986, ἐχαρίσατο. on him, and of his free choice was changed from what was in harmony to what was at variance with his nature, and became roused against God Who created him, and determined to rise in rebellion against Him See Iren., bk. iv. c. 48, &c.: and he was the first to depart from good and become evil Greg. Nyss., Orat. Catech., cp. 6.. For evil is nothing else than absence of goodness, just as darkness also is absence of light. For goodness is the light of the mind, and, similarly, evil is the darkness of the mind. Light, therefore, being the work of the Creator and being made good (for God saw all that He made, and behold they were exceeding good Gen. i. 31.) produced darkness at His free-will. But along with him an innumerable host of angels subject to him were torn away and followed him and shared in his fall. Wherefore, being of the same nature See Greg. Naz., Orat. 19, 38; Chrysost., In S. Babyl. Or. 2; Basil, in Jesaiam, ch. 1, &c. as the angels, they became wicked, turning away at their own free choice from good to evil Quæst. ad Antioch. 10..