8. The angels are also represented as in the flower of youthful age: for they never grow old. [Footnote 264] Sometimes S. Michael is represented trampling the dragon, according to that of John, 'There was war in heaven: Michael fought with the dragon.' Which was to represent the dissensions of the angels: the confirmation of them that were good, and the ruin of them that were bad: or the persecution of the faithful in the Church Militant. Sometimes the twenty-four elders are painted around the Saviour, according to the vision of the said John, with 'white garments, and they have on their heads crowns of gold.' [Footnote 265]By which are signified the doctors of the Old and New Testament; which are twelve, on account of faith in the Holy Trinity preached through the _four_ quarters of the world: or twenty-four, on account of good works, and the keeping of the gospels. [Footnote 266] If the seven lamps be added, the gifts of the Holy Spirit are represented: if the sea of glass, baptism. [Footnote 267] [Footnote 264: Many of our readers will call to mind the peculiar expression always given to the countenances of angels in Catholic illuminations or paintings, a conventional propriety uniformly neglected by modern artists. The same character was beautifully given in the relieved figures of angels upon the shrine of S. Henry lately exhibiting in London.] [Footnote 265: Apocalypse xii, 7.] [Footnote 266: Apocalypse iv, 4.] [Footnote 267: This very obscure passage is an instance of the symbolism in the combination of numbers. It seems to mean that faith in the Holy Trinity preached through the four quarters of the world, may be represented by three multiplied into four or twelve: and again, this symbolical fact multiplied by general good works and keeping of the Gospels, may be set forth in twenty-four. It is to be remarked that the princeps edition alone gives _Evangeliorum_: the later have _Evangelistarum_, which with _observantia_ is scarcely intelligible. Compare S. August, Expos. in Psalm lxxxvi. Non solum ergo illi duodecim (sc. Apostoli) et Apostolus Paulus, sed quotquot judicaturi sunt, propter significationem universitatis ad sedes duodenas pertinent . . . partes enim mundi quatuor sunt, Oriens, Occidens, Aquilo, et Meridies. Istae quatuor partes assidue inveniuntur in Scripturis. Ab istis quatuor ventus, sicut dixit Dominus in Evangelio vocatur Ecclesia. Quomodo vocatur? Undique in Trinitate vocatur. Quatuor ergo ter ducta duodecim inveniuntur. See also S. Isidore, Alleg. in S. S. folio 353, C. D.]