Expositio in quatuor Evangelia
by Anonymous
Source text: Public Domain. English translation/apparatus/encoding: CC BY-NC 4.0, Wroot Press.
https://migne.app/pl/114/expositio-in-quatuor-evangelia/
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## MARTIANAY'S ADMONITION[n: (Opp. S. Hieronymi, tom. V.)]

I found in manuscript codices a clause-by-clause exposition of the four Gospels falsely ascribed to Jerome, and teeming with so many barbarisms and solecisms that it seemed altogether unworthy to come forth into the light: but since little works of this kind are not displeasing to everyone, I have wished to publish that Exposition here along with others of the same sort, chiefly because Strabo of Fulda may have been the author of this Commentary, which afterwards some most unskilled person copied out with a forest of barbarisms and solecisms. Whatever it may be, I have handed over the little work, transcribed from an ancient codex of Jumièges, to our printers to be published with almost all its faults. Nor indeed did I judge it worthy to be corrected after our manner, and to lose time, oil and labour upon emending it.

## HERE BEGINS THE EXPOSITION OF THE FOUR GOSPELS.

[0861A]First, of all books the time is to be asked; the place; the person; and why out of twelve Gospels none are received but four: because the whole world is of four elements, that is, heaven, earth, fire, water. By heaven John is shown: because as heaven surpasses all things, so also John, who said: *In the beginning was the Word:* By Matthew, earth: who said: *The book of the generation of Jesus Christ;* By Luke, fire, who said: *Was not the heart already burning within us,* [var: Vulg. *cor nostrum ardens erat*, "our heart was burning"] By Mark, water, who said: *The voice of one crying in the desert.* That is, four rivers from one fount signifies the four evangelists, that is, Christ. Phison, insufflation, signifies John; Geon, swiftness, signifies Matthew; Tigris, happiness, signifies Mark. Euphrates, fruitfulness, signifies Luke; [0861C] they water the world, that is, the Church: and they signify the four virtues: That is, prudence, temperance, fortitude, and justice: and as four rivers water paradise, so also our heart these four virtues; and man consists of four elements: of air, fire, and water, and earth. From air, breath: from fire, blood; from water, flame; from earth, the body: by the head, heaven, where the two lights are; the breast, air; the belly, water; the feet, earth. Likewise, Adam took his name from four letters and from four stars, which is *artis, dosis, anatholis, mesimbrio:* or the four signify the evangelists; and as from Adam every [0862B] man is born, so through the four evangelists all come to the faith. Likewise Noah's ark is read to have been made four-square out of timbers, its length of three hundred cubits and its breadth of one, its height finished at thirty and one cubit: it signifies the Church; through the four evangelists: the length, the hope of eternal life; the breadth, charity; the height, faith in the Trinity; the one cubit, to worship one Lord. The pitch within and without signifies the love of God and of neighbour. Likewise the ark of the testament, where were the two stone tables and Aaron's rod, was carried by four golden rings, and the bars covered with gold signify the four evangelists; the ark, the Church; the bars, the teachers; as those were encircled by the rings, so the priests taught out of the Old and the New Testament: the four evangelists carry the Church by defending it from [0862C] heresy; by the rod the cross is shown; and as a squared timber, on whichever side it be turned, stands firm: So let the man taught out of the four evangelists become firm against heresy and tribulation. Likewise Matthew, given; Mark, a lofty gift: Luke, rising up: John, the grace of the Lord. Likewise a wheel within a wheel, the Spirit in the wheel, the preaching of the Gospel wheeling in the world: the Spirit in the wheel, the Holy Spirit in the Gospel: Likewise the linen vessel, and upon it four lines, signify the four evangelists; these are, clean and unclean, Jews and gentiles: Likewise the four living creatures have eyes before them and behind, crying, [0863A] Holy: they are the four evangelists: Likewise Jacob supplanted his brother three times: first by the blessing, secondly by the lentils, thirdly by the blessing: Esau signifies the devil, Jacob Christ, who conquered and supplanted him three times; so we too ought to supplant our brother the devil three times, in thought, in word and in deed: He is our brother for this reason, that God created him who created us also; we have one Father, God, and he created him good, but by his own fault, in growing proud, he deprived himself: The four [0864A] evangelists it signifies: Matthew the face of a man, Luke of a calf; Mark of a lion; John of an eagle: the Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled the whole: a man by being born, a calf by being sacrificed: a lion by rising, an eagle by ascending. A wheel within a wheel, law within law, the old within the new: why the four evangelists are not written by four apostles, but by two disciples and two apostles: because the sons of Jacob were born of two free women and of two handmaids. Matthew, honey: Mark, milk: Luke, oil: John, wine.



## ON THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW.

[0863]

[0863B] *The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.* He names two fathers for this reason, that of David it is said: *Of the fruit of thy womb I will set upon my throne.* [var: Vulg. *super sedem tuam*, "upon thy throne"] Of Abraham it is said: *In thy seed shall all nations be blessed.* David is written before Abraham for this reason, that he is nearer to Christ by being born of that stock: *Jacob begat Joseph,* he said according to generation: Luke said according to the law, that he was the son of Heli; women are in the genealogy of Christ for this reason, that they themselves come to eternal life as men do: and sinners are named in the genealogy of Christ for this reason, that he himself said: *I came not to call the just, but sinners.* Luke, speaking of Christ from Adam, shows that through Christ the race of Adam is loosed from sin, or that from Christ they go forth who return to the Father. The figure [0863C] of the forty-two men in the genealogy of Christ, this is the forty-two stations of the children of Israel from Egypt: as far as the land of promise, that is, from the world to heaven; which signifies coming to Christ by threefold generations, through faith, hope and charity. What by the fourteen but by the ten words of the law and by the four virtues: the first, prudence, to serve God and not idols: the second, temperance, not to covet: the third, justice, not to commit adultery: the fourth, fortitude, to let go and not to kill. By four things came the destruction of the world: by a man, by a woman, by a tree, by a serpent; and by four it is restored: by Christ, by Mary, by the cross, by the man Joseph. The serpent that was in Israel signified Christ: it was itself made of bronze with four [0863D] round wheels; they that looked upon it were healed; and he raised it upon the head of a rod, that all might see it and that the beasts of the desert might flee for fear of the wheels; and so each one was healed, if he looked upon Christ on the head of the rod, that is, upon the cross; the four wheels signify the four evangelists: so the devil flees the Gospel when it sounds unto heaven.

*Now the generation of Christ was in this wise.* That is, according to the flesh, they said: It is called Christ's for this reason, that from him, by a derived word, they may be called Christians: by etymology again Christ, that is, anointed, because through him, after the laver, we have received the anointing of chrism. *Was in this wise*: through eternity. Mary sounds "star of the sea"; because a star is sweet, the sea (one word [0864B] has been deleted, perhaps *vero*,) is bitter; so Mary was in the sea of the world among sinners, like the star of the sea, since it is the custom: the star brings men to harbour, if they follow it; so Mary in the world, where Christ was born, who leads all to life if they follow him. His mother being espoused, that is, for four reasons: that she might not be stoned as an adulteress, and that she might have solace in the flight, and the genealogy of Christ through Joseph, and that the birth might be hidden from the devil. Before they came together, that is, before they had been in whatever dwelling, she was found by Joseph with child: not in the womb as a woman, but as a virgin having of the Holy Spirit, that is, made of the Spirit, *Spirius* ( *sic* ), as he himself makes an apple upon a tree, and Eve from the bones of Adam

*But Joseph her husband.* He is called her husband for this reason, and [0864C] for this reason just, lest others should suspect a conjunction of human kind: « He was not willing to expose her, » that is, in judgment; lest he should transgress the law: because he knew her a virgin, that her childbearing might lie hidden from the devil. « *But while he thought on these things,* » that is, he was thinking whether to put her away or to keep her; here the prophecy is fulfilled: A helper in due seasons, in tribulation. *The angel of the Lord said in dreams:* Not in one dream, because the angel came to him in dreams more often. Not once, because the mystery of God cannot be known once for all: *Joseph, son of David,* that is, the prophecy fulfilled in Joseph through David, of the fruit of thy womb, and the rest. *Fear not,* that is, love and rejoice in a wife not nuptial, nor a begetting, but a dwelling together: he said *thy*: that he might believe that he was conceived not of another, but of the Holy Spirit. She shall bring forth a Son, that is, that [0864D] there might be greater joy to him over a son, as the custom is among men, and thou shalt call his name. Likewise, for his gladness it should be Jesus, and he said also Saviour: he saves his people; he did not say all, but those who believe in him, from their sins: That is, what no other physician could do. Now all this was done: that is, what the angel said: that there might be fulfilled what was spoken by the Lord, that is, through the prophet Isaiah concerning Christ, here according to the letter only; Behold a virgin shall be with child, and he called his name Emmanuel [var: Vulg. *vocabunt nomen eius*, "they shall call his name"]. This name has been interpreted for this reason, that in either tongue it is called lofty, God with us, that is, God and man, that he may be in one faith. He did as the angel bade him: [0865A] it shows that he deserved to see the vision of the Lord who did as he bade him.

*And he knew her not till she brought forth her son:* Till, *pronum quam* [ *Forte,* priusquam], he is called firstborn; in the law he is so called, because he first opened the womb. Not one whom sons follow, but one who is born first. Christ is called firstborn for three things: in the resurrection from the dead, and of Mary, and of creatures. When therefore Jesus was born, he establishes three heads: the place, the time, the person: In Bethlehem it was fitting, which is interpreted "house of bread," that where the living heavenly bread should be born. It is Juda: look upon Bethlehem of the gentiles: In the days of Herod the king, that is, he recounts the kings and leaders of Judaea, as it was said: Let not a prince fail from Juda, nor a leader from his thighs, till he come [0865B] to whom it has been promised; he shall be the expectation of the gentiles [var: Vulg. *Non auferetur sceptrum de Iuda … donec veniat qui mittendus est*, "The sceptre shall not be taken away from Juda … till he come that is to be sent"]: He said "Herod the king" against the Jews for this reason, that they themselves said at the cross, We have no king but Caesar. Behold, wise men come from the East, since it is the East that is sought; therefore it is indicated from the East: he himself leads us to himself. They came to Jerusalem, because out of Sion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

*Saying, where is he that is born king of the Jews?* That is, king of confessions. They add a cause to those inquiring, Who told you? For we have seen his star in the East: the star is dumb, but bright; light leads to the Word: Likewise the star was his, and not of heaven and of earth, nor was it theirs, but the Son of God's: Nor was there after nor before any like to Christ in the flesh; therefore the star led them, that a heavenly thing [0865C] might lead heavenly men to the Heavenly One; and therefore not another creature, but a dumb one, that a dumb thing might lead dumb men to the dumb one. They brought gifts, who had worshipped idols. Herod the king was troubled, that is, through envy, lest he should surpass himself and his sons: or, they all feared, nor was it well with them: A just king, while he is with an unjust king, so that the king's companions do not become so dear in the presence of another king; or they were troubled for this, that they might please the king. Likewise, according to the letter, trouble comes to the wicked at the showing forth of good, and an evil eye is troubled at the rising of the sun.

*And gathering together all the chief priests and the scribes of the people:* that is, hoping that they might come to him, or that he might receive counsel; as God says, Ask thy father and he will declare to thee, thy elders and they will tell thee: the fathers, the chiefs of the elders, and the scribes, where Christ should be born: [0865D] He did not say where he was born, where he is; but they said, In Bethlehem of Juda. They say with words what they deny by deeds; they grope blind, as Isaac Jacob: while they neglect to go to him whom by adoring they point out. The three magi signify the three sons of Noah, with three gifts, adoring the Trinity: Then Herod, having privately called them: here the history fails, since he indicates in secret the time of the star; for this reason opinions differ as to when the magi came. For after one year or two; others say they find him not in Bethlehem, but in Egypt; and if within twelve days, how could Persians from a far land, or Evila, Arabia or Cedar, come in twelve days, but God can do this, at whose word the rocks fly, the mountains shall move, for whom it is nature that what [0866A] he bids should come to pass. Yet he diligently learned from them the time of the star, that is, that they might know at what time; perhaps he thought that a son had been born of him, or of his own race.

*Who, when they had heard the king, went their way,* when he sends them to seek Christ, he is to be heard; and when he bids them return to himself, he is to be despised; for when he led the Saviour on high, he refused; he himself did not refuse; but when he bids him be let down below and adore him, he refused lawfully: Thou shalt adore the Lord thy God, and the rest. So they, going out, know how to go out, they know not how to return; and behold the star which they had seen, and the rest: it becomes doubtful where it hid itself when these went away, something of human counsel: because the Lord hides it from our hearts, that the star may even be sought. Faith or the law? Compunction, which leads us to [0866B] Christ, went before them; when they came to Christ the star led them through: for the star did not lead them to Herod. Herod was signified as the devil, because he who goes out from the devil's suggestion to Christ goes with the star of faith. Seeing the star they rejoiced, and the rest, because it is the custom with all to rejoice over what was lost and is found: Therefore it shows the child also more exalted than his mother.

*And entering into the house,* and the rest: whether a house or an inn? And falling down they adored him; before, they were adoring a star: the creature ceased, when the Creator is adored. *And having opened their treasures* and the rest: gold to a king, frankincense to God, myrrh for a grave; whether one offered gold, another frankincense, a third myrrh: it is not known; whether each one offered three gifts is not fitly said, but [0866C] either way in a figure. They do not disagree, because three faithful are one, and in one there would be three fruits: thirtyfold, fortyfold, hundredfold; the thirtyfold in faith of the Trinity, the fortyfold in the perfection of the active life, the hundredfold in contemplation of eternal life; each one was offering three: by gold a pure conscience, by frankincense right prayer, by myrrh the mortification of the wills: Likewise three gifts: holy thought, good word, and perfect work. The star so appeared only at his nativity, as the dove at the baptism. For the star, when it went before them, was not far from the earth.

*And having received an answer in dreams,* and the rest. Therefore in dreams, with the eye closed, that they might adore God invisible and incomprehensible; and let watchful eyes not be opened [0866D] to the creature, but to the Creator: That they should not return to Herod, that is, after penance to the devil: they returned by another way into their own country. The country is paradise. He returns by another way who amends his whole life, and comes from depravity to holiness: who when they had departed.



## ON THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW. (cont.)

*Behold, the angel of the Lord,* and the rest. Gabriel is called the strength of God; it was fitting that the strength of God should strengthen the weakness of humanity. And otherwise: because the angel then draws near to us, when we have withdrawn from Herod the devil. He fled into Egypt: he shows the victory of flight, as Joshua son of Nun, when he said: Divide yourselves and go in flight until the citizens come out; afterwards turn about, and you shall conquer them: Christ first [0867A] flees, until he conquers the devil behind him; so Joseph in Egypt fled from his mistress into things lawful, and afterwards he himself was king over Egypt: until I shall tell thee: here he shows that the devil is not always to be fled, as the apostle Paul says: Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Night here: it shows that he withdrew, the darkness of the letter of the law. Among the Jews after Christ until this day, he waits until the death of Herod, that is, three years: it signifies that the gentiles must believe the Trinity; and it does not reach as far as death. Herod indicates the Jews, who come to Christ after the death of the letter of the law. Out of Egypt I called my son: in the first place they call forth Moses and Aaron, Christ.

*Then Herod, seeing that he was shut in by the wise men,* [var: Vulg. *quoniam inlusus esset*, "that he was mocked"] here the prophecy is fulfilled: This dragon which thou hast formed to mock [0867B] them, *and he sends and kills all the boys,* that he might find the king that was born: here he is the more mocked, for those he thought extinguished he sent alive into paradise. *From two years old and under,* that is, from the year past and the year following, because the name of infancy is of two years. A voice in Rama, and the rest: Rachel is interpreted a sheep seeing God: Rama, lofty; Rachel, the Church, which weeps in the valley of tears for those she has lost, who sinned before, over whom she will not be consoled, because they are not Christians. Rachel was the mother of Benjamin; or because she died and was buried there where the little ones were slain, for they are dead, and the rest. Therefore synecdoche, the part for the whole.

