holy angels, insofar as in itself it is just and is wise, is only assisted inwardly and
372 The Literal Meaning ofGenesis
First of all he subjects all things to himself, and then the bodily creation to the spiritual, the non-rational to the rational, the earthly to the heavenly, the femi nine to the masculine, the weaker to the stronger, the needier to the better endowed; while with wills he subjects the good ones to himself, the rest on the other hand to those who are at his service, so that the bad will may suffer what the good one does on God's orders, whether directly or through another bad will, by means ofthings at least which are by nature subject even to bad wills, which is to say by means of bodies. For bad wills have within themselves as their interior punishment their very own iniquity.
24. 45. And thus to the sublime angels, who enjoy God in obedience and serve him in bliss, are subjected every bodily nature, every non-rational form of life, every will whether weak or bent. This is so that they may act upon or together with the things subjected to them, whatever the order of nature requires in all of them, on the orders of him to whom all things are subject. Accordingly they see in him unchangeable Truth, and in accordance with this they direct the wills subordinate to them. They therefore are made participants in the eternity, truth, and will of the one who is always without time and place. But at his direction, while he remains motionless in terms of time, they are moved in terms of time; not, however, in such a way that they pull or drift away from contemplating him, but simultaneously they contemplate him without place or time, and carry out his orders in the lower spheres, moving themselves in time, bodies in both time and place as their activity requires. And thus it is that God presides over his universal creation by the twofold operation of his providence; over specific natures that they may come to be, over wills on the other hand that they may do nothing without either his orders or his permission.
More on the interaction ofcreatures, especially ofangels on lower orders of creation
25. 46. The nature, therefore, of the total bodily or material universe does not receive any external assistance in material or bodily form; after all there is no material body outside it—if there were it would not be the universe. But inter nally it is assisted in a non-material, non-bodily way by God so acting that it should simply be, since from him and through him and in him are all things (Rom 1 1 :36). The parts, however, of the same universe are assisted both inwardly in a non-bodily manner—or rather they are made to be the natures they are; and also outwardly in a bodily manner to help them be in better shape, as with nourishment, agriculture, medicine and all the things that are done by way of adornment, so that they may not only be healthy and more fruitful, but also more presentable.
47. The created spiritual nature, however, if it is perfect and blessed as in the holy angels, insofar as in itself it is just and is wise, is only assisted inwardly and