VI. Angelic law and five offices: singers, orators, ambassadors, protectors, war-leaders
VI. That law is that by which obedience is required of them — the same in substance as the Decalogue prescribed to human beings. Yet here must be excepted all that regards either the nature of the human body or the condition of this mortal life: many duties of the second and fourth commandments; many of inferiors toward superiors, as of children toward parents in the fifth; many concerning the propagation of the race in the seventh; and some concerning the way of gaining livelihood in the eighth — which do not suit them.
The offices of angels are roughly fivefold. They are first singers, second orators, third ambassadors, fourth protectors, fifth war-leaders. Their first and chief task is always to love God and never cease praising Him; they so love that they burn for God, and so love that with a sleepless harmony of praise they praise Him together. Who will make the concert of heaven sleep? Job asks (38:37). Otherwise in heaven the angels sing and make the pleasure of their music more lasting: they begin and never leave off; they satisfy and create no weariness. Isaiah heard and wrote the words of that heavenly oratory (chapter 6), where the Seraphim cried one to another: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory.
Their second office: they are orators (Revelation 8:3). Third: ambassadors in affairs of highest moment. Fourth: they are protectors (Psalm 91). Fifth: they are war-leaders, and such that whenever they will they have victory standing on their side (Exodus 23:20; Joshua 5).
Latin
VI. Lex illa est, qua ab iis postulatur obedientia, quantum ad substantiam eadem, quam decalogus hominibus praescribit. Sunt autem hic excipienda ea omnia quae vel humani corporis naturam, vel huius mortalis vitae conditionem respiciunt, qualia sunt multa officia secundo et quarto praecepto, multa inferiorum erga superiores puta liberorum erga parentes quinto, multa de propagatione generis septimo, quaedam de acquirendi victus ratione octavo nobis praescripta, quae ipsis haud conveniunt. Sunt autem angelorum officia ferme quintuplicia. Sunt enim 1. cantores, 2. oratores, 3. legati, 4. protectores, 5. belli duces. Primum et princeps eorum munus est, Deum semper amare et nunquam non laudare; sic amant ut ardeant Deum, sic amant ut pervigili et insopita laudis harmonia collaudent. Concentum caeli quis dormire faciet? quaerit Iobus 38:37. Aliter in caelo canunt angeli et prolixiorem faciunt suae musicae voluptatem: incipiunt et nunquam desinunt; satiant nec taedium creant. Esaias audiit et caelestis illius orarii verba descripsit (cap. 6), ubi Seraphini clamabant alter ad alterum: Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus Dominus Deus exercituum; plena est omnis terra gloria eius. Alterum angelorum munus: oratores sunt (Apoc. 8:3). Tertium: legati sunt in summi momenti negotiis. Quartum: protectores sunt (Psal. 91). Quintum: belli duces sunt, et tales ut quoties velint a parte sua stantem habeant victoriam (Exod. 23:20; Ios. 5).