God spread out the spiritual Heavens, and trade down the sea. 501 the heavens, and the same to be the sun; the heavens indeed. Book TX in that by interposing ^ they shield; the sun, in that by intST" preaching they display the power of light. And so, upon cedendo the ^ earth being shaken' ' the heavens were spread out,' in that when Judaea ravened in the violence of persecution, the Lord spread wide the life of the Apostles, for all the Gentiles to acquaint themselves withal. And whilst she in judgment being made captive is scattered over the world, they by grace are every where amplified in honour. For ' the heavens' were of small compass, so long as one people contained so many mighty preachers. For to which of the Gentiles would Peter have been known, if he had continued in the preaching to the Jewish people alone? Who would have known of Paul's virtues, unless Judaea by persecuting him had trans- mitted him to our knowledge.? See how already they, that were thrust off with scourges and with insults by the Iraelitish people, are held in honour throughout the length and breadth of the world. The Lord alone then ' has spread out the heavens,' Who, by the wondrous ordering of His secret counsel, from the very cause, that He let His Preachers be persecuted in one people, caused them to spread out even to the comers of the world. But yet neither did this Gentile folk itself, which was devoted to the present world, when the tongues of the Apostles rebuked its iniquities, gladly welcome the words of life. For it forthwith swelled up in the pride of opposition, and roused itself to the cruelty of persecution. But she that sets herself to gainsay the words of preaching, is speedily subdued in wondennent at miraculous signs. Hence too the words are fitly added in praise of the Creator, A?hI treadeth upon the waves of the sea.
IL For what is denoted by the title of* the sea,' but this x. world's bitterness raging in the destruction of the righteous? Ps.33 7. Concerning which it is said by the Psalmist too. He gathereth ^""^^* tJie waters of the sea together as in a skin. For the I^ord * gathereth the waters of the sea together as in a skin,' when, disposing all things with a wonderful governance, He re- strains the threats of the carnal pent up in their hearts. Thus * the Lord treadeth upon the waves of the sea.' For when the storms of persecution lift up themselves, they are dashed in pieces in astonishment at His miracles. Since He 502 The poor of the loorld set as sand to hind the sea.
Job 9, That brings down the swellings of man's madness, as it were - — '— treads the waters standing up in a heap. Thus when the (jrentile world saw that her form and fashion was undone through the preaching of the Apostles, when the rich sons of this world beheld poor men's deeds arrayed against their arrogance, when the wise men of this generation marked that the words of unlettered men were set in opposition to them, they swelled thereupon in a storm of persecution. Yet they who, being moved by the opposition of words, burst out in storms of persecution, are calmed, as we have said, by wonder at the miraculous signs. So the Lord set as many steps upon these waves, as He exhibited miracles to the persecutors in their pride. Whence it is well said again Ps. 93, \^y |.[jg Psalmist, Marvellously the floods lift up their waves; marvellous is the Lord on high. For against the life of the Elect the world has lifted itself wonderfully in waves of persecution, but the Creator of things above has still more marvellously put these down in the exalta- tion of the Preachers' power; for He shewed that His ministers prevailed more in miracles above all that the powers of the earth had swelled unto in anger. Which the Lord moreover well delivered by the lips of Jeremiah, while relating outward things, telling of inward ones; Jer. 5, / have placed the sand for the hound of the sea, by a perpetual decree that it cannot pass it; and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail: though they roar, yet can they not pass over it. For ' the Lord has placed the sand for the bound of the sea;' in that He has made choice of the despised and poor to dash in pieces the glory of the world. ' The waves of which same sea toss themselves,' when the powers of the world leap forth in the uproar of persecution. Yet they cannot pass over the sand, in that they are broken in pieces by the miracles and the humility of the despised and scorned. But whilst the sea rages, while it is lifted up in the waves of its madness, yet whereas it is trodden upon by the manifest- ation of interior Power, Holy Church makes way, and by the accessions of time she rises to the station of her own rank*. Hence it is rightly added immediately afterwards, *■ Or *• the establishing of lier own order.'
