7

Now from these two middle steps, by which we proceed to contemplate God

within ourselves as in the mirrors of created images - and this as with

wings opened for flying which hold the middle place - we can understand that

we are led into the divine by the powers of the rational soul itself placed

therein by nature as far as their operations, habits, and knowledge are

concerned, as appears from the third stage. For we are led by the powers of

the soul reformed by virtues freely granted, by the spiritual senses, and

by mental elevation, as appears from the fourth stage. We are nonetheless

led through hierarchical operations, that is, by purgation, illumination,

and perfection of human minds through the hierarchical revelations of the

Holy Scriptures given to us, according to the Apostle, through the Angels

in the hand of a mediator [Gal., 3, 19]. And finally we are led by

hierarchies and hierarchical orders which are found to be ordered in our

minds in the likeness of the heavenly Jerusalem.