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BUT as the renewal of our soul grows by means of this study, Scripture
also will begin to put on a new face, and the beauty of the holier meanings
will somehow grow with our growth. For their form is adapted to the
capacity of man's understanding, and will appear earthly to carnal people,
and divine to spiritual ones, so that those to whom it formerly appeared to
be involved in thick clouds, cannot apprehend its subtleties nor endure its
light. But to make this which we are aiming at somewhat clearer by an
instance, it will be enough to produce a single passage of the law, by
which we can prove that all the heavenly commands as well are applied to
men in accordance with the measure of our state. For it is written in the
law: "Thou shalt not commit adultery." This is rightly observed
according to the simple meaning of the letter, by a man who is still in
bondage to foul passions. But by one who has already forsaken these dirty
acts and impure affections, it must be observed in the spirit, so that he
may forsake not only the worship of idols but also all heathen
superstitions and the observance of auguries and omens and all signs and
days and times, or at any rate that he be not entangled in the conjectures
of words and names which destroy the simplicity of our faith. For by
fornication of this kind we read that Jerusalem was defiled, as she
committed adultery "on every high hill and under every green tree," whom
also the Lord rebuked by the prophet, saying: "Let now the astrologers
stand and save thee, they that gazed at the stars and counted the months,
that from them they might tell the things that shall come to thee," of
which fornication elsewhere also the Lord says in rebuking them: "The
spirit of fornication deceived them, and they went a whoring from their
God." But one who has forsaken both these kinds of fornication, will
have a third kind to avoid, which is contained in the superstitions of the
law and of Judaism; of which the Apostle says: "Ye observe days and months
and times and years;" and again: Touch not, taste not, handle not." And
there is no doubt that this is said of the superstitions of the law, into
which one who has fallen has certainly gone a whoring from Christ, and is
not worthy to hear this from the Apostle: "For I have espoused you to one
husband, to exhibit you as a chaste virgin to Christ." But this that
follows will be directed to him by the words of the same Apostle: "But I am
afraid lest as the serpent by his cunning deceived Eve, so your minds
should be corrupted and fall from the simplicity which is in Christ
Jesus." But if one has escaped the uncleanness even of this fornication
there will still be a fourth, which is committed by adulterous intercourse
with heretical teaching. Of which too the blessed Apostle speaks: "I know
that after my departure grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not
sparing the flock, and of yourselves also shall arise men speaking perverse
things so as to lead astray the disciples after them." But if a man has
succeeded in avoiding even this, let him beware lest he fall by a more
subtle sin into the guilt of fornication. I mean that which consists in
wandering thoughts, because every thought which is not only shameful but
even idle, and departing in however small a degree from God is regarded by
the perfect man as the foulest fornication.
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