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SERENUS: The authority of holy Scripture says on those points on which
it would inform us some things so plainly and clearly even to those who are
utterly void of understanding, that not only are they not veiled in the
obscurity of any hidden meaning, but do not even require the help of any
explanation, but carry their meaning and sense on the surface of the words
and letters: but some things are so concealed and involved in mysteries as
to offer us an immense field for skill and care in the discussion and
explanation of them. And it is clear that God has so ordered it for many
reasons: first for fear lest the holy mysteries, if they were covered by no
veil of spiritual meaning, should be exposed equally to the knowledge and
understanding of everybody, i.e., the profane as well as the faithful and
thus there might be no difference in the matter of goodness and prudence
between the lazy and the earnest: next that among those who are indeed of
the household of faith, while immense differences of intellectual power
open out before them, there might be the opportunity of reproving the
slothfulness of the idle, and of proving the keenness and diligence of the
earnest. And so holy Scripture is fitly compared to a rich and fertile
field, which, while bearing and producing much which is good for man's food
without being cooked by fire, produces some things which are found to be
unsuitable for man's use or even harmful unless they have lost all the
roughness of their raw condition by being tempered and softened down by the
heat of fire. But some are naturally fit for use in both states, so that
even when uncooked they are not unpleasant from their raw condition, but
still are rendered more palatable by being cooked and heated by fire. Many
more things too are produced only fit for the food of irrational creatures,
and cattle, and wild animals and birds, but utterly useless as food for
men, which while still in their rough state without being in any way
touched by fire, conduce to the health and life of cattle. And we can
clearly see that the same system holds good in that most fruitful garden of
the Scriptures of the Spirit, in which some things shine forth clear and
bright in their literal sense, in such a way that while they have no need
of any higher interpretation, they furnish abundant food and nourishment in
the simple sound of the words, to the hearers: as in this passage: "Hear, O
Israel, the Lord thy God is one Lord;" and: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy
God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy
strength." But there are some which, unless they are weakened down by an
allegorical interpretation, and softened by the trial of the fire of the
spirit cannot become wholesome food for the inner man without injury and
loss to him; and damage rather than profit will accrue to him from
receiving them: as with this passage: "But let your loins be girded up and
your lights burning;" and: "whosoever has no sword, let him sell his coat
and buy himself a sword;" and: "whosoever taketh not up his cross and
followeth after Me is not worthy of Me;" a passage which some most
earnest monks, having "indeed a zeal for God, but not according to
knowledge" understood literally, and so made themselves wooden crosses,
and carried them about constantly on their shoulders, and so were the cause
not of edification but of ridicule on the part of all who saw them. But
some are capable of being taken suitable and properly in both ways, i.e.,
the historical and allegorical, so that either explanation furnishes a
healing draught to the soul; as this passage: "If any one shall smite thee
on the right cheek, turn to him the other also;" and: "when they persecute
you in one city, flee to another;" and: "if thou wilt be perfect, go, sell
all that thou hast and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in
heaven, and come follow Me." It produces indeed "grass for the cattle"
also, (and of this food all the fields of Scripture are full); viz., plain
and simple narratives of history, by which simple folk, and those who are
incapable of perfect and sound understanding (of whom it is said "Thou,
Lord, wilt save both man and beast") may be made stronger and more
vigorous for their hard work and the labour of actual life, in accordance
with the state and measure of their capacity.
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