Common names of Arcturus Src used /or distinctness. 503 Ver. 9. Which maketh Arcturus^ Orion ^ and Hyades, and Book the chambers of the south. ^^' 12. The word of Truth never follows the vain fables of xi. -JSesiod, Aralus, or Callimachus, that in naming Arcturus it should take the last of the seven stars for the tail of the bear, or as if Orion were holding a sword as a mad lover; for these names of the stars were invented by the votaries of carnal wisdom, but Holy Scripture for this reason makes use of these words, that the things which it aims to convey instruc- tion about, may be represented by the customariness of their usual designation. For if he had spoken of any stars he might wish by names unknown to us, man, for whom this very Scripture was made, would assuredly have known nothing what he heard. Thus in Holy Writ the wise ones of God derive their speech from the wise ones of the world, in like sort as therein God the very Creator of man, for man's benefit, takes in Himself the tones of human passion, i. e. so as to say. It repenteth 3fe that I have made man upon the Gen. 6, earth; whereas it is plain and undoubted that He, AVho^*"* beholds all things before they come, after He has done any thing, never repents by feeling regret. What wonder is it, then, if spiritual men use the words of carnal men, when the Ineffable Spirit Himself, Which is the Creator of all things, in order to draw the flesh to the understanding of Him, in His own case frames His speech of the flesh? Thus in Holy Writ, when we hear the familiar names of the stars, we learn what stars the discourse runs on. And after we have well weighed what stars are described, it remains that from their motions we be led to raise ourselves to the mysteries of the spiritual meaning. For not even after the letter is there any thing strange, in that it is said that God created Arcturus, and the Orions, and the Hyades, concerning Whom it is an acknowledged truth, that there is nothing of any sort in the world but He Himself made it. But the holy man declares that the Lord made these, by which he means properly to denote things that are done in a spiritual way.
13. For what is represented by the name of Arcturus, which being set in the polar region of the heavens shines bright with the rays of seven stars, except the Church universal, which is represented in the Apocalypse of John Rev. i, 504 Arcturus, the Church. The stormy Oriones, Her Martyrs.
Job 9, by the seven Churches and the seven candlesticks? Which 9.
same, while She contains in Herself the ffifts of seven-fold Alleg.
grace, beaming with the brightness of highest virtue, as it were gives light from the polar region of Truth. And it is ' furthermore to be considered, that Arcturus is ever turned about, and never sunk from sight, in that Holy Church ever undergoes the persecutions of the v/icked without ceasing, j and yet endures without failing ' even unto the end of the world.' For oftentimes because the sons of perdition have persecuted her even to the death, they have been persuaded that they had as it were utterly extinguished her, but she returned with manifold increase to the rearing of her full growth, in proportion as she travailed in dying amidst the hands of Her persecutors. Thus while Arcturus is turned about, he is set on high, for Holy Church is then more strongly reinvigorated in the Truth, when she spends herself more fervently for the Truth.
j 14. Hence too after Arcturus he immediately subjoins the ' Oriones' with propriety. For they arise in the very heaviest of the winter season, and they stir up storms by their rising, and put sea and land in commotion. What then is denoted by ' the Oriones,' after ' Arcturus,' saving the Martyrs? who, while Holy Church is set on high to take her stand of preaching, destined to undergo the weight of the persecutors and harassing treatment, came into the face of heaven, as it were, in the winter season. For when they were born, the sea and the land were troubled, in that when the Gentile world grieved that its method of life was undone, on their courage appearing, it set up for their destruction not only the fiery and turbulent, but the mild among men also. And thus the winter lowered in * the Oriones,' in that when the constancy of the Saints shone out, the frozen soul of the unbelievers lashed itself into a tempest of persecution. And so ' the heavens' gave forth the Oriones, when Holy Church sent out her Martyrs, who whilst they had boldness to speak what is right to the uninstructed, brought upon themselves every thing most heavy from the adverse bitterness of cold.
