After dealing with the nature of the angels, their knowledge and will, it now remains for us to treat of their creation, or, speaking in a general way, of their origin.
Such consideration is threefold.
In the first place we must see how they were brought into natural existence; secondly, how they were made perfect in grace or glory; and thirdly, how some of them became wicked.
Under the first heading there are four points of inquiry:
A1 Whether the angel has a cause of his existence?
A2 Whether he has existed from eternity?
A3 Whether he was created before corporeal creatures?
A4 Whether the angels were created in the empyrean heaven?
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