Paraphrasis in Dionysium Areopagitam

these are veils. And this is clear from the fact that some of the prophets have clearly heard, that is, a theology devoid of coverings. To whom the Lord appeared to Abraham, or to Moses, and said such and such; and the word of the Lord came to the prophet. They fashion for themselves a certain type, that is, a vision of the divine, and one suitable to the divine nature. For how could one who is uninitiated be guided toward an understanding of the aforementioned theology? And the creatures themselves are presented as if they were placed before the invisible and intelligible things. And this is not only what the divine apostle Paul says, that "the invisible things of Him are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made," but also the true Word Himself, our Lord Jesus Christ, when He says, "If I have told you earthly things, and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?" Therefore, the prophets sometimes observe politically and legally, when Isaiah says: "And come, let us reason together, says the Lord." For this is the way of politics and laws. At other times they observe through purification, when they exhort: "You who thirst, go to the water, and wash, become clean, and draw near to Him, and be enlightened." For these are the things of teaching and purification. Those political and legal things hold the rank of symbols, for they are coarser and clear to us. But these, the purifying and undefiled things, hold the rank of a theology devoid of symbols. Therefore, those are [spoken of] in a human way, or also somehow more highly—for this is what is "intermediate"—but these are [spoken of] more highly and in a perfection-working way. And those are from visible laws, but these are from invisible decrees. For the things of the old law are announced visibly, but are understood invisibly. For since He legislated the fasts, and the Sabbaths, and the new moons, why does He later say through Isaiah: "For who has sought these things from...