DiotimosReading Desk

Explained supporting records

Angels, creation, and hierarchy

Cherubin, Seraphin, Ertzengel, Engel

In the Nature dialogue, Nature describes angels as God’s products from the purest portion of first matter, followed by the heavens and then the elements from progressively less pure portions.

From the book

The Sophic Hydrolith, Water Stone of the Wise

Anonymous and companion authors · Diotimos Editions · 2026

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Meaning

In the Nature dialogue, Nature describes angels as God’s products from the purest portion of first matter, followed by the heavens and then the elements from progressively less pure portions. These names articulate a hierarchy of creation, not four ingredients. Nature calls herself the first creature in this same exposition. Later the Alchemist praises her as God’s most perfect creature “after the angels.” The different statements belong to different speakers and need not be forced into a single chronological ranking. The English’s “after the angels” translates nach den Engeln accurately, but its apparently orderly formulation should not erase the earlier self-description. Both speeches subordinate Nature’s power to God.

Places to read

  1. Nature’s Demonstration to the Erring Alchemist · unit 6Purest first matter yields angels; less pure yields heavens, then elements.
  2. Nature’s Demonstration to the Erring Alchemist · unit 13The Alchemist places Nature after the angels among God’s perfect creatures.

Attested forms

Cherubin; Seraphin; Ertzengel; Engel; nach den Engeln