*He came into the city Nazareth,* that is, flower of cleanness: it was fitting that he should dwell there who said, I am the flower of the field and the lily of the valleys: Archelaus, a lion tracking down; [0867C] Nazarene, holy. Arise, take the child and his mother: first arise from the earth, thou who leavest earthly things; and he bids him take the child, afterwards the mother: rather to love God, afterwards the neighbour: Archelaus, heresy, they who think themselves to be what they are not, and are blind.

*In those days,* it is not to be referred to king Archelaus, but from the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar; because in that same year the word of the Lord came upon John, before Christ: the voice before the Word, the lamp before the sun, the flower before the fruit. Do penance, and work not, because works are said to be outward, bodily; do it inwardly, let it be done by the inner man, from the heart: true penance is to weep for what is lost and by repenting not to commit it again.

[0867D] *For the kingdom of heaven shall draw near,* [var: Vulg. *adpropinquavit*, "has drawn near"] that is, baptism or the Gospel, Christ's martyrdom, or the Church. The voice of one crying in the desert: of John, of Christ, the cry is made in a threefold manner: if it is far off, salvation is far from sinners; the second, to the deaf, if as with a deaf asp, and the rest; the third is indignant, that is, thy fury was moved to indignation: In the desert, that is, without law, without king, without priest, or prophecy, were the Jews; and as one for love joins a spouse to a friend as bride, so John joined the Church to Christ: therefore he is called the friend of the bridegroom. John had a garment of camels' hair; he himself was born in fasting, and had the clothing and the food of fasting. It was fitting that, when he taught penance, he should first fulfil it in himself, so that everyone who preaches the word [0868A] may confirm it by example. John's clothing of camels signifies the Church of the gentiles, or their riches, which Christ has gathered, and it becomes the Church. The girdle, that is, the mortification of vices, about the loins: That is, because there is the fornication of man and of women, in the navel. His food, locusts: they are most wretched birds; they show the Jews, who take the letter of the law as locusts the flower; wild honey signifies the sweet discourses of God, or the Jews who received the sweet preaching and came to Christ.

*Then there were going out to him Jerusalem* [var: Vulg. *exiebat*, singular, "there went out"] and the rest. That is, of the land of Juda; it is said for the inhabitants: Jerusalem, vision of peace, points to the peaceable who come to Christ through confession: Jordan, that is, descent, signifies those descending in humility to Christ.

[0868B] *And they were baptizing in the Jordan,* [var: Vulg. *baptizabantur ab eo in Iordane*, "they were being baptized by him in the Jordan"] it shows that through descent the humble came to baptism: confessing their sins, it shows that one ought to confess his sins before he come to communion: Pharisees, that is, the divided, or they are called sarabaites; Sadducees, justified in their own eyes.

*And he said to them, brood of vipers:* the same venom is only in the tongue, for the viper is a slayer of father and of mother: the Pharisees and Sadducees are like it, who killed their mother the synagogue, and the Fathers and the Prophets. Who hath shewed you, and the rest: that is, "who," not for possibility but for difficulty, when it is said, Bring forth good fruit, that is, lay aside every vice; or, Bring forth fruit worthy of penance, that is, he who [0868C] has two coats, let him give to him that has none; he who acts unlawfully, let him abstain from unlawful things.

*God is able even to these stones,* and the rest: they were stones because they worshipped stones, but many from among them came to the faith of Christ; that is, he likens them to stones, because they are heavy and hard and cold in faith. The axe is laid, that is, the Gospel, to the root of the trees, that is, to the Jews. The axe consists of iron and of wood, so Christ of divinity and humanity; the roots, thoughts; the trees, sins; or the roots, the sons; the trees, the parents.

*Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit shall be cut down,* that is, it is divided from the Church: It is cast into the fire, that is, on the day of judgment. He is mightier than I: that is, Christ is mightier not only than John, but than all [0868D] men; therefore mightier, because he baptizes in the Holy Spirit and in fire. To carry the shoes: therefore I cannot more fully set forth his incarnation.

*He baptizes you with fire:* [var: Vulg. *baptizabit in Spiritu Sancto et igni*, "he shall baptize in the Holy Spirit and fire"] that is, in judgment, or in the Holy Spirit and fire; whose fan, and the rest, that is, just judgment; in his hand, that is, in his own power; the floor, that is, the world or the Church; the wheat, that is, the holy man; into the barn, into the kingdoms of heaven: the chaff, sinners, because chaff is light, and is carried off by the wind, and the fire burns it: so sinners, they themselves keep the fire going, because the fire does not fail unless the wood fail.

*Then Jesus came to Galilee to be baptized,* [var: Vulg. *a Galilaea*, "from Galilee"] and the rest. Christ came to John, that is, the bride [0869A] kisses the bridegroom, because John through the Church is the bridegroom; here he says, Let him kiss me with the kiss of his mouth: or Christ is baptized by John for this reason, that a servant may not excuse himself from being baptized by his Lord, or that a lord may not disdain to be baptized by his own servant: I ought to be baptized by thee. For this cause John knew Christ among the many, when the Jordan fled him and the mountains leapt; because the creature acknowledged the Creator. And therefore he came to John, that he might cleanse the waters, and that he might be shown forth by the Holy Spirit: four causes: Suffer it now, that is, until both should be baptized, that is, Christ by the waters, or by martyrdom. There comes to thee all justice, and the rest: that is, the law of nature, or the law of the letter, because it was the custom among them to honour their elders. John's baptism profited nothing [0869B] except that it prefigured Christ's baptism, so that they should not distinguish John's baptism from Christ's baptism, because water washes and extinguishes; therefore baptism was by waters: so John washes and extinguishes sin, quickens and satisfies; so baptism by the sea. And because they are baptized by two substances, that is, water and the voice of the priest, visible and invisible, body and soul; they shall go up out of the water: it signifies afterwards to ascend by good works and to descend by the step of humility, because Jordan is called descent; behold the heavens were opened, that is, it shows baptism; heaven is opened to every one after the fault of Adam; and he saw the Spirit descending as a dove: it shows that only in the form of a dove, because the Spirit took a body from the air: the likeness of a dove was made for this, for before it was not: therefore in a dove [0869C] the Spirit came upon Christ, because it is a gentle bird; so Christ is gentle, without stain. For otherwise: the dove has seven figures; they signify the seven forms of the Spirit; and therefore through the dove the Spirit came upon Christ, like the star which was neither before nor after; or for this reason, because the Son was in a body: because as men could not have borne the presence of the Son of God without a body, so neither could they have borne the Spirit without the appearance of a dove. Why upon the apostles in fire, and upon Christ in a dove: they show that it is to be said according to the letter. *And a voice from the heavens,* here the Trinity is set together: the voice of the Father names the Son; the Spirit, through the dove; *This is my son,* and the rest: because before, the son Adam displeased, but in Christ he was well pleased.

*Then Jesus was led,* that is, led by the Holy Spirit [0869D] into the desert after the baptism: they show that the devil is conquered through fasting and prayer; we too ought to be led into the desert away from vices, that we may conquer them; that he might be tempted by the devil, that is, that he might conquer the devil; forty days and forty nights, lest heretics should say that he had eaten by night; forty is a sign, because Moses fasted forty upon the mountain, and Elias forty; and he was with his disciples forty days after the resurrection, and the flood was of forty days, because by these he had to blot out the sin of Adam; afterwards he hungered: it shows the true man, that the devil might be deceived as to his nativity.

*The tempter coming,* that is, as a fish tries the hook and is conquered, so that he who conquered the first man through [0870A] the gullet is conquered by the second through abstinence. If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones, and the rest: by etymology, bread (*panis*) from feeding (*a pascendo*); that he might see whether he could do this from a rock; or because mystically the devil's food is men stony and hard, in sin. But he who brought forth wine from water and water from a rock could have done this if he had willed.



## ON THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW. (cont.)

*Not in bread alone doth man live:* and the rest, that is, man would not have lived if God had not willed it, even though he had eaten bread; and if he had not eaten bread, had God willed, he would have lived, as Moses and Elias, for forty days; the word of God, of the soul, that is, eternal life; in the holy city, that is, Jerusalem; upon the pinnacle of the temple, that is, upon the wall of the ark's enclosure: they signify elation: it is not, that he suffered himself to be tempted [0870B] by the head, he who allowed himself to be crucified by Pilate through the member. These three temptations the devil first exacted in Adam: by the gullet he said, taste; by vainglory, you shall be as gods; by avarice, knowing good and evil; but by these three he tempted Christ again: the gullet, that bread be made from a rock; by vainglory, cast thyself down; by avarice, all these will I give thee, and the rest: but he who casts him into the abyss by the word of preaching, he says: he shows that by these three the devil is conquered. Here he shows true God and true man: the man whom the devil tempts is God, whom the angels ministered to. Forty days are the tithe of the year, so that as we ought to give tithes of all things, so also let us be zealous to give God tithes of the days of our life.

[0870C] *For his angels,* and the rest: that he might conquer Christ by example, this as Christ conquered him by his own example through Scripture; but the devil does not understand that psalm rightly of Christ: Jesus said to him, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God; here he says: since I am the Lord thy God, why dost thou tempt me?

*And he shewed him all the kingdoms of the world:* that is, gold, silver: all these will I give thee, and the rest: truly he falls who adores the devil. Whatever monk shall have served a prince for the sake of a wage delivers himself over to the devil. *Go back,* that is, thy kingdom now, or in the judgment, into hell.

*Thou shalt adore thy Lord,* [var: Vulg. *Dominum Deum tuum adorabis*, "the Lord thy God"] and the rest: by three examples out of Deuteronomy, which signify the Gospel, that is, the repetition of the law, the Lord conquered the devil: likewise [0870D] it signifies, that is, the temptation in David and Goliath. Five stones, the five books of Moses, who with one killed the devil, that is, one book as a stone; through three temptations, that is, suggestion, delight, consent; but he tempted Christ by suggestion alone, because suggestion comes from the devil.

*But when Jesus had heard that John was delivered up, he withdrew into Galilee:* that is, the Jews being left, he went away to the gentiles; or, the synagogue with its law being forsaken, he set in place the Church and the Gospel. Galilee is called turning: he comes to those who come from evil to good; and because he came for the healing of the girl, and healed the woman on the way, it signifies the synagogue and the Church: leaving the city Galilee, he came into Capharnaum, a most beautiful town: [0871A] it figures the Church. Nazareth is called flower, because from a flower fruit is made; Capharnaum, town of fatness; the light illumines, and fatness lacks blood: it shows that Christ, from the flower of the letter of the law, came to the fruit of the fatness of the Gospel of light, that is, of knowledge. In the borders.

*Zabulon and Nephthalim:* Zabulon is called the dwelling of beauty: Nephthalim is called forgetfulness: Here he shows that he who forgets his sins dwells in beauty; beyond the Jordan, and the rest: because for fear of the Gentile peoples this man used to remain by night in the field.

*He saw a great light,* as he says: light is risen to them; they were sitting in darkness, that is, of ignorance of sins; light is risen to them, that is, Christ.

[0871B] *Do penance,* that is, he puts wine into the wound; *for the kingdom of heaven shall draw near,* [var: Vulg. *adpropinquavit*, "has drawn near"] that is, oil into the wound: he gives consolation, because in the old they used to sacrifice cattle, in the new each one shall offer himself to the Lord. He was walking: it shows us to be in the world as present in it, by passing through, not by loving. By the sea, worldly by the flesh: the sea of Galilee, the same is the pool of Genesareth, the lake of the salt-pits, and the sea of Tiberias, and the lake Cineret.

*Come ye after me,* and the rest: that is, to draw souls out of the deep of sin to the shore, to eternal rest, because it is the custom of fishermen to have a boat and a net in the sea: so the Apostles the Church, the Gospels, and the world; the fish, men; casting nets into the sea, preaching into the world.

*They, leaving their nets and their father, followed him:* the same [0871C] father, the devil; the nets, the dwelling and the businesses of the age. Peter and Andrew cast their nets into the sea: they show that the Lord chose others who were desirous, cleaving to the things of the world; James and John mended their nets, that they might cast them into the sea, that is, that he chose others desiring to cleave to the things of the world. Which of these four left more? Peter and Andrew left more, because the things were their own; for to those other two it was not their own.

*I will make you,* and the rest: he changed their affection, not their office; but by these four, this is the first team of four; now they are sent two by two into the Church, as in Noah's ark the animals two by two; they signify the four virtues: justice, prudence, fortitude, temperance. By three callings the peoples were called: the first through [0871D] John, unto friendship, Behold the Lamb of God: the second, unto belief, John saying, This first sign Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, that his disciples might believe in him: the third calling, unto the apostolate, Come ye after me, and the rest.

*Jesus went about all Galilee:* and the rest: as Gedeon used to conquer the Philistines, so Christ the demons. Teaching, that is, the things that were of the law; he preaches, that is, the Gospel; every sickness, that is, he was a physician; the people, that is, Israel; sickness of the body, infirmity of the soul.

*And his fame went into all Syria:* that is, into all the gentiles; all that were ill at ease, that is, they were mad with many sins, or of evil faith; *and those who [0872A] had devils:* that is, in the soul credence is given to idols; *lunatics,* that is, they thought them lunatics, from the rising of the moon in sickness.

*They brought to him the palsied:* that is, the slothful in doing good; and great multitudes followed him, that is: first, disciples, unto faith: second, the sick, for health: third, the skilled in the law, to find fault; fourth: the poor, for alms: fifth, women, lest they should despair: sixth, of the little ones.

*As he said: suffer the little ones to come; from Decapolis:* that is, they who observe the words of the law, *and from Jerusalem,* that is, that seeing peace they had followed Christ, *and from Judaea:* that is, they who followed Christ through confession.

*And Jesus seeing the multitudes:* likewise four multitudes [0872B] followed Christ, and the same four follow the Church: the first, as they came to Christ through fear and love, so likewise they come to the Church: the second, they who come for greed of food or drink: the third, out of envy, that they may have something to accuse: the fourth, teachers. Christ had three refuges, that he might flee the multitudes: on the mountain, in the desert, in the boat upon the sea; these three he leaves to us: into the height of the commandments; to go down into the desert, to desert vices; and to enter into the unity of the Church: the ship signifies the Church: as it has a helmsman and sailors, and those who throw out the water, these belong to the ship. The same are the bishops, and the labourers, and they who do the services within; and three things strike ships, danger in the waves, in the wind, in the haircloth; so the Church [0872C] has danger: in the waves, the temptations of the devil; in the wind, of sins; in the haircloth, false brethren. When they went up into the mountain it signified the theoric, that is, the contemplative; when he comes down, he teaches the practic, that is, the active; and when he had sat down, it indicates that his incarnation did not appear, because he who sits, his garment covers his body.

*His disciples came to him:* that is, body and soul; and opening his mouth, that is, he who opened the mouths of the Prophets: *blessed are the poor in spirit,* that is, they who for the Holy Spirit are poor when they could be rich: *blessed are the meek,* that is, he who renders evil for evil to no one: *for they shall possess the land,* of which it is said: I believe to see, and the rest. *Blessed are they that mourn now,* he does not say this of every weeping, but of three [0872D] weepings, which the age must have: the first weeping for one's own sin: the second, for the sin of the neighbour: the third, for heavenly love: tears have three natures: bitter, not to weep for sin; hot, through the heat of charity to weep for the neighbour's faults; they lie from heaven, to weep for love of him. For three causes tears are poured out: for remembrance; others for fear of what is to come; for pilgrimage.

*Blessed are they that hunger,* and the rest: that is, he for whom whatever good he does is not enough, unless he wills to do more; *they shall be filled,* that is, in the kingdom of God. *Blessed are the merciful:* that is, they who have had mercy are freed from misery, and with their gift shall go into heaven: *blessed are the clean of heart,* that is, he whom, with a pure heart, no consciousness [0873A] of sin touches, because God, being clean, looks upon a clean heart.

