The Works of Dionysius the Areopagite (Divine Names, Celestial Hierarchy, Mystical Theology)

now, collecting from the Oracles so much as serves the purpose of our present treatise, and using the things aforesaid as a kind of canon Canon: a rule or standard for judgment, and keeping our eyes upon them, let us advance to the unfolding of the names of God which fall within the range of our understanding. And, as the hierarchical rule always teaches us throughout every phase of theology, let us become initiated (to speak authoritatively) in the godlike contemplations with a god-enlightened conception. And let us bring religious ears to the unfoldings of the holy names of God, implanting the Holy in the Holy, according to the Divine tradition, and removing it from the laughter and jeers of the uninitiated; yea, rather, if certain men really are such, purifying them from their fighting against God in this matter. Be it yours, then, to guard these things, O excellent Timothy, according to the most holy leading, and to make the things Divine neither spoken nor known to the uninitiated. For myself, may Almighty God give me to celebrate, in a manner worthy of God, the numerous beneficent names of the uncalled and unnamed Deity; and may He not take away a word of truth from my mouth.

CAPUT II.

SECTION I.

Concerning common and distinctive theology, and what is the Divine Union and distinction.

LET then the self-existent Goodness be sung from the Oracles as defining and manifesting the whole