1. The Book of Gold | 2. His Heavenly Monitor |  3. Ministers of Special Providence | 4. Elastic As the Light | 5. An Angel in the House | 6. Christ the Lord of Angels | 7. An Angel Leads | 8. With Watchful Care | 9. Angels Sympathize with Men | 10. "The Lord Hath Sent His Angels." | 11. Protect, Defend and Foster | 12. Peopling the Aerial Spaces | 13. "Ere I Lay me down to Sleep." | 14. Outward Help and Relief | 15. Personal Beings in Scripture | 16. Compassion over Us | 17. Invisible Friends | 18. Their Durance Immortal | 19. Allotments of Happiness | 20. Synonym of Perfection | 21. His Best Angel, Love | 22. Clad in Angelic Light | 23. Children of the Sun | 24. Word Spoken by Angels | 25. Ever-Blooming Youth | 26. Formed into Armies | 27. Celestial Hierarchy | 28. Angel-Worship | 29. Story of the Archangels | 30. "To You who are Troubled."

CELESTIAL HIERARCHY.

September 27.

To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be
known by the church the manifold wisdom of God.—Ephesians 3:10.

THERE are nine choirs of angels, distributed into three hierarchies.
They are the Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones,
Dominions, Principalities, Powers, Virtues, Archangels and Angels.
Dionysius the Areopagite— to whom St. Paul confided all
that he had seen, when transported to the third heaven—teaches
there are three orders of angels: the superior— Cherubim, Seraphim,
and Thrones; the middle— Dominions, Principalities, and
Powers; the inferior— Virtues, Archangels, and Angels. Each
hierarchy is ordained that it might lead the less dignified, which
is next in order to it, towards God. "It remained for the theologians
of the Middle Ages to exercise their fruitful imaginations in
originating a systematic classification of the Orders of the Heavenly
Host, and assigning to each rank its distinctive office. The
warrant for these discriminations may seem insufficient to skeptical
minds, but speaking broadly, this classification was based
upon statements of St. Paul."                 —C. E. Clement.

Yet fairer is that heaven, in which do reign
The sovereign Powers and mighty Potentates,
Which on their high protections do contain
All mortal princes and imperial states;
And fairer yet, whereas the royal. seats
And heavenly Dominations are set,
From whom all earthly governance is fet.
                                        — Spenser.

Ancient names corresponding with the Scripture titles of the
nine orders of the celestial hierarchy :

Uriel-Seraphim.
The blessed Seraph doth imply,
The love we owe to the Most High.

Zophiel-Cherubim.
God 's knowledge treats the Cherubim,
He nothing knows that knows not God.

Zaphkiel-Thrones.
All glory to the Holy One,
Even Him that sits upon the Throne.

Zadkiel-Dominions.
There is no power, no domination,
But from the Lord of our Salvation.

Haniel-Virtues.
We aim at the celestial glory,
Below the moon all's transitory.

Raphael-Powers.
The mighty power of God was shown,
When the great Dragon was o'er thrown.

Chamiel-Principalities.
In heaven, in earth, in hell some sway,
Others again are taught to obey.

Michael-Archangel.
Michael whom Satan durst oppose,
Can guard us from inferior foes.

Gabriel-Angel.
The angel unto man known best,
As last of nine, concludes the rest.
         —Clayton's Angelology.