*Blessed are the peacemakers:* that is, in four parts: between God and man, between body and soul, between man and neighbour, between man and his own friend; one ought to hate the vice and to love the man.

*Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice,* that is, in Christ: these eight beatitudes belong to eight men, who were in the ark, and now they ought to be in the Church: and they can be seven, since seven women had one husband, Christ: that is, in the resurrection. These eight beatitudes are fulfilled in Christ: blessed are the poor in spirit: the son of man had not where to lay his head; blessed are the meek: learn of me, because I am meek: blessed are they that mourn: seeing [0873B] the city he wept over it; blessed are they that hunger: my food is to do the will of my Father: blessed are the merciful, that is, I will mercy and not sacrifice: blessed are the clean of heart, that is, be ye holy, because I am holy: blessed are the peacemakers: my peace I give unto you, and the rest: blessed are they that suffer persecution, that is, if they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.

*You are the salt of the earth:* that is, the apostles and teachers are meant: the earth of this world is meant; but if the salt shall lose its savour, and the rest: if the teacher shall have erred, in what is he amended. Salt gives savour, kills worms; it is cast out and trodden upon by men, that is, let them go out of the Church and be reckoned in the part of the gentiles: *You are the light of the world:* that is, as a hidden light reveals and lights up the darkness, [0873C] so do you also light up the darkness of sins: but otherwise, as the sun always remains in heaven, so do you also remain there.

*A city cannot be hid,* that is, the Church upon a mountain, that is, upon Christ: neither do they light a lamp, that is, apostles and teachers . they do not put it under a bushel, that is, under fear or love. The apostles have four likenesses: Salt, sun, lamp, city: upon a candlestick, that is, the Church, that they may shine to all who are in the house: that is, in the Church, or in the world: so let your light shine, that is, doctrine, or good works, and let them glorify your Father, that is, in your good deeds.



## ON THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW. (cont.)

*Do not think that I am not come to destroy the law:* [var: Vulg. *Nolite putare quoniam veni solvere legem*, "that I am come to destroy the law"] That is, [0873D] whatever work has been done, he himself fulfilled it: when the children of Israel sinned, Moses and Levi took three swords for vengeance upon them, which Christ did when he says, I came not to send peace, but the sword; and to fulfil, that is, what was lacking: because the old law, if anyone had committed adultery, commanded him to be punished; but now it is not destroyed but fulfilled, when it is said, he that shall look upon a woman to lust after her, and the rest: and again: of every idle word to render an account in the day of judgment: behold, I came not to destroy the law, but to increase what the old did not say: Amen I say to you.

*Amen,* that is, truly or faithfully: *One iota,* the name of a letter, which is made by one stroke: the letter of ten, that is, the ten words of the law; among the Greeks the letter κ, which we [0874A] have called one; *one tittle,* by one point, according to the letter; but according to the sense, the least commandments of the law: till all be fulfilled, because the things that were least in the law become full of mysteries; the iota, the old law; the tittle, the new.

*For he that shall break one of these least commandments.* That is, he who teaches much and fulfils least, the Pharisees straining out the gnat and swallowing the camel: that is, he who preaches least to others and takes greater things upon himself, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven, that is, in the Church: *Unless your justice abound more than that of the Scribes and Pharisees:* because they taught great things and did little; or those who rejected other commandments out of the law: what they did not love, they did not say; and what they loved, they said.

*You have heard that it was said to them of old, thou shalt not kill:* [0874B]That is, not to destroy the law: *he that is angry with his brother.* That is, anger in the heart without a voice, shall be in danger of the judgment: that is, in the day of judgment: *Raca,* that is, empty or void. *Thou fool,* that is, without brain: *shall be in danger of hell fire,* that is, hell is a twofold punishment, in that it punishes the soul and the body.

*If thou offer thy gift at the altar,* and the rest: *go to be reconciled to thy brother,* that is, the gift, prayer, oblation, or thyself, thou shalt offer unto communion: one is never to come to the Church so long as thou art not reconciled to thy brother: *leave there thy gift:* how this will be fulfilled, he rebukes both alike: if he is near at hand, well; and if far off, yet he ought to be reconciled in mind; and now what has been said, to have peace with [0874C] all men.

*Be at agreement with thy adversary.* That is, the Gospel, *whilst thou art in the way with him,* that is, in this life; or with thy adversary the devil, that thou do not what he suggests to thee, lest his punishment be increased for thy sin: if a child asks for a sword, do not hold it out to him, whereby he may wound himself, and so thou art at agreement with him: *lest perhaps the adversary deliver thee to the judge,* that is, lest the law of the Gospel deliver thee to Christ the judge: because you did not agree with the Gospel; to the officer, that is, to the angel, who sends souls into punishment; into prison, that is, into hell.

*Thou shalt not go out from thence,* that is, because no one will be out of hell till he repay the last farthing: *till* is taken for *always*; the farthing is the fourth part of a coin, which is given as a fee for a washing, or is said for the least [0874D] sin: to repay the farthing is to be sent into hell, or because man is made of four elements. You have heard that it was said to them of old, thou shalt not commit adultery, that is, thou shalt not commit adultery: he that shall look upon a woman to lust after her. There are two concupiscences: the first, which, if possibility follow the affection, the deed does not follow: the second, which is consummated if possibility be at hand; adultery is committed in the body and in the heart.

*If thy right eye scandalize thee, pluck it out and cast it from thee.* That is, thy prince or thy teacher; pluck it out, that is, separate him from thee, if he shall have hindered thee from the service of God; one of thy members, that is, it is better for thee that the prince perish than that thou go with him into hell: [0875A] *the eye,* that is, thy desire, because the body is sent into hell for it: *the right hand,* that is, thy servant or thy anger: *scandalize thee,* that is, amend it away from thee: *the hand,* that is, cut off the evil work.

*Not to swear,* that is, not to forswear; *not to swear at all,* that is, never to swear; *neither by heaven, because it is the seat of God,* [var: Vulg. *quia thronus Dei est*, "because it is the throne of God"] otherwise it is, it is; *no, no,* that is, that the word be said in the mouth and in the heart; *that which is over and above, is of evil,* that is, from the unworthiness of him who is not believed.

*An eye for an eye,* that is, not to render evil for evil: *if any one shall strike thee on the right cheek,* that is, if a heretic shall strike thee with the doctrine of evil scripture, offer him another doctrine of divine scripture, unto living: *he that will take away thy coat,* that is, [0875B] to strip thee of the fault which men know in thee concerning thee: *let go thy cloak also,* that is, the fault of which thou alone art conscious: give him confession: *and if any man shall force thee one mile, go with him another mile,* [var: Vulg. *alia duo*, "another two"] that is, that as thou hast gone forth in body, go also in mind: *he that asketh of thee, give to him,* that is, he who inquires, tell him: or to a poor man, alms.

*It was said to them of old, thou lovest thy neighbour, and thou shalt hate thy enemy:* how he said, not to destroy the law: he rightly fulfils it, because in the old he speaks of the devil, to hate the enemy: but here of both. In three ways we love enemies: in heart, him who hates us in heart; in work, to do good to him who persecutes us by work; to pray in word for those who accuse us in word: to them that calumniate you, that is, false accusation: that you may be the children of your Father, [0875C] and the rest, that is, as if someone had brought us gold and silver: and if he had cursed us and struck us, we would have loved him; and when those things had failed, we too would have failed; therefore it is promised with a life that does not fail. Who maketh his sun, and the rest: and raineth upon the just, because in both the whole world is contained: in the sun, the dry and the hot; in the rain, the moist and the cold: of these four the world was made; so we ought to give to our enemies food and drink, clothing and the word, of love.

*For if you love them,* and the rest: he is called a publican because he sins publicly, or because he manages public business: the heathen, a Gentile; be ye perfect, that is, that you fulfil these things perfectly, in alms, in fasts, in prayers: *that you be not seen by men,* that [0875D] is, that good works be not done for human praise.

*When therefore thou dost alms,* that is, to a priest, and to a poor man, and to an enemy, *hypocrite* means feigned; *they have received their reward,* not God's: *let not thy left hand know,* that is, vainglory: *the right hand,* do all things for God's sake: *enter into thy chamber,* that is, the secret places of the heart, *the door being shut,* that is, against vainglory.

*Speak not much,* that is, not to learn many petitions or many words, or to entreat God with loudness of voice: *for your father knoweth what is needful for you; thus therefore pray you, Our Father,* that is, let us so live on earth that we may have a Father in heaven; we show charity and brotherhood when we say *our*: this the emperor says, [0876A] and the beggar; the lord says it, and the slave; together they say *Our Father*: therefore they who have one father are brothers: therefore let a lord not disdain to have his slave as a brother, whose brother the Lord Christ willed to be; and let us so act that we may be able to be heirs to the Father, for human law also makes sons to inherit.

*Hallowed be thy name:* here we ask that it be hallowed in us, that is, in our works; for his name is always holy. *Let thy kingdom come,* that is, as sons wish a kingdom for their father, so we too pray that he may reign in us and not the devil: he, and not sin; or the Church, or the Gospel.

*Thy will be done,* and the rest, etc. As the angels in [0876B] heaven serve without fault, so we also; or as in souls, so also in the body; or as Christians, so heretics; as the Church, so the synagogue; as justice, so sin: let them turn, that thy will be done in them.

*Our daily bread:* that is, every day until the head of the year: *this day,* that is, always: *bread,* that is, Christ; we ought so to act that we may daily be able to receive him for a remedy. *And forgive us,* and the rest: here we make a bond with God: if you are forgiven, it is forgiven you.

*And lead us not into temptation.* As thou didst lead men astray in the flood, or those in Sodom, or Pharaoh in the sea; or in the temptation of the devil, or the ambushes of men.

*But deliver us from evil.* That is, from the devil, from sin, [0876C] from an evil man: of these seven prayers four are common to all, as though the seven graces of the Holy Spirit had prayed: three petitions belong to heavenly things, that is, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done; four to this life.

*But when he shall have fasted,* and the rest: *they disfigure their faces.* That is, they transform themselves, that is, that they may be seen by men to fast: *anoint thy head, and wash thy face,* that is, what thou wishest to give to the Lord, who is thy head, give to thy neighbour: *lay not up treasure on earth,* that is, in heaven; lest rust, that is, vainglory or anger; the moth, envy or pride; thieves, demons; gold, the understanding; the world, clothing; for food, divine preaching.

[0876D] *The lamp of thy body:* that is, thy teacher or thy prince; of the body, that is, of the inner man; if it be single, of one thing: *No man can serve two masters; where thy treasure is,* and the rest: either he will hate the one, that is, him who is not good even to himself; he loves the other, who is good to himself, that is, to despise the devil, to love God. He who serves riches draws out devils; mammon means riches, or the name of the devil.

*Is not the soul more than the meat.* That is, he who gives lesser things to God and greater to the devil. *Behold the birds of the air,* and the rest. Because it is the custom of birds to fly on high and to sing a song, and whatever they may wish for themselves on earth they receive from the Lord; so men too ought to think on heavenly things and to praise God; and when with their fellow-citizens [0877A] they are in need, they receive from the Lord on earth the restoration of divinity: how much more your Father, who is good by nature, *shall give good things to them that ask him,* that is, faith through charity. Enter ye in at the narrow gate, where sinners do not find room, unless they lay aside the gate, faith, [sic: *palasticas*] II. That is, the love of God and of neighbour, the two lights, the higher the Gospel, the lower the old law; where anyone gives offence he does not enter; how wide is the gate, and the rest: that is, those serving riches and their own will.



## ON THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW. (cont.)

*Take heed to yourselves,* [var: Vulg. *Attendite a falsis prophetis*, "Beware of false prophets"] that is, beware of false teachers, *in the clothing of sheep,* that is, good teachers, ravening wolves, that is, they seize souls into perdition; *by their fruits,* that is, from their works you shall know them, that is, *do they gather of thorns,* that is, from heretics, grapes, that is, virginity, *figs of thistles:* that [0877B] is, a wife from heretics: a good tree, a good man, an evil tree, an evil man: who does evil works.

*Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord,* and the rest. He speaks of those who love to stand praying in the corners, *but he who does the will of my Father,* that is, who keeps the commandments, many say to me, Lord, that is, many there are who enter by it, because I never knew you, that is, the good or heretics: depart from me, that is, they who hope that there is no remission of sins: everyone who hears my words, and the rest: he who does not act against the preaching shall be likened to a wise man, who built a house upon a rock, that is, upon good work, lest the rain should enter into it, that is, heretical doctrine, the floods, persecutions of heretics, the winds, demons, the clouds, they take rain from the sea, [0877C] heretics doctrine from the world, and the house did not fall, that is, it does not fall, who stands upon faith in Christ.

*And everyone who hears my words and will not do them.* That is, there was a custom in the law that there should not be among the people one who was not clean, and if he had received health, he should have shown himself to the priest, and a gift was offered for him, two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, and there had been with them, according to this work, wood, hyssop, and scarlet, about the top of that same wood, and the blood of the one bird was sprinkled upon that wood: and upon the other bird, and it was let go into the air, the wood, the cross of Christ, the scarlet, his passion, and martyrdom must go, through the passion of Christ, and let our blood be sprinkled upon his cross, for let it ascend to the Church, after the passion of our body in martyrdom.

[0877D] *For a testimony unto them.* That is, that he had not loosed the law, or that they might see that he had been born from leprosy: the centurion figures teachers, the paralytic boy, drawn together, signifies the human race, shut up in sins. Jesus found in the centurion three mysteries, the first humility, where he says: Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldst enter under my roof: the second faith, where he says, only say the word, and he shall be healed: the third, that is, prudence, where he said, a man under authority. Jesus marvels at the centurion, that is, he found in him wisdom, by which he had been taught through the divine preaching; converted from the east, that is, from infancy; from the west, that is, from old age: from the south, from youth; from the north, that [0878A] is, from the power of the devil, they come to the faith, they shall sit down, that is, they dwell: why with three only, that is, on account of remission. They who covet, there shall they weep: theirs is the gnashing of teeth, whose God is the belly: Peter's mother-in-law sick of a fever: that is, the doubting of the synagogue.

*He touched her hand.* He furnished help, the fever being dismissed, that is, unbelief ceases, she ministered to him, that is, she blessed him; by the evening, he shows him the end of the world: the demons, that is, sins: by the foxes, that is, unbelieving men: by the birds, rich men: he may not lay down his head, where there is no faith: a dead man to bury a dead man, that is, the body the soul, otherwise: if a sinner, he praises a sinner.

*The ship:* that is, of the Church: *the commotion and the waves,* that is [0878B] temptation: his having slept, that is, made flesh or crucified: the wind, that is, a sudden temptation: the demoniac, a gentile, a nation with perfidy; by the tombs, these are bodies; he did not pass by the way, that is, through gentilehood to the kingdom, the herd of swine show men before conversion: *drowned in the sea,* that is, in the deep; by the herdsman he shows the philosophers.

*He rose:* that is, he was healed: *returned into his own house:* that is, to the first creation: the bridegroom, is Christ: the bride, the Church: the children of the bridegroom, are the Apostles; the raw bread, the doctrine of the Gospel: with rent cloths, these are old men: new wine, and old bottles, new preaching, to old men, the ruler, holds the figure of the prophets, or of the patriarchs; this girl is the synagogue, Jesus took [0878C] the hand of that same girl, that is, he furnished her help, much harvest, that is, hearts prepared, the reapers, teachers, not two coats, that is, not with a double mind, nor with a double confidence, in the New: or in the Old Testament, not a shoe, that is, not the testimony of evil men, nor a rod, that is, not strength, but through patience. Peace returned, that is, the wage received, by the dust, defilement; these are: because dust weighs down in three ways, it binds the steps, the eye darkens, it defiles the garments; the serpent when tormented hides its head, that is, the apostles tormented, not denying Christ: persecution, these are heresies. From one city into another, that is, through the several questions of the books.

