The ninth Chapter. 503.
Of the contention betweene the Greeke and Latine church touching the fall of angels, the variance among papists themselves herein, a conflict betweene Michael and Lucifer.
T HERE was also another contention betweene the Greeke church and the Latine; to wit, of what orders of angels they were that did fall with Lucifer. Our schoolemen saie they were of all the nine orders of angels in Lucifers conspiracie. But bicause the superior order was of the more noble constitution and excellent estate, and the inferior of a lesse worthie nature, the more part of the inferior orders fell as guiltie and offenders with Lucifer.Lau. Anan. lib. de natur. dæm. 1. Some saie the divell himselfe was of the inferior order of angels, and some that he was of the highest order: bicause it is written, In cherubim extentus & protegens posui te in monte sancto Dei. And these saie further, that he was called the dragon, bicause of his excellent knowledge. Finallie, these great doctors conclude, that the divell himselfe was of the order of seraphim, which is the highest, because it is written, Quomodo enim manè oriebaris Lucifer?*[* Isai. 14. 12] They of this sect affirme, that Cacodæmones were they that rebelled against Jove; I meane they of Plato his sect, himselfe also holding the same opinion.I will settle my selfe in the north, and will be like the highest. Our schoolemen differ much in the cause of Lucifers fall. For some said it was for speaking these words, Ponam sedem meam in aquilone, & similis ero altissimo:†[† Isai. 14. 13, 14] others saie, bicause he utterlie refused felicitie, and thought scorne therof; others saie, bicause he thought all his strength proceeded from him selfe, and not from God; others saie that it was, bicause he attempted to doo that by himselfe, and his owne abilitie, which he should have obteined by the gift of another;/362. others saie, that his condemnation grew hereupon, for that he challenged the place of the Messias; others saie, bicause he detracted the time to adore the majestie of God, as other angels did; others saie, bi/cause504. he utterlie refused it. Scotus and his disciples saie that it was, bicause he rebelliouslie claimed equall omnipotencie with God: with whom lightlie the Thomists never agree. Others saie it was for all these causes together, and manie more: so as hereupon (saith Laurentius Ananias)Laur. Anan. lib. de natur. dæm. 1. grew a wonderfull conflict betweene Michaël and the good angels on the one side, and Lucifer and his freends on the other: so as, after a long and doubtfull skirmish, Michaël overthrew Lucifer, and turned him and his fellowes out of the doores.