15. Now he justly subjoins the Hyades directly, which, when the springtide is waxing, go forth into the face of heaven, and, when the sun is now })utting out the power of The rainy Hyades, the Doctors of Her spring-time. 50 5 his heat, are given to sight. For they are attached to the Book bearinninors of that siorn, which the wise of this world call — ^-^ ' the Bull,' at which the sun begins to increase, and arises with more fervent heat, to lengthen out the periods of the day. Who, then, after ' the Oriones,' are denoted by the title of ' the Hyades,' saving the Doctors of Holy Church, who, when the Martyrs were taken away, came at that period to the world's knowledge, when faith now shines forth the brighter, and the winter of infidelity being forced back, the sun of truth flows deeper through the hearts of the faithful. These, when the storm of persecution was overpast, and the nights of long infidelity consummated, then arose to Holy Church, when the year now opens brighter in the venial season of belief. Nor are the -holy Doctors improperly denoted by the designation of ' Hyades,' for in the Greek tongue rain is called * Hyetus;' and the * Hyades' have received their name from the rains, surely because at their rising they bring showers. Thus they are well represented by the title of the Hyades,' who, brought out in the settled frame of Holy Church, as it were into the face of heaven, upon the parched earth of the human heart poured down the showers of holy preaching. For if the word of preaching were not rain, Moses would never have said, Let my doctrine be ivaited for 'Dent, as the rain. ' Truth' would never have said by the lips of ' ' Isaiah, / will also command the clouds that they rain no Is. 5, 6. rain upon it; and that which we brought forward a little above. Therefore the stars'^ of the showers are icithholden. 3^x^3,3. Thus while the Hyades come bringing showers, the sun is led on to the higher regions of heaven; in that, when the knowledge of the Doctors appears, while our minds drink in the showers of preaching, the heat of faith increases. And the earth being irrigated is rendered productive in fruit, when the light of the sky is fired; in that we yield the fruit of good works the more plentifully, the brighter we burn within our breasts through the flame of sacred instruction. And while heavenly lore is dis]3layed to view by them more and more da}' by day, it is as if the springtide of interior light were opened upon us, that the new Sun may glow bright! v in our souls, and being by their words made known to us, «l see note a, p. 499. Vulg. has stillse for stellsp.
506 Revelation opens as the End approaches.
Job 9, may daily surpass itself in brilliancy. For the end of the : world being close at hand, the knowledge from above ad- * vances, and waxes bigger with the progress of time. For hence Dan. 12, it is said by Daniel, Many shall run to andfro^ and knowledge shall be increased. Hence the Angel saith to John in the Kev. 10, former part of the Revelation, Seal up those things^ which the seven thunders uttered; and yet at the end of that Revelation lb. 22, ]^g i^i^g j^^jjj^ saying, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book. For the first part of the Revelation is com- manded to be sealed, but the end not to be sealed; for whatever was hidden in the beginnings of Holy Church, the end clears up day by day. But some imagine that ' the Hyades' are named from the Greek letter which is rendered by ' y;' which, if it be so, is not opposed to the sense which we have given: the Doctors are not unsuitably re- presented by those stars which have their name from letters; but, though ' the Hyades' are not unlike the look of that letter, yet it is a fact that a shower is called ' Hyetus,' and that those at their rising bring with them rain.
16. Therefore let the holy man, viewing the order of our redemption, feel wonder, and wondering let him cry out, in the words, Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea. Which maketh Arcturus, the Oriones, and Hyades, For, when the heavens were spread out, the Lord made ' Arcturus,' in that, when the Apostles were brought to honour. He stablished the Church in heavenly conversation, and when Arcturus was made, He framed ' the Oriones,' in that the faith of the Church Universal ])eing established. He launched forth the Martyrs against the storms of the world. And when ' the Oriones' were launched in heaven. He set forth ' the Hyades,' in that when the Martyrs proved strong against adversities. He vouchsafed the teaching of Masters, to water the drought of human hearts. These then are the ranks of the spiritual stars, which while they stand out conspicuous by the highest virtues, are ever shining from above.
17. But what remains after these things, saving that Holy Church, receiving the fruit of her toils, should attain to behold the inner depths of the Country above.'' And hence, whereas he had said. Which maketh Arcturus, the Oriones, and the Chambers of the south, depths of the Holy Spirit. 507 Hyades; he rightly added directly, and the chambers of the Book South. For what is here denoted by the name of the - South,' saving the fervour of the Holy Spirit? with which he that is replenished, kindles to the love of the spiritual Country. And hence it is said by the voice of the vSpouse in the Song of Solomon, Arise, 0 north wind, and come thou Cr-nt. 4, south, blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. For upon the ' south wind' coming, the ' north wind' arising departs, when our old enemy, who had bound up our soul in inactivity, being expelled by the coming of the Holy Spirit, takes himself away. And ' the south wind blows upon the garden' of the Spouse, that ' the spices thereof may flow down;' in that, whensoever the Spirit of Truth has filled Holy Church with the excellences of His gifts. He scatters far and wide from her the odours of good works. And thus * the chambers of the South' are those unseen orders of the Angels, and those unfathomed depths of the heavenly Countiy, which are filled with the heat of the Holy Spirit. For thither are brought the souls of the Saints, both at this present time divested of the body, and hereafter restored to the same anew, and like stars they are concealed in hidden depths. There all the day, as at midday, the fire of the sun bums with a brighter lustre, in that the brightness of our Creator, which is now overlaid with the mists of our mortal state, is rendered more clearly visible; and the beam of the orb seems to raise itself to higher regions, in that * Truth* from Its own Self enlightens us more completely through and through. There the light of interior contem- plation is seen without the intervening shadow of mutability; there is the heat of supreme Light without any dimness from the body; there the unseen bands of Angels glitter like stars in hidden realms, which cannot now be seen by men, in propor- tion as they are deeper bathed in the flame of the true Light. Thus it is altogether marvellous that, in the sending of the Apostles, the Lord stretched out the Heavens; that, in moderat- ing the swellings of persecution He trode the waves of the sea, and kept them down; that in the stablishing of the Church, He set ' Arcturus' in his place; that in making the Martyrs proof against aflflictions, He sent forth ' the Oriones;' that in the Doctors being replenished in peace, He gave forth ' the 508 The hidden qlories exceed all we know.