*Nothing is covered that shall not be revealed:* that is, the passion [0878D] of Christ and of all the teachers: what I say in the darkness, that is, to the Jews, speak ye in the light, that is, in the Church, two sparrows, that is, the body and the soul, or Christ, Barabias: for a farthing, that is, faith, by the sword, these are the word of preaching: otherwise, two sparrows, that is, that they are the two testaments, this is Christ, to separate the father from the son, this is, the faithful from the unfaithful, he took the cross, that is, torment thyself: to be scandalized in Christ, that is, to deny Christ: a reed shaken with the wind, these are flattering men, empty, without fruit: the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, this is because through the torments of the flesh and of penance, one comes to the kingdom of God. He himself is Elias who is John, because that same spirit was in Elias: in the second coming, which was in [0879A] John in the first coming; children sitting in the marketplace, these are the prophets: we have sung to you the pipes and you have not danced, [var: Vulg. *Cecinimus vobis et non saltastis*, "We have piped to you and you have not danced," without "the pipes"] that is, we have announced to you the coming and you have not believed; we have lamented and you have not mourned, that is, we have announced to you penance, you were terrified at confession, in four ways are the praisings.

*I will confess to thee, Lord:* [var: Vulg. *Confiteor tibi Pater Domine caeli et terrae*, "I confess to thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth"] Father of heaven, of faith, I believe in God the Father: of martyrs, he who confesses me before men, of sinners, confess ye to the Lord for he is good: *thou hast hidden from the wise,* that is, from those who use the wisdom of this world, *thou hast revealed to little ones,* that is, to the disciples: The calling was made in four ways in the new.

*Come to me, all you who labor:* In the old, come, children, hear me: in the future, come, ye blessed: [0879B] The yoke, that is, doctrine, is light to those willing, heavy to those not willing it. Perfection is understood in three ways, that is, of the disciples, through baptism: of sinners, through remission: of the Jews, through the renewal of the New Testament, by the standing corn, that is, the harvest, which signifies the old law: on the Sabbath, the rest of the New Testament, the disciples plucking the ears, that is, drawing testimonies out of the Old, for the confirming of the New, rubbing them with their hands, that is, pressing them out into the spiritual sense: the man having a withered hand shows avarice, he who is greedy in receiving, sparing in bestowing, who was wont to snatch, let him learn to bestow; he stretched out his hand, that is, he cleansed with the heart, it was restored, it signifies conversion to the faith; smoking wood, [var: Vulg. Matt 12:20 *linum fumigans*, "smoking flax"] that is, the hearts of the gentiles made ready for the faith, the demoniac man, [0879C] dumb and blind, signifies the human race, in the house he bound the strong man, that is, Christ bound the devil, his vessels, these are the hearts of the gentiles: brood of vipers, how can you speak good things when you are evil? by the viper, he shows the synagogue; the brood, these are the Jews, as the son slays the viper his mother, so the Jews Christ, who is the wisdom, the mother of all, an evil and adulterous generation, the same forsaking the Lord, cleaving to idols.

*The queen of the south came from the ends of the earth:* it signifies the gentiles, to hear the wisdom of Solomon, that is, the doctrine of Christ. The unclean spirit went out from the man, that is, from the Jews, he went away through dry places, that is, through the gentiles, he returns into the house, that is, to the Jews: he finds it swept with brooms, that is, of the traditions of the fathers; [0879D] he took with him seven other spirits more wicked, these are all their days turned into evil work, entering into the house, that is, into the hearts of the persecutors, because they persecuted Christ and the Prophets: The mother and the brethren, that is, the synagogue and the Jews, standing without, that is, outside the Church, seeking to speak with thee: he shows in the future the conversion of the Jews to the faith. Jesus went out of the house, he was sitting by the sea, it is understood in two ways, that is, from heaven into the world, from the Jews to the gentiles, he went up into a ship, that is, into the heavens, the crowds on the shore, it signifies the present life, in a likeness, this is in parables, he sows who preaches, he sows, that is, the word of God, by the wayside, that is, he who hears the word of God, and does not understand, upon stony ground, that is, he who hears [0880A] the word of God and received it, and temptation coming on, he denies it, among thorns, that is, he hears the word, and because of riches it chokes it: into good ground, that is, he who hears and understands.

*And bears fruit;* the thirtieth shows the order of the married: following the commandment of God, the fruit sixty, the order of widows, perseverance in the Lord; the hundredth fruit, these are the orders of martyrs, of monks or of virgins: to him that has it shall be given, he shows the apostles, who have Christ, to them shall be given also understanding, and he who has not, that very thing which he has shall be taken away from him, he shows the Jews, that same law which they had shall be taken away from them; seeing they see not, these are the Jews, who see with the eyes and did not believe with the heart: hearing they hear not: he shows by the cares of the body, [0880B] they heard and with the hardness of the heart they did not understand: the kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; he who sows is the son of man, the seed the word of God in the hearts of believers, in the field, that is, in the world, the cockle, the sons of the wicked one, that is, the workers of iniquity, the enemy who sowed, that is, the devil: The harvest, is the consummation of the age: The reapers, are angels, wherefore is a bundle spoken of, because not all are judged equally, but adulterers with adulterers, and all their like equally: the grain of mustard signifies Christ, the man sowing is God the Father, in the field, that is, in the world.

*The least of all seeds:* It signifies Christ, refused by the Jews: but when it shall have grown, that is, shall have risen again, so a tree, that is, he ascended to heaven, its branches [0880C] these are the apostles, the birds in its branches, these are the saints, who despise earthly things, covet heavenly things. Otherwise, by the grain of mustard, the discourse of the holy Gospel: the man sowing is Christ, in the field, in the world: The least of all, that is, kept in the hearts of the faithful, on account of the wisdom of the philosophers, so a tree, that is, it ascended above all worldly wisdom, its branches, show the expositions of the several teachers, the birds, that is, the lovers of knowledge, from the seed received, that is, the doctrine of the Gospel.



## ON THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW. (cont.)

*The woman,* that is, wisdom, hid in the meal, that is, in the hearts of the faithful, three measures, shows the three sons of Noah, until the whole was leavened, that is, while the Gospel was preached into the whole world. The kingdom of heaven is like to a hidden treasure, the treasure, [0880D] that is, Christ or wisdom. In the field, that is, of the Church or in the divine Scriptures, he sold all things, that is, he left cheap things, or earthly matters, he bought the field, that is, the kingdom of heaven: the man trading, who seeks the divine doctrine, he found one pearl, that is, the wisdom of Christ, he sold all things, that is, vices. The kingdom of heaven is like to a net cast into the sea, by the net, the word of preaching is shown, into the sea, that is, into the world, gathering of every kind of fishes, that is, every kind of man; he hears the word of God beside the shore, that is, near the end of the world, the father of the household, is Christ, the Scribes, the teachers, are the apostles, he came into his own country, that is, to the Jews. The tetrarch, that is, an entered part of the kingdom.

[0881A] *He bound John and sent him into prison:* it shows the end of the old law: Herodias signifies the synagogue, the girl danced at the banquet, it shows the gentiles dancing before an idol, the head of John in a dish signifies the body of Christ upon the altar, his head in the heart of the faithful, it was given to the girl, that is, to the Church out of the gentiles, she brought it to her mother, it shows the conversion of the Jews, in time to come, they having followed, he shows them on foot, he shows that not with [sic: *anteguis*] moneys, but with his own labor ought a man to follow God: he healed the sick, that is, he washed them from sins and from idols: the hour is now past, that is, the letter of the law, five loaves, that is, the five books of Moses, two fishes, that is, the two testaments, or two orders, that is, of priests and of Prophets, or the two books of Joshua: the crowd sat down [0881B] upon the hay, that is, upon dry hearts, or it sat down upon vices, and having taken the loaves, looking up to heaven, that is, he drew off the sense, he broke, that is, he pressed out the history of the law into the spiritual sense and the understanding appeared, he blessed, that is, he multiplied: twelve baskets full, that is, of the holy doctrine the twelve apostles, for what cause are the women and the little ones not counted as the men, because little ones are not strong to fight back against their vices, so also women, because it is an imperfect sex: he bade them go up into the little ship, that is, into the Church, to go before over the strait, that is, from the Jews to the gentiles. In four ways is he called: the first by nature. The second by kinship. The third by nation. The fourth by affection: in four ways is a man spoken of, what is said, that is, good, well, do ye penance, and the rest. [0881C] Evil, ill, his blood be upon us, good, ill, where it is said of the blind man, art thou alone his disciple? Evil, well, where the Apostle says, I have delivered such a man to the destruction of Satan, [var: Vulg. *tradere huiusmodi Satanae in interitum carnis*, "to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh"] that the spirit may be saved. But when evening was come he was alone, it shows the end of the world, he alone came to redeem the human race.

*The ship in the midst of the sea:* that is, the Church in the midst of the world, it was tossed with the waves, that is, it suffered persecutions, a contrary wind, that is, the devils, in the fourth watch of the night Jesus came, he shows in the fourth law, that is, of the Gospel, Jesus walking upon the sea, that is, treading down the bitternesses of the age, Peter walked upon the waters, upon the bitternesses or, treading down the vices of sinners, Peter sinking into the sea, that is, the doubting of faith, so everyone who doubts in the faith, sinks [0881D] into sin, Jesus stretched out his hand, he took hold of him, that is, he gave him the help of faith: these are the four laws: the first in nature: the second the law of the letter: the third of the Prophets, the fourth of the Evangelists: when he had crossed over, that is, when he had passed over, they came into the land of Genesar, that is, from the Jews to the gentiles, they offered to him those who were ill, that is, those serving idols.

*The Canaanite woman:* she shows the primitive Church, her daughter vexed by a demon, that is, the Church of the gentiles, corrupted by idols, the girl was healed from that hour, it shows the conversion of the gentiles, from that hour in which they believed in Christ: I am not sent but to the sheep that were lost of the house of Israel, it shows bodily [0882A] to the Jews; otherwise, because all who believe in God are called Israel: to take the bread, that is, the doctrine, of the children, that is, of the Jews, to give it to dogs, that is, to the gentiles, the whelps eat, that is, the gentiles, they receive of the crumbs, that is, of the lesser commandments.

*I have compassion on the multitude:* it shows that God is wholly merciful, they continue with me three days, it shows the faith of the Trinity, they have not what to eat, that is, they have not the word of preaching, I will not send them away fasting lest they faint in the way, that is, lest they perish in the way of error in the present life, because faith without works is dead: by the seven loaves he shows the Heptateuch, the few fishes show the order of prophets or of priests, sitting down upon the ground, he shows the more perfect who have already trodden down their vices, by the seven baskets, [0882B] the seven teachers of the Holy Spirit, the Pharisees, divided, the Sadducees, justified, a clear sky, that is, the resurrection of Christ, a red sky the shedding of blood: a lowering sky shows the passion of Christ, a glowing tempest signifies persecution: beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, that is, of their doctrine, Simon, that is, obedient, that is, son of Jona, that is, a dove which is interpreted the Holy Spirit, flesh and blood has not revealed it to thee that is, father and mother has not shown it to thee, the gates of hell are the sins of men, the keys of the kingdom of heaven is the power of binding and loosing, that is, through penance they shall be opened, to suffer many things from the elders and the scribes, saying these things Jesus shows the passion and the resurrection, he says to Peter go behind me, he shows him crucified, after thee let him deny himself, [0882C] that is, let him despise the pleasure of the flesh, he who loves pleasure loses his own soul: the soul here is put for pleasure, he who loses his soul shall find it, in two ways does a man lose his soul, by martyrdom and by the denial of the body: he shall find it, that is, in the kingdom of God: he gives an exchange for his soul, who torments his flesh and nourishes his soul.

*After six days.* Now in the seventh he shows the ages of the world, the seventh which is understood as rest: Peter, James and John, here he shows the whole Church, he leads them into a mountain, that is, into the kingdom of God, his face shone as the sun, that is, the saints in the glory of the Father, otherwise the Old Testament shone in the New: garments white as snow, that is, the congregation [0882D] of all the faithful. By Moses he shows the letter of the law: By Elias, the order of prophets, Christ with the disciples shows the New Testament: A dark cloud, that is, the letter of the law. A white cloud, that is, the preaching of the Gospel. A rain cloud, that is, the preaching of the apostles, who made the fruit of penance, after the ascension of Christ, when he had come to the crowds, that is, when he had come down into the world.

*A man fallen upon his knees:* he shows the order of the Prophets, who prayed for himself, as it were the Church: his son a lunatic, shows the people of the gentiles, worshipping idols, he falls into the fire, that is, into cupidity, often into the water, that is, into luxury, he passes hence from the Jews to the gentiles, go to the sea, that is, to the gentiles.

[0883A] *Cast the hook:* that is, the word of preaching: the fish which first ascends into another, shows [sic: *cornemium*], in its mouth thou shalt find a stater, that is, the confession of faith, the humanity and the divinity. Give it to them for me and for thee, that is, for me faith, and for thee excuse, a little one enters the kingdom of heaven, that is, not little in age but pure in mind, whence the Apostle says, Be ye little ones in malice.

*He who shall scandalize one of these:* that is, whether a bodily injury, or in the turning away of faith. Let a millstone be hanged, that is, the care or the circuit of this age: About his neck, in the labor of the age: Let him be drowned in the sea, that is, in the age: Thy hand, that is, thy peer: The feet, that is, a minister: The eye, that is, thy bishop or priest or teacher and elder. And despise not [0883B] one of these, lest it be against their innocence: The sheep which strayed shows the human race: The shepherd is Christ: The sheep left in the mountains, shows the orders of angels who abide in the heavens.

*If thy brother shall have sinned, rebuke him between thee and him:* so that the uncovering of the sin be not made, and a reproach be not born to the brother, tell the Church, that is, the congregation of the faithful, a heathen, that is, gentiles, and a publican is he who sins publicly: Let not their image be hateful to thee, but their works. If two shall have agreed, that is, the flesh and the soul: If the flesh shall have agreed with the soul: he who asks, through faith receives.

*The kingdom of heaven is like to a man a king, who would take an account with his servants.* He who owes ten thousand talents, is he who sins against God. He who owes [0883C] a hundred pence, is he who sins against his brother, the fellow-servants who judged, are angels.

*When he had ended* these discourses, Jesus passed to Galilee, that is, at the end of the world, from the gentiles to Judea.

*A man leaves father and mother:* it shows that Christ left the Father in heaven, yet so left him that he did not forsake the mother, that is, the synagogue: he shall cleave to his wife, that is, Christ to the Church: They shall be two in one flesh, it shows that Christ is the head, and the body indeed the Church: The wife to forsake from the true one, that is, when anyone shall have departed from Christ, then he joins himself to heresy in one crime: Four souls perish, that is, he who dismisses his wife outside of reason and he who marries her that is dismissed: with difficulty a rich man entered and [0883D] the rest: he speaks of those who possess under avarice; the eye of a needle, is called a postern of Jerusalem: In another way the eye of a needle, the confession of faith, or of penance, the rich are said to be the Jews, the camel the people of the gentiles: in a third way the eye of a needle, shows the passion of Christ, the camel, that is, he who bears the sins of the human race: In the regeneration, that is, through the resurrection.

*The last shall be first:* and the first last. The last were the people of the gentiles; the Jews were first, they were made last: So of Peter and the thief: So of the infant and the elder: The father of the household hired workmen into his vineyard, the Father is Christ, early in the morning shows the beginning of the world: the workmen the tillers of the commandments of God, the vineyard, that is, the Church, in the old [0884A] vineyard, the law or the synagogue, the daily penny, eternal life: At the first hour came Abel, at the third hour Noah, and his sons: In the marketplace, that is, in the world, at the sixth hour came Abraham. At the ninth hour came Moses and David: At the eleventh hour, came the people of the gentiles: In another way, the first hour, that is, infancy the second; hour adolescence, the sixth youth, the ninth old age, the eleventh decrepit age: at whatsoever hour a man being converted shall have groaned from his whole heart he has received the daily penny: Evening being come, that is, the end of the world: The steward of the vineyard Christ, they who murmured are the Jews, saying we have borne the burden of the day, that is, bearing the law and the Prophets.



