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FOR the garment that is moth-eaten has no longer any commercial value
or good use to which it can be put; and in the same way the wood that is
worm-eaten is no longer worth anything for ornamenting even an ordinary
building, but is destined to be burnt in the fire. So therefore the soul
also which is a prey to the attacks of gnawing dejection will be useless
for that priestly garment which, according to the prophecy of the holy
David, the ointment of the Holy Spirit coming down from heaven, first on
Aaron's beard, then on his skirts, is wont to assume: as it is said, "It is
like the ointment upon the head which ran down upon Aaron's beard, which
ran down to the skirts of his clothing. Nor can it have anything to do
with the building or ornamentation of that spiritual temple of which Paul
as a wise master builder laid the foundations, saying, "Ye are the temple
of God, and the Spirit of God dwelleth in you:" and what the beams of
this are like the bride tells us in the Song of Songs: "Our rafters are of
cypress: the beams of our houses are of cedar." And therefore those
sorts of wood are chosen for the temple of God which are fragrant and not
liable to rot, and which are not subject to decay from age nor to be worm-
eaten.
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