Job 9, Hyades;' but after these it is beyond all comparison marvel- - — ^ — lous, that He should have provided for us the haven of the heavenly Land, as ' the chambers of the South.'
18. All this is beautiful, that is seen as it were in the face of heaven of God's ordering; but infinitely and incomparably more beautiful is that, to which we are brouj^ht without its being able to be seen. Hence the Spouse justly repeats a Cant. 4, second time in the commendation of His Bride; Behold ^' thou art fair, my love; hehold thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes, besides that which lieth hidden witldn. He describes her ' fair,' and says again ' fair,' in that there is one sort of beauty of life and conduct, wherein she is now seen, and another beauty of rewards, wherein she will then be lifted up in the likeness of her Creator; and because her members, which are all the Elect, go about all things with simplicity, her eyes are called ' doves' eyes;' which shine with extraordinary light, for that they glitter even with the si^ns of miraculous power. But how great is all this marvel, which is able to be seen! That marvel relating to things of the interior is more wonderful, which is not now" able to be seen, concerning which it is fitly added in that place. Besides that which lieth hidden within. For the glory of the visible work is great, but the glory of the secret recompensing far beyond comparison. That, then, which is denoted by the name of stars' by blessed Job, is in the words of Solomon represented by the title of ' eyes;' and wdiat is described by Solomon, Besides that which lieth within, blessed Job conveys to us, when he extols ' the chambers of the South.' But see; the holy man in admiring things without, and contemplating those of the interior, telling of things manifest, and diving into things secret, aims to describe all that is done both within and without; but vvhen shall the tongue of flesh unfold the works of the Supreme Greatness? And hence with just \)yo- priety directly afterwards, by giving up the attempt, he measures the compass of these same works the more effectually, saying, Ver. 10. Which doeth great things past finding out; yea^ and wonders without number. xii. li). For then we more thoroughly compass the deeds of Divine Might, when we acknowledge that we can never com- ])ass them; we then speak with greater eloquence, when wc Silence best speaks infinite praise. Man*s ignorance. 509 are silent on these, beino; struck dumb with astonishment. Book Since for the describing of God's works our insufficiency xni.
finds in itself how it may put forth its tongue sufficiently, that what it cannot suitably understand, it may suitably extol by being dumb. Whence it is well said by the Psalmist, Praise Him in His migJity acts; praise Him according to^^ jgQ His excellent greatness. For He ' praises God according to 2. His excellent greatness,' who sees that he breaks down in the fulfilling of His praise. Therefore let him say. Which doeth great things past Jinding out; yea, and wonders with- out number: viz. 'great,' in power, 'past finding out,' in reason, ' without number,' in multitude. Therefore the works of God which he could not compass by speaking, he more eloquently defined by proving deficient. But in the review of things, why are we carried so far without ourselves, con- sidering that we know nothing of the very thing that is done to our own selves.? Hence it is fitly added, Ver. 11. Zo, if He come to me, I see Him not: if He passeth on, I perceive Him not.