## ON THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW. (cont.)

*Jericho,* is interpreted moon, it signifies the failing of the people, the two blind men signify the Jews and the gentiles, sitting [0884B] by the wayside, that is, the present life near its end, that Jesus passes by, that is, through the incarnation and of the humanity he passed by, through the world, that Jesus stands, it shows the divinity, when he had drawn near to Jerusalem, that is, when he had come into the world: Bethphage, that is, the house of the cheek, or of the jaw: The Mount of Olives, that is, the name of three lights, that is, the refreshment of labor, the consolation of the work, the knowledge of the true light, the town which is over against you, that is, Jerusalem which fought against the law of the Gospel, loose them and bring them to me, it shows the conversion of the Jews, or of the gentiles, through the preaching of the apostles. The Lord has need of nothing else save faith unto Sion, that is, the watchtower of life the daughter of Sion, that is, the congregation of the faithful, by the garments, he shows doctrine, they made him to sit thereon, that [0884C] is, Christ in the hearts of the faithful, they strewed their garments in the way, it shows the conversion of humility: Branches from the trees, that is, the doctrine of the gentiles, the crowd going before, shows the Jews, the crowd following, signifies the gentiles: Hosanna, save me, or make me safe, as thou savest the Jews, save the gentiles also; as thou savest the angels save the human race: Otherwise branches from the trees, that is, simple teachers, who out of simplicity cut off the doctrine of the Fathers as it were shoots. Jesus entered into the temple, that is, into the Church: He casts out them that sell and buy, that is, those who sell and buy the gifts of the Holy Spirit, who [sell] baptism or any consecration whatsoever: The chair, that is, doctrine: The table, that is, the commandments of the law, the children crying in the temple, that is, in the Church, those having been read over again he went forth, it shows the Jews left behind, [0884D] he went away to the gentiles: Bethany, that is, the obedient house, there he abode, it shows that Christ abides in the heart of the obedient; he returns into the city, it shows that in the first coming he came to the Jews: who hungered save for the faith of the Jews? The fig tree, that is, the synagogue, by the wayside, according to the letter. He found nothing on it, but leaves, that is, the [sic: *sustitutionem*] of the Jews, and the paternal doctrine: The withered fig tree, shows the synagogue without penance: The mind that is Christ, take it away hence, that is, cast it, ye Jews, into the sea, that is, into the hearts of believers.

*A man who had two sons:* the man is Christ, the two sons, the Jews and the gentiles, which of them did the will of the father, he who said I go and did not go, shows the Jews: [0885A] and he who said I go not and went, shows the people of the gentiles who did it by the confession of faith. The father of the household planted a vineyard: The man is God the Father. The vineyard the synagogue, he surrounded it with hope, [var: Vulg. Matt 21:33 *sepem circumdedit*, "he made a hedge round about it"] that is, with the guard of angels. The winepress, that is, the temple, martyrdom, the tower in the midst, shows the doctrine of the law: the husbandmen are teachers, but when the time of fruit had drawn near, that is, the coming of Christ the servants sent, are the prophets, whom they first killed, is Jeremias and Isaias whom they stoned, is [sic: *es me Barth*], or Stephen: They cast him out of the vineyard, that is, of Jerusalem, into Mount Calvary, here the vineyard and other tillers show the Church of the gentiles, who render the fruit, that is, the confession of penance and of faith. The stone, that is, Christ: cut from the mountain without hands, that is, without act [0885B] of a man and without intercourse, from a mother without seed, from a father without time. Made into the head of the corner, it holds together two walls, it shows the New and the Old Testament, the Jews and the gentiles: he who shall fall upon the stone shall be broken it signifies the gentiles upon Christ, from unbelief to faith he shall be broken upon it, that is, into humility, but upon whom the stone shall fall it shall grind him it shows the superstitious Jews.

*A man a king who made a marriage for his son.* The man is God the Father, by the marriage he shows the coupling of Christ and of the Church, as Eve from the rib of Adam, so the Church was redeemed from the side of Christ, and as Adam came forth from the virgin earth, so also Christ was born of the Virgin Mary. He sent his servants, that is, the patriarchs, again he sent others, that is, the prophets, the dinner prepared, that [0885C] is, the holy Scripture, the oxen killed, shows those who shed their blood for Christ. The fatlings, that is, the fattened: they went away into a farm, that is, into cupidity: others into their business, that is, into the world as the Apostle says, No man being a soldier to God entangling himself with secular businesses that he may please him to whom he has proved himself: the rest laid hold on his servants, it shows the onset of persecution. He says to his servants, that is, to the apostles: the marriage is made, that is, the hearts of believers joined with Christ for the love of charity. Go ye to the outgoings of the ways, that is, to the gentiles, they gathered together good and bad, it shows the present life: the king went in to those who were sitting down it shows the second coming, the man not having a wedding garment, shows charity, as he says, faith without charity is dead. [var: Vulg. *fides sine operibus mortua est*, "faith without works is dead" (Jas. 2:26); the same text is quoted with *operibus* at col. 0882A]

[0885D] *The woman* . that is, the Synagogue, by the seven husbands, the Heptateuch is understood: the woman dead, that is, the letter dead in passing over from the Old Testament into the New, in the resurrection whose shall she be, that is, of the Church of Christ. The Lord said, that is, God the Father to my Lord, that is, to Christ, until I make thy enemies the footstool of thy feet, it shows him who humbled the Jews and the gentiles through patience under his feet, or that the persecutors may be punished by vengeance and in time to come, upon the chair of Moses, that is, upon his doctrine, phylacteries, that is, the ten words of the law written on a scroll, which the Pharisees carry on the forehead.

*Jerusalem, Jerusalem:* the doubling shows the affection of grief, as a hen gathering her chickens under her wings, [0886A] in coiled feathers, that is, with wings lifted up, so also Christ spread out his palms on the cross that he might gather his sons, as the canticle of Deuteronomy asserts. He spread out his wings and took them up upon his shoulder blades: [var: Vulg. Deut. 32:11 *adsumpsit eum atque portavit in umeris suis*, "took him up and carried him on his shoulders"] behold your houses shall be left, he shows them deserted, because they are forsaken by their own law and by prophecy and by priesthood: you shall not see me until you say, Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord, it shows that in the second coming all flesh shall see him, and all the tribes of the earth shall mourn over themselves who pierced him. There shall not be left here a stone upon a stone, it shows the dispersion of the Jews, then many shall be scandalized, it shows that through the greatness of the persecution they shall deny Christ: By the abomination he shows the statue of Antichrist set up in the temple: desolation, that is, the consummation: they who are in [0886B] Judea, that is, in the confession of faith. They flee to the mountains, that is, to the doctrine of the apostles, he who is on the housetop, that is, in the contemplative life let them not come down into the house, that is, into the active life: in the field, that is, in the preaching of the Gospel. Let him not take up his coat, that is, let him not return to his former manner of life.

*Woe to them that are with child,* that is, to those coveting the goods of others: Woe to them that give suck, that is, to those carrying it out in the work, by the desert, he shows persecution, by the sabbath the end of the world. Wheresoever the body shall be, there shall the eagles also be gathered together: the body is Christ: the eagles are the souls of the saints: Otherwise in the resurrection each soul shall take its own body: by the sun, he shows the preaching of the Gospel, by the moon, the Church, by the stars the saints or the preachers. The powers [0886C] of the heavens shall be moved, this is the hosts of angels appears for judging, a sign in heaven, that is, the cross of Christ, by the trumpet he shows the sound of the angels. Two shall be in the field, that is, in the preaching of the Gospel: one shall be taken, that is, he who fulfils the preaching in work: the other shall be left, that is, in the work of justice, at the mill, in the world, two grinding, that is, in the Catholic Church and of the heretics.

*The kingdom of heaven is like to ten virgins, taking their lamps.* That is, in the resurrection their bodies. They are virgins in that they did not deny Christ: five prudent, in that they labored for the kingdom of God, five foolish, it shows those who acted for the recompense of human praise: to slumber, is to grow faint before death, but to sleep, [0886D] is to rest in death, at midnight, that is, in error or in security the negligent. I know you not, that is, I know not your good works: the man going abroad, is Christ, having set out on a journey, that is, from the world to the Father.

*He called his servants,* that is, teachers, he gave them his goods, that is, the doctrine of the Gospel, five talents, that is, the five senses, sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch: which he was wont to move by custom, or let him turn transitory causes to the eternal: so of sight it is said turn away my eyes and the rest: of hearing, hedge in thy ears and let them not hear the tongues of blasphemy: of smell, we are a good odor to God, in those who are saved: of taste, do not [0887A] curse, but bless: of touch he who stole let him now not steal, but let him labor with his hands whence he may bestow also on the needy. Therefore they become ten talents: two talents, that is, understanding and operation, he who has these, and fulfils them by examples, and teaches by words, saves himself, and instructs others. Therefore the talent is doubled: one talent shows understanding: He hid it in the earth, that is, he who teaches the preaching of the Gospel for earthly things: but after much time, that is, at the end of the world: He reaps where he did not sow, that is, where there was no preaching: take away the talent, that is, the understanding, give it to him who doubled it in good work: the five senses as the Apostle says, they are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law in their hearts, he who has faith and charity to him shall be given understanding and the operation of virtues, [0887B] he who has not that very thing which he has shall be taken away from him, that is, he who has faith, and has not charity, that same faith shall die in him. Majesty, that is, power, dignity, the Jews: but the sheep the people of the gentiles: the right, that is, prosperous or straight: the left, adverse, or penal, because with God there is nothing left: but when he was in Bethany, that is, in the house of obedience, here the house is put for the world.

*The woman:* that is, the future Church: the alabaster box, that is, the body of man, by the ointment, he shows the faith of confession: the head of Christ God the Father reclining, the same Christ upon the Church: the poor you shall have always, that is, spiritually those who lack doctrine, or bodily those who lack food: but me you shall not always [0887C] have, he shows according to the flesh: Joseph is sold into Egypt, for twenty pieces of silver that he might satisfy the hunger of the body: Christ sold for thirty pieces of silver, for the sins of men, and for the hunger of faith: opportunity, that is, a fitting time, by the unleavened bread he shows the sincerity of the mind, I will drink it in the kingdom of my Father with you, that is, in his members in the kingdom, that is, in the Church I will strike the shepherd, that is, of Christ: the sheep shall be scattered, these are the apostles, I will go before you into Galilee, this is having left the Jews he went away to the gentiles: if it be possible let this chalice pass from me, that is, the passion, this he said for the part of the flesh, by the sword he shows the divine word. Cut off the ear, that is, the hearing of the Jews cut off, in the cleanness of the Jews he received it that he might purge our uncleanness, being scourged [0888A] he endured it, that he might free us from the scourges of sins: as Adam stretched out his palm to the tree of life, so also the Jews stretched out their palms upon Christ, and therefore Christ also stretched out his palms on the wood of the cross that he might free us from every sting: by the crowing of the cock he shows the refreshment of the Holy Spirit: bound he was led that he might loose the bonds of our sins.



## ON THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW. (cont.)

Corbana in Hebrew, Gazophilacia in Greek, in Latin it is called the keeping of riches: through the shedding of the blood of Christ the human race was redeemed, by the price of the blood, a field was bought for the burial of strangers: Hyrus is Pompey, Barabbas led into the desert, that is, into hell: the other sacrificed, that is, Christ for the sin of men: they stripped Christ, that is, despoiled, from the faith of the Jews, he put on [0888B] a scarlet cloak, that is, Christ clothed with the faith of the gentiles. [d: He is clothed with a scarlet cloak, that is, Christ clothed with the faith of the gentiles] otherwise by the scarlet cloak, he shows the shedding of his own blood or martyrdom, they stripped him of the cloak, and clothed him with his own garments, it shows at the end of the world the conversion of the Jews.

*The soldiers who divided his garments:* they hold the figure of the Gospel, who divided among themselves the doctrine of Christ, by the rending of the veil he shows the rending of the kingdom of the Jews: In another way the veil was rent, it shows the rending of the letter of the law through the revelation of the Holy Spirit, or at the ascension of Christ the heavens were rent for the human race: the earth moved, shows the grace of God, moved from the Jews to the gentiles, the rocks rent, [0888C] these are the hearts of the gentiles, rent unto faith: The graves opened, that is, hearts unto faith.

*The tomb,* that is, the Church out of the gentiles: He shows it new, because the word of God had not been preached to the gentiles before, the tomb hewn out in the rock, shows the Church hewn out of the hardness of gentilehood, the stone rolled to the door of the tomb, shows the hardness in the hearts of the Jews.

*The evening of the sabbath:* that is, the end of the world, the first day of the sabbath shows the day of the resurrection, the stone being rolled back, signifies the hardness of the Jews rolled back in time to come, by the brightness, he shows terror, by the whiteness of the garment he shows the consolation of re-correction, in Galilee, in the mountain, he shows from the people of the Jews to the gentiles.



## ON THE GOSPEL OF MARK.

[0887]

[0887D]The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God. In that he says Son of God, he shows the nativity according to the divinity, according to the flesh, he shows it while he says Jesus, behold I send, that is, the voice of the Father: My angel, that is, John: before thy face, that is, the forerunner of Christ, making the knowledge of him the voice of John is, crying, Christ is in the desert it signifies the Jews, forsaken by the law, and by the kingdom, by the priesthood, prepare the way, that is, the hearts, or the works, make straight his paths, [0888D] that is, the thoughts of your heart, by the baptism of water, he shows the washing of the body and of the soul, the baptism of penance, is the remission of sins, he came into the house of Simon and Andrew, that is, to the Jews, rising up very early, it shows the coming of Christ, and the beginning of the New Testament, he went away into a desert place, that is, to the Jews, and there he prayed, that is, there he preached.

*He could not enter into the city.* This because of the throng [0889A] of the people, by the paralytic he shows the human race, by the bed, the body: He was carried by four, these are the four elements of which man consists, or into the four orders of the Gospel: or into the four virtues of the soul, that is, fortitude; justice, prudence and temperance; fortitude is to fight against vices, justice is to love God from the whole heart and one's neighbor as oneself, prudence is to provide for things to come, temperance is to lay upon all anger, a motion, they uncovered the roof, that is, laying open the history of the law, they let down the pallet, it shows the letter of the law laid bare, the manifest sense of the Gospel, he commanded them that they should serve him in a little ship, that is, that they should preach in the Church.

*He went up into a mountain,* it signifies his ascension [0889B] with the flesh into heaven, the thunderer, is Christ, the sons of thunder, are the Apostles: The clouds the prophets, the rain is preaching, a lamp under a bushel, that is, he who teaches for the cupidity of the age, under a bed, that is, in the obscurity of offenders there is nothing hidden which shall not be made manifest, the law of the Jews hidden, which was made manifest to the gentiles, the man who sowed, shows a teacher, that which he sowed, that is, the divine word, in the earth, in the heart of men, sleeping, that is, not knowing, by the night he shows adversity or ignorance, but by the day prosperity or knowledge is shown, by the blade, the compunction of the heart, by the herb the faith of works, by the ear, the perfection of operation, the full fruit in the ear, shows the consummation of works, by the sickle the cutting off of the present [0889C] life and the consummation of the age, the crowd of the Jews sending him away he went into the ship, that is, into the Church out of the gentiles: There were other ships with him, that is, the various Churches of the heretics: by the storm of wind: he shows the persecutions against the faithful, it sent forth waves, so that the ship might be filled, it shows the persecution of antichrist, or the most savage one, so that they come near to denial.

