Chapter XV.
Of the fact that it is not without reason that the names
of angels and archangels are given to holy and heavenly powers.
For
no one doubts that not
without cause or reason are the same titles of rank assigned to the
better sort, and that they are names of office and of worth or dignity,
for it is plain that they are termed angels, i.e., messengers from
their office of bearing messages, and the appropriateness of the name
teaches that they are “archangels” because they preside
over angels, “dominions” because they hold dominion over
certain persons, and “principalities” because they have
some to be princes over, and “thrones” because they are so
near to God and so privy and close to Him that the Divine Majesty
specially rests in them as in a Divine throne, and in a way reclines
surely on them.