20. For the human race being shut out from the interior joys, in due of sin, lost the eyes of the mind; and whither it is going with the steps of its deserts, it cannot tell. Thus, often that is the gift of grace which it takes to be wrath, and often that is the wrath of God's severity, which it supposes to be grace. For very commonly it reckons gifts of virtue as grace, and yet being uplifted by those gifts is brought to the ground; and very often it dreads the opposition of tempta- tions as wrath, and yet being bowed down by those tempta- tions, arises the more solicitous to the safe keeping of its vir- tuous attainments. For who would not reckon himself to be nigh to God, when he sees that he is magnified with gifts from on high, when either the gift of prophecy or the mastership of teaching is vouchsafed him, or when he is empowered to exercise the grace of healing? Yet it often happens that whilst the mind is made to sit loose by self-security in its virtues, fi-om the adversary plotting against it, it is pierced with the weapon of unexpected sin, and is for ever put far away from God by the very means whereby for a time it was brought near to Him without the caution of heedful- ness. And who would not look upon himself as now ;"310 fVe may take Mercy for Wrath, and Wrath for Mercy.
Job 9, abandoned by Divine grace, when after experiencing purity, ALLE T ^^^ ^^^^ *^^^ ^^ ^^ sorely pressed by the temptations of the flesh, that things unbefitting crowd on the mind, and before the eyes of fancy there pass things disgraceful and impure? Yet, when such things as these harass but not subdue, they do not slaughter by the effect of corrupting, but preserve by their effect of humbling, that the mind, finding itself weak under temptation, may wholly betake itself to the assistance of the Divine Being, and completely give over all confidence in itself; and thus it is brought to pass, that it attaches itself to God the deeper by the same thing, by which it was made to lament its having fallen away the lower from God. There- fore the coming and going of God are not at all discoverable by our faculties, so long as the issue of alternating states is hidden from our eyes; in that there is no certainty concern- ing the trial, whether it be a test of virtue or an instrument of our destruction; and concerning gifts we never find out whether they are the reward here of such as are given up, or whether they are a support on the road to bring men to their native Country. Thus let man, once banished from the interior j oys, view the doors of the secret place of the Spirit shut against him, and cast forth to himself without, let him groan in the flesh, and seeing the losses which his blindness entails upon him, exclaim, Zo, if He come to me, I see Him not; if He passeth on, I perceive Him not. As if he lamented openly, saying, ^ Since I have once lost my eyes by my own act and deed, as I am bearing the darkness of a self-sought night, now I neither know the rising nor the setting of the sun.' Yet man, who is pressed down by the infliction of infirmity, and heavy laden with the darkness of his blind estate, is going forward to the Judgment of the Light above, that he may render an account of his actions. And hence it is added immediately afterwards, Ver. 12. //' He question on a sudden, who will answer Him i xiv. 21. God * questions suddenly' when He calls us unex- pectedly to the strict searching of His scrutiny. But man cannot answer to His questioning, for that, if he be then sifted, all pity laid aside, even the life of the righteous sinks under tlic scrutiny. Or, surely, He questions, when He None can answer God. None may question Him. 5 1 1 deals us hard blows, that, when the mmd entertains great Book thoughts of itself in peace and quiet, it may find itself out in L_ trouble, what sort it really is of. And very commonly because it is smitten, it utters groans; but it is unable to make answer, because the very distastefulness of his stroke is displeasing to him, yet looking to himself man holds his peace, and dreads to scrutinize the Divine decrees, because he knows himself to be but dust. Hence it is said by Paul, Nay, hut, O man.,Uom. 9, who art thou that repHest against God? He that is called by the name of ' man' (homo) is proved to be unable to ' reply against God.' For by this circumstance, that he was taken from the dust of the earth % he is not worthy to scrutinize the judgments of the Most High. Hence too it is fitly sub- joined here, Or, who will say unto Him, JVliat doesl TJiou? 22. The acts of our Maker ought always to be reverenced xv. without examining, for they can never be unjust. For to seek a reason for His secret counsel is nothing else than to erect one's self in pride against His counsel. So when the motive of His acts cannot be discovered, it remains that we be silent under those acts in humility, for the fleshly sense is not equal that it should penetrate the secrets of His Majesty. He then who sees no reason in the acts of God, on considering his own weakness does see reason wherefore he sees none. Hence also it is added by Paul afterwards, Shall the tiling formed say to Him that formed it, Whyliast Thou made me so? For in proportion as it sees itself to be * a thing formed' by God's workmanship, it rebukes itself so as not to kickback against the hand of Him that wrought it; for He, Who in loving-kindness exalted what was not, never in injustice abandons that which is. So let the mind be brought to itself under the stroke, and what it cannot com- prehend, let it cease to require, lest if the cause of God's wrath be searched out, It be called forth in larger measure for being searched out, and lest wrath, which humility might