*Many beloved of God,* persevere in the faith, that Christ sleeps in the stern, shows the testing of the faithful in persecution, they rouse him, that is, they call upon him in persecution, for a help to themselves, there was made a great calm, that is, after the persecution of antichrist and after the resurrection, the man having an unclean spirit signifies the human race, breaking the chains, shows the gentiles transgressing the law [0889D] of their own nature: or the doctrine of the philosophers, so also the Jews breaking the letter of the law or the prophecy: he cut himself with stones, shows the people of the gentiles worshipping stones: the man sitting, clothed unto the faith of Jesus, shows him clothed with faith and charity, of a sound mind, that is, with a pure and sincere mind. She had spent her substance upon physicians, that is, because she had put her whole faith and manner of life and her hope in the philosophers.

*He sent them two by two:* it shows the two testaments, that they should preach the same things everywhere, and likewise because charity does not consist in less than two: by the rod, consolation, or discipline, is shown as Paul says: what will you, shall I come to you with a rod, or in the spirit of meekness and of consolation: [var: Vulg. 1 Cor. 4:21 *an in caritate et spiritu mansuetudinis*, "or in charity and in the spirit of meekness"] shod with sandals for three causes, [0890A] because of thorns, that is, for the binding of riches, or the solicitude of the age, because of cold, that is, for the cupidity of the mind or unbelief, because of serpents, that is, because of the doctrine of the heretics.

*Not with two coats* that is, not with a double mind, nor with doubting between faith and unbelief, not with a double confidence in the new or in the old: Not as the [sic: *simulares*] who seek praise from men, by the supper which no dinner follows, the consummation of the age, who at the coming of Christ saw his own consummation, the hour is now past, that is, the letter of the law, whence he says, old things have passed [sic: *transierum*] and behold they are made new.

*Ships in the midst of the sea:* that is, the Church in the tossing of the world: Jesus alone on the sea, signifies him alone born on earth without touch: A contrary wind, shows the persecution [0890B] of the devil after the ascension of Christ upon the Apostles: He would have passed them by, it shows that it was for the proving of them: Genesareth is interpreted a fit harbor, he went away into the parts of Tyre and Sidon, that is, to the gentiles, having entered into a house, that is, into the world.

*He would have no man know it,* it shows humility: He could not be hid, that is, because his works are always manifest. by the woman is understood the primitive Church, she comes forward before the feet of Jesus, they are the Apostles: suffer first to fill the children, that is, the Jews, that they may receive the commandments of the law of the Gospel: and if they shall have judged themselves unworthy of the kingdom of God, then let the gentiles receive it: he found the girl lying upon the bed, that is, he found her in the former.. . . . . of her body: deaf and dumb, shows the human race, he was deaf because he did not hear [0890C] the commandments of God; nor was the dumb man able to speak, because he was not able to render the confession of praise, and did not have the confession of faith, lead him out from the crowd it shows the removed life, because in removal a man always knows the blindness of his sins. Otherwise lead him out of the crowd of sinners to the former manner of life of a good nature.

*He put his fingers into the ears* of his heart *and opened his mouth* in the confession of faith, looking up to heaven, he shows that all should render praises to God: he groaned, that is, for the sins of the human race which stood out in the world: Otherwise, that he might give us an example that we should ask God with supplications: by the blind man he shows the human race, they who brought him to Jesus, show the teachers.

[0890D] *Having taken his hand,* that is, he gave operation: He led him out of the town, it shows the removal of the contemplation of life or outside the former manner of life: spitting into his eyes, by the spittle, the incarnation of Christ is shown through which the human race was enlightened: laying on his hands, that is, he gave the help of operation.

*I see men as it were trees,* here he shows an example of humility that no one should be lifted up because of virtues, but should esteem himself less and lower than all. Again he laid his hands upon his eyes: and they were opened, it shows that he opened the hearts of men that they might see the knowledge of God clearly and believe without doubt: he was restored [sic: *restitus*] that is, in good works.

[0891A] *He sent him into his house,* that is, he called him back to the former of his worldly nature: the descent of Christ from the mountain, shows his descent from the heavens: here the disciples hold the order of the Prophets or of the Patriarchs: the crowds inquiring of them, shows the coming of Christ: Because the crowds sought the law from the Prophets and the Patriarchs: they saluted him, here salutation is understood for humility: he who brought his son, holds the order of the Patriarchs the son shows the human race: by the foam he shows pride: by the gnashing of teeth, by withering avarice, he shows the disciples could not heal: here the disciples hold the figure of the Patriarchs, because neither the Prophets nor the Patriarchs could heal the human race, unless Christ coming redeemed [0891B] him with his own blood, as the Prophet says a brother has not redeemed, that is, Moses redeemed through the law.

*The man,* that is, Christ: From infancy, that is, the first age of the human race: the father said to the child; I believe, help my unbelief, it shows that he said, if faith is lacking increase it, tearing him much: it shows that when he saw the devil to be blotted out from the earth at the end of the world: then power is given to him, that he may do as much as he wills because of the elect of God: when he saw himself driven out from each several man through confession and penance, then he stirred up more against them vices and most cruel assaults, he was made as one dead: here he shows by an example the man purged, that is, he who through confession and penance mortifies himself: here Jesus is seen to have done two miracles, [0891C] he healed him from the demon and raised him as it were dead: so he raised up the human race from the death of sins, and freed it from the servitude of the demon, by the millstone the circuit of the age is shown: by the ass the uncleanness of sins.

*To be drowned in the sea,* that is, to humble oneself in a sackcloth through penance or to perish in his own sin: because it is lighter to bear the punishment for oneself alone, than that others also should disturb from the kingdom of God: by the worms he shows those repenting too late, it always eats him in punishment because while he had space he did not amend, everyone shall be salted with fire: by fire the kindling of the Holy Spirit is understood, because as all flesh perishes without salt, so also every man without the knowledge of the word of God becomes foolish: have salt in you, that is, have the wisdom of God in you: He came [0891D] into the borders of Judea, it shows the Jews returned in time to come to the faith of Christ.

*Beyond the Jordan* that is, to the grace of baptism: suffer the little ones to come to me, here the little ones hold the figure of the gentiles: the disciples who forbade, hold the figure of the Jews, that camels could not pass through the eye of a needle, unless their burdens were laid down, so also the Jews unless the burdens of sins, or riches, be laid down cannot enter into the kingdom of God: what does Peter leave who said: we leave all things, it shows that a man leaves much, who postpones himself, let him go before them, that is, let him go before his sheep by examples: by the chalice, he shows the passion, by baptism the mortification or the sleeping of the Church: as [0892A] Adam sinned by three things, that is, he coveted, he transgressed, he acted proudly: so also Christ was three days in the sepulchre: and in like manner therefore, a man is thrice plunged under the wave of baptism: whence the Apostle says for we are buried together with Christ through baptism: for in his death we are baptized, he who would be first among you: shall be the servant of all, here he shows the teachers of the Church: the blind man holds the figure of the gentiles, he sat by the way, that is, by the faith.

*He cried to Jesus, have mercy on me:* The moral sense, when we lie upon prayer, then the crowd, a phantasm, chide the minds of the faithful, that they may hold their peace while they wish to shut us out from prayer, we persevering: then Jesus standing beside us: for to stand is of the divinity; but to pass by is of the humanity: he commanded [0892B] them to be called, that is, through the preaching of the apostles: He calls the gentiles to the faith: he cast off his garments, that is, his former manner of life: leaping up, that is, from ignorance to knowledge from unbelief to faith: you shall find a colt tied shows the gentiles tied, with the fault of sins: upon which no man has sat, that is, where no teacher has preached: loose him and bring him to me, that is, through preaching bring him to the faith, he saw the fig tree, it shows that the faith of the Jews was far from Christ.



## ON THE GOSPEL OF MARK. (cont.)

*It was not the time of figs,* that is, it was not the time of the Jews that they should believe, because they judged themselves unworthy; the kingdom did not know how to carry a vessel through the temple, who the hearts of the faithful: Christ wills no other work to be done, nor to pass through, save what is holy: that it be handed over [0892C] to the husbandmen, that is, to keep the law: the winepress, this is the temple of Solomon: Otherwise it shows martyrdom: He came to the synagogue; the synagogue often the guardianship of the angels: the tower, this is the law: they cast him out of the vineyard, that is, from the Jews to the gentiles. Otherwise, from the city of Jerusalem to the mount of Calvary.

*The widow cast in two coins,* [var: Vulg. Mk 12:42 *duo minuta*, "two mites"] which is a *quadrans*, through which he understands the man who squares, who offered himself to God: whatsoever you shall ask, believing in prayer, it shall be done for you: how then does St Paul say: three times I besought the Lord concerning the sting, and it did not depart from me: the devil asked that he might tempt Job, and God permitted him; Paul was not heard, that through that same sting he might be crowned: the devil was heard, that through his temptations Job might be crowned: accordingly the Apostle [0892D] says, we know not what we should ask, save Christ who intercedes for us: nation against nation, that is, of the pagans against the Christians: Morally, the flesh against the soul: the kingdom of the devil against the kingdom of Christ, the vices of the flesh against the spirit of good working: earthquakes, that is, from unbelief to faith, that is, body or soul in the hearing of the word of God: standing for my sake for a testimony unto them, that is, if they shall have believed your testimony: it shall be unto them for life; and if they shall not have believed, it shall be unto them for punishment.

*Of the day and the hour no man knoweth:* Save the Father, he shows it in respect of the body, because the body of Christ is the Church: as to what he says, you know not the time, that is, the going forth of each one, or the consummation of the age.

[0893A] *A man going into a far country,* that is, Christ from the world with the flesh unto heaven: he left his house, that is, the Church: to the teachers of each one's work, that is, of each one's grace of virtue: by the begetter he shows the Bishop, or the teacher; at even fire and brimstone rained upon Sodom from heaven: at midnight Egypt was smitten in her firstborn: in the morning Sodom was overthrown and her ashes went up even unto heaven: lest he come suddenly and find you sleeping, that is, in ignorance or in the security of negligence.

[sic: *Fretus alabastrum*]: it signifies the body of Christ wounded on the cross; by the ointment the confession of faith is shown: the head of Christ is God the Father; he sought opportunely that he might betray him, it shows that opportunely [0893B] the time had come for the destruction of the Jews, or of Judaea, and the opportunity of the redemption of the Church: on the first day of unleavened bread, that is, on Thursday, the Church was made the unleavened bread of sincerity; the passing over is spoken of in four ways, that is, from the world to the Father, from the Jews to the gentiles, and we from unbelief to faith, from death to life.

*A man bearing a pitcher of water,* holds the figure of the Apostles, or of their successors and of the baptized, through whom baptism is effected; the pitcher signifies the baptism of the Trinity: to eat the Pasch with his disciples; he shows himself with the disciples toward the Jews: Otherwise he eats in his members, which is the Church: by the upper room a higher life is shown: by the great couch the embracing-breadth of the Church shows: the Lamb sacrificed in Egypt: it shows the mystery of the body and blood sacrificed in the New Testament, [0893C] in that the old sacrifice of the Jews withdrew, that is, the blood of goats and of bulls: for our sacrifice, which is called wine, was offered by Melchisedech when Abraham returned from the slaughter: as to why they questioned one by one, it shows that no one should be confident of his own conscience: leaving the linen cloth he fled naked from them, it shows the malice of the Jews left behind; he fled naked, it shows that the Apostles went away to the gentiles naked of the superstitions of the Jews; Peter was warming himself at the fire, it signifies the lukewarmness of the Apostles and his own denial and the unbelief of the Jews.

*They shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power,* [var: Vulg. Mk 14:62 *videbitis*, "ye shall see"] it shows that Stephen saw him: Saul also saw him when he was laid low in the way: and many others [0893D] saw him. Pilate is interpreted the mouth of the hammerer: he who forms is not formed, so also the persecutors form the souls of the just for the kingdom of heaven; they themselves remained unformed by the grace of God. The Lord took upon himself the crown of thorns, that he might wash away the thorns of our sins, whence it was said to Adam: let thorns and thistles be brought forth for thee [var: Vulg. Gen 3:18 *spinas et tribulos germinabit tibi*, "it shall bring forth to thee thorns and thistles"]: as to the third hour, in that he says Jesus [0894A] crucified, it shows that he was judged that he might be crucified: at the sixth hour he was lifted up upon the cross: eli eli lemasabactani, which is, God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me, he shows it in respect of the flesh; he did not forsake according to the divinity, because there is a unity of power; he forsook in the flesh of the Son for an hour in the passion, that through his own Son he might have adopted sons: as a sponge, its hollows full of vinegar, so also the Jews were full of superstitions and of bitter doctrine: Joseph holds the figure of the primitive Church; from the gentiles he purchased the linen cloth for a price; by the linen cloth he shows the confession of faith: by the linen cloth he shows the mortification of the Church, or the grace of the baptized; the body of Jesus wrapped in a new linen cloth, that is, Christ encompassed by the Church, and the recalling of regeneration: by the tomb [0894B] and the linen cloth he shows the altar on which the body of Christ is laid: Otherwise the Church, they who have received Christ by faith in their hearts, or his body to be eaten and his blood to be taken: the rock is Christ.

*The tomb cleft,* the rock shows the Church built from the side, of Christ: He rolled a stone to the door of the tomb: it shows Christ hidden in the law and in prophecy; the stone rolled back shows the history of the law opened, and Christ, in the New Testament: He is not here, that is, he is not among the Jews, that is, but among the gentiles: Go, tell his disciples and Peter: He names him on account of the denial, that he might not despair, and on account of the primacy of the apostolate.

*Mary, out of whom he had cast seven devils* By the seven [0894C] devils he shows her whole life defiled, because it is rolled through seven days: preach the Gospel to every creature, that is, to every man, because man has a part in common with the rest of creation: with the angels, to understand or to discern; with the beasts, to see and to feel; with the trees, to live: wood lives by its greenness, so also man by his youth; with the stones, to be, because as the stones are, so also are believing men.

*They shall cast out devils:* either spiritually or bodily; they shall speak with new tongues, or with divers tongues: The new tongue is the preaching of the Gospel; they shall take up serpents, that is, serpentine venom or the doctrine of heretics; if they shall drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them, nor shall the doctrine of heretics: hands upon the sick, that is, either of the body or of the soul: we read of three taken up with their body [0894D] from the world into heaven: the Lord was raised up by his own power, because he was neither begotten by intercourse nor begetting by intercourse, but was born of a virgin: Enoch was taken away, because he was one begetting by intercourse: Elias was caught up with a chariot, because he was begotten by intercourse, not begetting by intercourse, because he remained a virgin.



## ON THE GOSPEL OF LUKE.

[0893]

[0893D]Luke himself rising up, a Syrian of Antioch by nation, a physician by art, a disciple of the Apostles: he followed Paul, serving God without blame: never having a wife; at eighty-three years of age he died in Bithynia, full of the Holy Spirit, buried at Constantinople. In Achaia he wrote his Gospel in the Greek tongue: Matthew [0895A] wrote for the believing Jews: Mark for the penitent: John for the perfect: Luke for the believing Greeks.

*There was in the days of Herod,* and the rest. Here he filled out the order: he named the king and the region in which he was; he indicates the priest and his people and his wife: of the course of Abia, that is, in the days of the Lord; Zacharias is interpreted mindful of the Lord: to whom the Angel of the Lord appeared at the right hand of the altar, it shows that to him, because he is mindful of the Lord, the mystery of God is displayed: Abia is interpreted father of the Lord; it was fitting that in the time of the office. Of the Father of the Lord he should have been begun, he who was to preach the Lord as Father: Elizabeth: is interpreted the satiety of my God: she bears the figure of Mary, who was full of God; and both just before the Lord, not before men, because of old the barren woman was accursed in the law: [0895B] Walking in all the commandments, that is, they kept the whole law.

