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16. Or who but Thou, our God, made for us that firmament . of
authority over us in Thy divine Scripture?. As it is said, For
heaven shall be folded up like a scroll; and now it is extended over us
like a skin. For Thy divine Scripture is of more sublime authority,
since those mortals through whom Thou didst dispense it unto us
underwent mortality. And Thou knowest, O Lord, Thou knowest,
how Thou with skins didst clothe men . when by sin they became
mortal. Whence as a skin hast Thou stretched out the firmament of
Thy Book; that is to say, Thy harmonious words, which by the
ministry of mortals Thou hast spread over us. For by their very death
is that solid firmament of authority in Thy discourses set forth by
them more sublimely extended above all things that are under it, the
which, while they were living here, was not so eminently extended.
Thou hadst not as yet spread abroad the heaven like a skin; Thou
hadst not as yet noised everywhere the report of their deaths.
17. Let us look, O Lord, "upon the heavens, the work of Thy
fingers;". clear from our eyes that mist with which Thou hast
covered them. There is that testimony of Thine which giveth wisdom
unto the little ones. Perfect, O my God, Thy praise out of the
mouth of babes and sucklings.30 Nor have we known any other books so
destructive to pride, so destructive to the enemy and the defender,
who resisteth Thy reconciliation in defence of his own sins. I know
not, O Lord, I know not other such "pure" words which so persuade
me to confession, and make my neck submissive to Thy yoke, and invite
me to serve Thee for nought. Let me understand these things, good
Father. Grant this to me, placed under them; because Thou hast
established these things for those placed under them.
18. Other "waters" there be "above" this "firmament," I
believe immortal, and removed from earthly corruption. Let them
praise Thy Name, those super-celestial people, Thine angels,
who have no need to look up at this firmament, or by reading to attain
the knowledge of Thy Word, let them praise Thee. For they
always behold Thy face, and therein read without any syllables in time
what Thy eternal will willeth. They read, they choose, they love.
They are always reading; and that which they read never passeth away.
For, by choosing and by loving, they read the very unchangeableness
of Thy counsel. Their book is not closed, nor is the scroll folded
up, because Thou Thyself art this to them, yea, and art so
eternally; because Thou hast appointed them above this firmament,
which Thou hast made firm over the weakness of the lower people, where
they might look up and learn Thy mercy, announcing in time Thee who
hast made times. "For Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens, and
Thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds." The clouds pass away,
but the heaven remaineth. The preachers of Thy Word pass away from
this life into another; but Thy Scripture is spread abroad over the
people, even to the end of the world. Yea, both heaven and earth
shall pass away, but Thy Words shall not pass away. Because the
scroll shall be rolled together, and the grass over which it was spread
shall with its goodliness pass away; but Thy Word remaineth for
ever, which now appeareth unto us in the dark image of the clouds, and
through the glass of the heavens, not as it is; because we also,
although we be the well-beloved of Thy Son, yet it hath not yet
appeared what we shall be. He looketh through the lattice of our
flesh, and He is fair-speaking, and hath inflamed us, and we run
after His odours. But "when He shall appear, then shall we be like
Him, for we shall see Him as He is." As He is, O Lord, shall
we see Him, although the time be not yet.
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