*They had no son,* because Elizabeth was barren, and both persevere in their days: Therefore these two causes; he calls the testimony to mind, the power would have been greater: Zacharias entering into the temple, that is, Christ into Mary; the people pray, likewise the people first entreat Zacharias, that is, for liberty from captivity: the angel appeared to him, he did not say came, because he had been there before: Zacharias was troubled, that is, because the Jews were troubled at the coming of Christ: thy prayer is heard, that is, more than thou didst ask: thou didst ask for the deliverance of the people, and a forerunner is granted thee, and many shall rejoice in his nativity, because after perdition they shall rejoice unto life eternal: because he himself said, behold the Lamb of God, and [0895C] the rest: he goes before Christ, he is baptized before and preached before his face, born before and dead before: six causes, because there were six months between them: I am Gabriel, that is, the strength of God: Elizabeth conceived, he did not say, of Zacharias: he knew his wife: because the will of desire failed from them: and she hid herself for modesty's sake: that she might prove whether what she had conceived were true: five months, that is, the five thousand of the age, or the five books of Moses.

*Take away my reproach,* that is, the reproach of barrenness and of conception in old age among men, because it was not a reproach with God: as in the sixth month Gabriel was sent by the Lord into a city, so in the sixth milestone of the world Christ was sent: Joseph is interpreted savior, who saved Egypt from [0895D] famine: or Mary; he blessed, that is, from the flesh of Christ: but she was troubled because she knew not whether what the angel said were of the past or of the future: The Holy Spirit came into thee; Spirit is the name of all grace when it is breathed in; how did Mary acknowledge what the angel said, or, while she was full of the Spirit she knew what the angel spoke to her: The power of the Most High overshadowed thee, that is, it hid thee in Egypt in thy flight: she is therefore called thy kinswoman, in that Elizabeth was of the tribe of Levi, that is, of the tribe of God: behold the handmaid of the Lord, as he says, the son of thy handmaid.

*She went into the mountain with haste:* all who are to fulfil the will of God: they ought to make haste: the infant leaped in the womb of his mother, that is, the son honored the Son as the woman honored the woman. She cried out [0896A] with a loud voice. It was fitting, because of John it was said, the voice of one crying in the wilderness: John is his name; why did he not say, He shall be John? because he was called by the angel before he was conceived; and they marvelled, that is, at the agreement between the father and the mother: blessed be our Lord, the goodness of God: when Zacharias asked for the deliverance of the people, a forerunner was granted to him: He hath raised up a horn of salvation, that is, Christ, because a horn is neither flesh nor bone: so also Christ is neither flesh [d: nor flesh]: only divinity; the child grew, that is, in body: this first enrolment was made, that is, for the Romans, because Julius reigned first over the Romans, but did not hold the whole world: and after him Augustus reigned, after Augustus Tiberius; in the time of Augustus and Tiberius the time of Christ about to complete his baptism: [0896B] because in the fifteenth year of the reign of Augustus, Augustus and his son Tiberius came in one chariot to their city, after they had become accustomed to the lamb of the world; it shows that in his kingdom he himself should be born who was to reign in the whole world, and the father the unity of his son's will; at that same time there appeared a brazen circle about the sun; it is shown that he is born in the time of him whose power and beauty and light and wisdom had encompassed every might: the first beauty, light and wisdom: at that same time a fountain of oil flowed from the hired lodging all the day, even until evening: it shows that he is born in the time of him from whom the fountain of oil had flowed, that is, the spiritual anointing through the whole Gospel even unto the end of the world: Augustus figures the Father, Tiberius the Son: [0896C] therefore the census is given, that the king might know the number of men and the greatness from Persia to Syria; it shows the place from which Christ was, that each should prophesy in his own; it shows the city, that no one outside the Church should render tribute to God: laid in a manger, that is, the body of Christ upon the altar: the ox and the ass at the manger of Christ shows the gentiles and the Jews communicating upon the altar: room in the inn, that is, a house between two walls, having two doors: the figure of the Church, between paradise and the world; the army of soldiers shows that Christ the leader is to be followed: the shepherds were speaking, [d: it was fitting that the shepherds were speaking,] it was fitting that the shepherds should bear testimony: of the true lamb: let us pass over unto Bethlehem, it shows us not to look back, neither to the right hand nor to the left, but only unto [0896D] Christ: they found Mary, Joseph and the infant; by these three the world was healed.

*Mary kept all these words,* that is, what the angel said to her, after the eight days were accomplished that he should be circumcised: and in the eighth beatitude it shows the passion of Christ, when it is said: blessed are they who suffer persecution: the circumcision of Christ on the eighth day shows the blood of the martyrs, even unto the day of judgment: or because he fulfilled the law and did not loose it: after the days of her purification were fulfilled, that is, twelve days for a boy, for a girl thirty, it was in the law that a woman should not enter into the Church: a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons; by the fierceness of the turtledove he shows that we are to be prudent as serpents, by [0897A] the dove to be simple: a pair, he shows that a man should offer his whole self to God: the revelation of the gentiles, that is, the glory of faith: behold he is set for a fall, that is, for those who do not believe in the resurrection: for those who believe in him, and for a sign, that is, the Gospel: I came to set a man against his mother, and the rest: As he himself says, who is my mother? blessed is that womb which shall bear thee, and the rest, that is, that many should think good thoughts: since Mary is not the only mother of Christ.

*And let a sword pass through thy own soul,* that is, the word of God, or the passion of Christ: she had lived with her husband seven years, that is, the synagogue with the Heptateuch: and she departed not from the temple, that is, because the Church ought not to depart from heaven: and the child grew, that is, in body, and was strengthened, that is, in Spirit: when he was [0897B] twelve years old, that is, the twelve tribes which came to Christ: after three days they found him: The father, that is, the Church, and the mother, that is, the synagogue, who sought him through the three laws and did not find him, save through the Gospel: *and he was subject unto them,* it shows that the Son of man came not to be ministered unto but to minister.

*From the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar,* the first king, the first governor are recorded at the nativity of Christ, that is, while they had not begun to teach: But now a fourth king, a tetrarch, is commemorated, when he comes to the preaching and to the baptism: the king signifies Christ, and the four tetrarchs show the four Gospels: two priests is the two laws: by the number of six the world was made: the first king [0897C] of the Romans shows the unity of the kingdom of the Romans, and the fourth tetrarch over the Jews shows the division of the kingdom of the Jews: the word of the Lord came upon John, go and preach baptism The valley shall be filled, that is, Jews and gentiles: The mountains and hills shall be brought low, that is, he who humbles himself is exalted: and the crooked shall be indirect [var: Vulg. Lk 3:5 *prava in directa*, "the crooked into straight"], that is, let him who was lustful be chaste: and the rough ways into plain ways, that is, let him who is proud be humble. All flesh shall see the salvation of God, that is, Jews and gentiles, men and women.

*He came from Nazareth:* in which he was brought up, it shows the Church in which he was brought up, that a man should not forget it; and he rose up to read, here it shows that if it be revealed to a younger man, let the elder hold his peace, that is, the Evangelist and the Pentateuch: Peter also rises and stood in the midst of the disciples, [0897D] it shows that what is not to be rendered back is to be preached: as to he anointed me, that is, not common oil, but spiritual: to preach the Gospel to the poor, that is, that blessed are the poor in spirit: and redemption to the captives, that is, to the Jews from Pharaoh, and the gentiles from the devil: sight to the blind, that is, to Jews and gentiles: dismiss the bruised, that is, the Jews: Clay to be wrought, and the gentiles by supplicating idols: the year of the Lord, that is, because the year has four seasons, it shows the four Evangelists: and twelve months, it shows the twelve Apostles: and the day of retribution, that is, the day of judgment: to the letter, this day is the scripture fulfilled in your ears.

*There were many widows in Israel,* that is, the Church: Elias signifies Christ: Naaman the Syrian signifies the gentiles: [0898A] the daughter, that is, the synagogue: Giezi, that is, the Church: having a devil, that is, idols to be believed in: What have we to do with thee? that is, to us torments, to thee glory: beside the lake, that is, beside the law: two ships, that is, two Churches: launch out into the deep, that is, Christ ascending into heaven: toiling all the day we have taken nothing [var: Vulg. Lk 5:5 *per totam noctem*, "through the whole night"], that is, through the old law we led no one unto life: They filled both the ships, that is, because he converts through the Church and the synagogue: so that they were sinking, that is, the man who riches: and poverty does not bear: depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinner, it shows, that is, the Lord did not depart, because he does not forsake true humility.

*Fear not,* that is, let not the sinner fear the physician: the report of him went abroad the more, that is, of his healing and [0898B] of his doctrine; when he prayed it shows the contemplative life, when he sounded forth it shows the active life: through the tiles, that is, through the divinity: rise and walk, it shows the resurrection of all: he went out into the mountain to pray: and he departs to the crowds, it shows concerning the contemplative and the active, into one.



## ON THE GOSPEL OF LUKE. (cont.)

Four beatitudes are read, because the four cardinal virtues are contained in them: [sic: *caudes*], in Latin it is said, of the heart: these four gentle ones, the four parts of the world are shown: Likewise the eight pertains to the eight souls who were in the ark of Noah, through whom the whole human race; he shows your reward is great in glory, that is, for preaching, for persecution and for patience: according to these things did their fathers to the Prophets, that is, they hated them, they reproached them and cast out [0898C] their names, that is, you who have your consolation, and do not give thanks to God. Not to God but to your riches: Woe to you when men shall bless you, that is, your enemies: Despairing of nothing, give what you have, that in glory you may receive your reward from the Lord.

*Can the blind lead the blind,* that is, the fool teach the fool: both shall fall into the ditch, that is, into perdition: He went into a city which is called Naim, it shows that after the sick man was healed he raised the dead man, because infirmity precedes death: the only son of his mother, that is, Adam is carried from the earth by four, that is, by the four elements, whence man is: the place is touched by God, that is, the wood of the cross, because Adam perished by wood: A man is carried by earth, when he thinks only earthly things, or when he is sick and [0898D] cannot walk; he is carried by water, when he thinks to live wantonly, or when for excess of cold his body cannot be touched: he is carried by air, when he does all things for human praise, or when for sickness he cannot breathe: he is carried by fire when he thinks upon avarice, or when for excess of fever he cannot be touched: the Lord raised three dead, that is, the son of one mother, and the daughter of the ruler, and Lazarus; the first in the house, that is, in thought: the second at the gate, that is, in word: the third from the tomb, that is, in deed: he who is less in the kingdom of God is greater than he, that is, Christ, because the angels were not born: as he says, thou hast made him a little less than the angels: nevertheless Christ is greater than John, reigning with the Father wisdom [0899A] is justified by her sons, that is, the peoples and the publicans justified God.

*An alabaster box of ointment,* that is, the body with faith: standing behind, that is, after the ascension of the Lord: at his feet, that is, of the Apostles: she watered them with tears, that is, inward charity in God: the hairs, that is, superfluous food, and to give a garment: she kisses his feet, that is, to have peace with all: One owed five hundred pence, that is, the sins of the gentiles committed through the five senses: The other fifty, that is, the sins of the Jews: This woman was Mary Magdalene, out of whom seven devils were cast: who is he that forgiveth sins? that is, divine might and power: this Mary figures the Church, out of which he cast seven vices, because in seven days man sinned.

[0899B]A certain man, that is, the people of the gentiles: for a long time, that is, from the beginning of the world: He was not clothed with a garment, that is, with faith. Nor did he abide in a house, that is, in the Church: but in the tombs, that is, the custom of sinning: with chains upon his feet, that is, the law of nature and of the letter: sitting, that is, in faith; after baptism: clothed, that is, in immortality: at his feet, that is, at the Apostles: he sent him away and said, return into thy house, it shows concerning the contemplative, not to come to the active.

*A woman,* that is, the Church: an issue of blood, that is, the law of nature: for twelve years, that is, two ages.

*She touches the hem of his garment,* that is, she believed in the least commandment of Christ: who is it that touched me, that is, who has believed me: that virtue has gone out from me, [0899C] that is, unto the proving of him who had faith: Peter and John and James, that is, faith, hope, charity: the father, that is, the bishop: the mother, the Church: the villages and the cities, that is, servants and lords; they told him what they had done: the day began to decline, that is, to become night; he dismisses, the crowd, the Jews.

*Give ye them to eat,* that is, preach to the gentiles; he blessed, that is, the Gospel: he broke, that is, to the letter: the Son of man must suffer many things, that is, to die: sailing out of the commonwealth by the peril of the ship, who after the peril saw the calm, his decease, to suffer many things on the following day, that is, in the second law: a man of the crowd cried out, that is, Abraham: an only son, that is, the whole race: suddenly crying out, that is, growing angry, and it dashes him in the flattery of his neighbor: it teareth him, that is, [0899D] in despair; with foaming, that is, with folly: the hand upon the plough, that is, the work upon the Gospel: back, that is, in the world: The ploughshares, that is, charity: four oxen, that is, the four Evangelists: the Lord appointed other seventy disciples, as Moses chose seventy elders out of the twelve tribes, that is, that the seventy tongues which had been divided through pride should be gathered into one tongue through humility: the animals two by two in the ark, and two disciples for preaching, charity: it shows the New and the Old Testament: body and soul, man and woman, and two disciples.

*I send you as lambs among wolves:* I the shepherd, you the sheep; the wolves, that is, the Scribes and Pharisees. The devils are subject [0900A] unto you, that is, what was not in the law was in the mouth: over serpents, that is, over the heathen, because the serpent does not kill, but pours out the venom of doctrine: the scorpion kills with its tail and its head alike: the same is the devil, who wills to deceive at the beginning and at the end: a man was going down, that is, the world, which is called accursed: among robbers, that is, devils: they stripped him, that is, of good faith: they scourged him, that is, they made him to sin: they left him half alive, that is, the body living, the conscience and the soul dead: the priest, that is, Aaron: the Levite, that is, the tribe of Levi with its law: the Samaritan, that is, Christ: who is of the suburbs of Samaria; he himself is interpreted keeper, because concerning Christ God: the Lord keeping the little ones: he bound up his wounds, that is, through penance he bound fast [0900B] his sins: he pours in oil and wine, by the severity and the sweetness of scripture, by reward and by punishment: upon his own beast, that is, upon his own body; because through the passion he led the human race to the inn, that is, to the Church: two pence, that is, the two laws: he gave to the innkeeper, that is, the order of teachers: whatsoever thou shalt have spent over and above, that is, whatsoever thou shalt have done by thy diligence, concerning the doctrine of men, when I return, that is, at the judgment, I will repay thee: Martha, that is, the active Church.

*Mary,* that is, the contemplative Church, which ever hears the words of Christ: Martha said: that her sister should have helped her, because there is need, of the active life, that the contemplative ought to help it: Friend, that is, the teacher At midnight, that is, in due season: three loaves, it shows the faith of the Trinity: My friend, that is, another doing penance [0900C] out of the way, that is, out of the world. I have not what I may set before him, that is, I know not how to teach him: the door shut, that is, the door of heaven, which nothing opens save charity, my children are with me, that is, the heavenly virtues: what is without and what is within, that is, he who made the body himself made the soul: give alms and all things are clean: and if you shall not give, all things which you have are unclean. Fear not, little flock: these are the Jews, they said that they believed: because he was accursed in the law who became poor.

*Let your loins be girt:* it shows chastity: Lamps burning, that is, good works. That when he shall come, that is, in sorrow: and shall knock, that is, the soul through death: and that they may open immediately, that is, to be always ready: he will pass and minister unto them, that is, after the judgment, life [0900D] eternal: I came to send fire upon the earth, that is, charity: and those eighteen Galileans signify, upon whom the tower fell, that is, the Holy Spirit, because *sylva* is called sent: let it alone this year also, that is, the Gospel: I will dig about it, that is, I will preach; a basket of dung, to confess sins; in time to come, that is, unto the day of judgment: a woman, that is, the human race: a spirit of infirmity, that is, faith and works: eighteen years, that is, the two laws, or they who have not fulfilled the ten words of the law and have not believed in the resurrection, because it comes to pass on the eighth day; by the three sixes it shows she was infirm before the law: under the law, under grace: bowed down to the earth, that is, earthly desires: to look upward, that is, because heavenly things through penance [0901A] she did not seek: he called her to him, that is, through confession, and he laid his hand upon her, that is, good examples: she was healed, the hope of health: the first day of the week, that is, unto the rest to come: tell that fox, that is, Herod, because the devil is an animal, it dwells within, it destroys the vineyard, so Herod the devil destroys the vineyard, as it is said, thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt.

*A man with the dropsy,* that is, the human race: the fornicator, having laid hold of him he healed him, it shows that then the assault of fornication is healed: a man, that is, God the Father: a great supper, that is, the Gospel; he called many, that is, the Jews: he sent his servant, that is, Christ in the flesh: all things are ready, that is, the things which were prophesied of Christ: I have bought a farm, that is, for avarice I have not come to Christ: yokes of oxen, that is, pride: [0901B] otherwise the yokes of oxen are the five senses, or the five books of Moses: I have married a wife, that is, luxury: the poor and the feeble, these are they who know their own sins: go out into the ways, that is, to the gentiles: compel them to come in, that is, through confession: to build a tower, that is, to follow Christ; the charges, that is, to renounce the world: what king, that is, the Apostles; to join battle, that is, the weighing of works: against another king, that is, against Christ with ten thousand, that is, with the works which a man perceives: with twenty thousand, that is, with the works which are in secret, and in the open, he sends an embassy, that is, by showing mercy, by giving alms; he asks the things which are for peace, as it is, enter not into judgment with thy servant, O Lord: on the earth, that is, upon riches: on the dunghill, that is, upon poverty; a certain [0901C] woman, that is, riches; a lamp lighted, that is, the Gospel: the groat found in the house, that is, the sinner converted in the Church: a certain man, that is, God the Father.



## ON THE GOSPEL OF LUKE. (cont.)

*Two sons,* the Jews and the gentiles, because to the Jews the law was given first: give me the portion, that is, the present life; he divided the substance, that is, he gave freedom of choice to both peoples: he went into a far country, that is, from God: living riotously, that is, by adoring idols: a mighty famine, that is, of the word of God: to one of the citizens, that is, to a Philosopher: into his farm, that is, into the world: to feed swine, that is, that he lived after the manner of swine: and of the husks, that is, to fill the belly, and not to grow fat: the swine, that is, the foolish. The hired servants of my father, that is, they who are the meaner servants of God: shall be filled with bread, that is, with doctrine: [0901D] I have sinned against heaven; they say this who have the devil for their father, who sinned in heaven: moved with mercy, that is, he came in the flesh: to his servants, that is, to the apostles: the robe [sic: *Aprima*], the faith which Adam lost: the ring, that is, the cross upon the forehead: the shoes, that is, the Gospel: the fatted calf, that is, Christ; out of the two laws he was dead: that is, Adam: he is alive again, that is, through baptism; he had perished, that is, in despair: he is found, that is, in hope: the elder son, that is, the Jews: in the field, that is, in unclean desire: music and dancing, that is, in prophecy and in the Gospel: two servants, that is, Isaias.

*Lazarus a beggar:* He tells the name of the poor man, and not of the rich; good men are written in heaven and evil men [0902A] are not: full of sores, that is, of sins; the rich man signifies the Jews: the poor man the gentiles; the dogs are the teachers who heal wounds by the tongue; in Abraham's bosom, that is, in rest: buried in hell, that is, in the letter: lifting up his eyes, because the Jews were eyes, that is, good in their living even unto Christ: he saw, Abraham, so shall it be after the judgment; out of hell they see the kingdom of God: that they may have the greater punishment, and the greater joy: the tip of his finger in water, that is, they who give small alms: I am tormented in this flame, that is, in his own punishment: a great chaos, that is, the confusion of all things, or the old law: thou hast received good things in thy life, that is, thou hast done good, thou hast received: Lazarus evil things, that is, because he received in his life the things laid to his charge concerning his evils: five brethren, that is, they observed the five books of Moses: [0902B] a sign, that one should rise again from the dead, this was done in the rising of Christ: others of the Jews believed: if a millstone, that is, if the gentiles . . . as the horse that grinds does not see whom it serves, or as one teaches Philosophers Philosophy: which profits not him but the holy Church: increase our faith, that is, while thou increasest the commandment.

*To this mulberry tree,* that is, to the Gospel, which announces the ruddy cross of Christ: as the mulberry is ruddy: to be rooted up, that is, from the Jewish people, and to be transplanted into the Gentile people, that is, the mulberry tree, its fruit first white, afterward ruddy, then black: so the devil, while he was an angel he was white, black in the slaying of Adam, red in the murder of Cain and Abel: two grinding, it shows the two Churches: or the two testaments; the judge and the widow, concerning the half-full, and he will have patience [0902C] in them but they shall not always hold their peace: two went up, the one magnified his own holiness and had lost it: the other magnified his own sins, and they perished: I fast twice in the week, that is, without food and without a woman: what shall I do that I may have eternal life, that is, as was said above, of such is the kingdom of God: and thus Nicodemus likewise was thinking: how can a man be born again: thou shalt not kill, and the rest: why did he say these things, because he fell in that very thing: when he drew nigh to Jericho, that is, when he came to the incarnation.

*A man named Zacchaeus,* that is, he was a Jew and signifies the Jews; he is interpreted justified, as the Jews justify themselves: because of the crowd, that is, of riches and of vices: into the tree, that is, of the cross: the half of my goods, that is, of my substance, I give to the poor, that is, break [0902D] thy bread to the hungry: and if I have defrauded any man of anything, I restore fourfold; this was said in the law concerning living creatures, and in the Gospel it is said of every creature: a nobleman, that is, Christ; he went into a far country, that is, into heaven: to receive for himself a kingdom, that is, the heavenly kingdom, and to return to the judgment: ten servants, that is, the whole human race: ten minas, the ten words of the law: his citizens, that is, the Jews.

*They sent an embassy,* that is, the slaying of the Apostles: the first servant and the second, the order of the Apostles: The mina of each servant, that is, the scripture: like unto himself, he found each: The stone cried out, these are the gentiles; the Jews held their peace: he wept over it, it shows that we are to weep for our sins: they shall compass thee about, that is, the Romans compassed [0903A] it about on every side, that is, within and without: the other, that is, into hell: the children, that is, the virtues which he did in the day: in the night he was falling. Entering into the temple, that is, because on the Lord's day he entered into the temple: they sought to destroy him; it shows the nine servants who were not denied in their ministries: a certain man, that is, God the Father: he planted a vineyard, that is, the Jews: the husbandmen, these are the lawgivers: he himself was abroad, that is, he left all in the liberty of their own choice: the first servant, that is, Isaias: the second, that is, Jeremias: the third, that is, Dahel: outside the vineyard, that is, outside Jerusalem: what shall the lord of the vineyard do: he came and destroyed, that is, the evil man shall be shattered with evils, that is, by the cross he shall grind down his wills: it ground him to powder, that is, in the vengeance of the cross: Nation against nation, that is, a nation against the Romans: kingdom against kingdom, that is, others against the Romans: [0903B] terrors, that is, chariots were heard in the air: there shall be signs: as it was above Jerusalem: a star with a fiery sword; they come to pass for a testimony, that is, from the Jews to the gentiles: therefore I give you them and wisdom; in Moses it is said, God hath shown thee wisdom.

*A hair from the head shall not perish,* that is, in mortality: Jerusalem shall be trodden down, that is, idols shall be adored in it, until the times of the gentiles be fulfilled, that is, the Jews converted at the end of the world: signs in the sun, that is, to the letter: the roaring of the sea, that is, the Sodomitic sea was made: it casts its fishes upon the land: coming in the clouds of heaven, that is, in the prophets and the apostles: the fig tree and [sic: *arbae*], that is, the synagogue and men. In the day teaching in the temple, that is, he labored with the Jews: in the night, on the mount of Olives, that is, he was resting with [0903C] the gentiles.

*A man bearing a jar of water,* that is, Moses and John the Baptist: the house of the upper room, that is, the Church; the couch, that is, the faith of the Trinity; until the kingdom of God be fulfilled, that is, the great ministry: two cups, one with water, the other with wine, that is, with the mixture of water and of wine in the cup; the one wine with water shows the passion through baptism. Did anything fail you, when he was with them in the flesh, that is, he charged them not to have care of the world; but while he separates himself from them, to have one only faith: let him buy a sword, that is, the law: two swords, these are the two laws.

*The Son of man sitting at the right hand of power:* as [0903D] the Lord said to my Lord, and the rest: In a white garment he sent him back [0904A] to Pilate, that is, in the faith of the Trinity: he came to the gentiles, to the people of Israel: they were made friends, that is, both peoples unto the faith of Christ. Herod signifies the people of the gentiles: Pilate the Jews. Leviathan [sic: *densi seduna*] Barabbas is called the son of the devil: weep over yourselves, that is, over your nation: then shall they begin to say, that is, of the people of Israel: say to the mountains, that is, to the Patriarchs; to the hills, that is, to the Prophets: forgive them, that is, let them drink the blood which they have shed, that they may be made vessels of mercy who are vessels of wrath: they know not what they do; and if they had known the Lord of majesty they would never have crucified him: because they did it through ignorance: this day thou shalt be with me in paradise, that is, he who follows Christ has not darkness but the light of life.

*Joseph,* that is, the people of Israel; spices and ointments, that is, faith, hope, charity: the first day of the week, that is, the Gospel [0904B] which dawns through the night of the Old Testament: the women first saw the resurrection. It was fitting that through them salvation should first have run, through whom death first ran: and behold two men stood by: in Matthew first an angel, in Mark a young man, in John two angels, in Luke two men are spoken of, that is, the journeys of the women are many and the visions are diverse, or into one: again, both one vision, and the narratives of the Evangelists are unlike.

*The linen cloths lying alone,* they show that bodies do not need garments after the resurrection, as one wondering, that is, that the garments are left behind: two of them were going, it shows the gentiles, because he was shown thus to those who were without, as to those who were within: the village, that is, the world.

[0904C] *Jerusalem,* that is, the heavenly; a furlong, that is, the eighth part of a mile: sixty furlongs, it shows the number of the days in which the world was made. The name of the village Emmaus, and he himself made as though he would go further: that is, to the gentiles; and they knew him in the breaking of bread, and they did not know him in hearing his preaching. He vanished out of their sight: it shows that we cannot tarry in the contemplative, and he was further from them when they did not know him, that is, because we can remain longer in the active life: when he opened to us the scriptures: peace be unto you: does he now gather them into one peace? why did he not rise and ascend in one place? because the honor came down from Jerusalem to the gentiles. The Lord here fulfilled what he himself [0904D] said, pray for those who persecute; he forgave



## ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN.

[0903]

[0903D] *In the beginning was the Word,* that is, because all things are begun and ended in him. The Word of the Father, the Son, with God: because the Son is always with the Father, God was the Word, that is, God was the Son: this was in the beginning with God: all things were made by him, and without him was made nothing: these idols: what is, in him was life, that is, because to him all things live before they are made: the life was the light of men, Christ is light and life: it shineth in the darkness, that is, in the people of the Jews through the law and the Prophets: the Jews knew him not: [0904D] there was the true light which enlighteneth every man, and the rest: the true light enlighteneth by being born, by being nourished, by living, and through the grace of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, it enlighteneth knowledge, he came into the world, the world he knew not, that is, the people of the Jews: one part estranged, some part knew him: he came unto his own: unto his own nation according to the flesh: his own received him not: and to as many as received him, he gave power to become sons of God through faith; of him they were born through the renewal of baptism: and the grace of the Holy Spirit.

[0905A] *The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,* that is, through the assumption of the flesh we saw his glory, that is, through his transfiguration and resurrection: he cometh after me, he shows the nativity according to the flesh: he was made before me: that is, through him all things were made: and because he was before me, and of his fulness we all have received: by being born, by being nourished, by living, grace for grace. The grace of the Old Testament, the grace of the New Testament: likewise through faith and charity: through the letter of the law or through prophecy: three modes, through the grace of baptism eternal grace, the Son who is in the bosom of the Father, that is, in the heart or in the secret place: he confessed that John is not the Christ.

*He denied not,* that he is the forerunner of Christ; otherwise he shows the New Testament, and I knew him not: [0905B] John shows that he did not know through the baptism of Christ that the world had been redeemed, for he knew him to be the Son of God and born in the flesh.

*Rabbi, where dwellest thou?* that is, in what doctrine? thou art moved: or to teach: come, learn my doctrine, who willeth every one to come to him; they abode with him that day, they show the New Testament or the present life: the tenth hour signifies the evening of the world: on the morrow he would go forth into Galilee, that is, after his resurrection unto the gentiles; under the fig tree, that is, under the letter of the law or the synagogue: the heavens opened, that is, to the human race; angels ascending and descending, that is, unto the ministry of Christ: on the third day a marriage was made, that is, the third law; by the marriage the joining of the Church with Christ is understood: Mary of Jesus at the marriage, [0905C] shows the synagogue: Jesus and his disciples, a figure of the Church; the wine failing, that is, the failing of the letter of the law.

*Mine hour is not yet come,* that is, the time of Christ's passion is not yet come; six waterpots, six ages, into wine Christ. The ruler of the feast shows John, because John drank the passion before Christ did: the water made wine shows rebirth and the Old Testament into the New. Otherwise, by the water the baptism of John, by the wine the passion of Christ; likewise by the wine the blood of Christ, as he himself saith, his blood is true drink [var: Vulg. Jn 6:56 *sanguis meus vere est potus*, "my blood is drink indeed"]; to keep the good wine shows the mystery: the mysteries of the Old Testament; by them that sell oxen he shows the teachers who sell holy gifts, by the sheep [0905D] he shows simple men; the scourge of little cords [var: Vulg. Jn 2:15 *de funiculis*, "of cords"], that is, vengeance for divers sins whereby they are cast out, out of the Church: Jesus did not trust himself to them, that is, for the part of the flesh; Nicodemus came to him by night: by the night he shows the letter of the law, or the ignorance of the heart, that it might be enlightened by the light, of the knowledge of God: we know that thou art come from God, shows those who received Christ through faith; flesh is born of flesh and blood, that it may live bodily in the world; again the soul is born again ineffably and by the Holy Spirit, that it may live for ever.

*The Spirit breatheth where he will,* that is, whom he will he enlighteneth, as the Apostle saith, for he that cleaveth to Christ is one spirit [var: Vulg. 1 Cor 6:17 *Qui autem adhaeret Domino*, "he that cleaveth to the Lord"]. Thou hearest my voice [var: Vulg. Jn 3:8 *vocem eius audis*, "thou hearest his voice"], they show the enlightening [0906A] of the ear of the heart, whence the Prophet saith, I will hear what the Lord God will speak in me: what we know we speak, what we have seen we testify, what we say we know; he shows it by modes of speech, or the whole Trinity, or Christ with the apostles and prophets: we testify, that is, we give testimony: ye receive not of our testimonies, that is, ye believe not our preaching: Christ came down from heaven by assuming flesh.

*No man ascendeth unto heaven,* save Christ with the tree, that is, the Church: as the serpent was lifted up in the desert, so also Christ was lifted up on the Lebanon of the cross: as they that were smitten by the serpents, so by the sight of the brazen serpent they shall be delivered: so also the man smitten by the devil, who believeth the passion of Christ, shall be delivered: He came into the land [0906B] of Judea, into the land of confession, into Enon, that is, the name of the place where they immolated their sons and their daughters to devils, whence it took the name Gehenna: near to Salim, which is interpreted of peace, which they called Jebus, whence they took the name Jebusites; for John was not yet in prison, which shows that the consummation of the letter of the law was not yet: he must increase, but I to be diminished: he who was thought to be a prophet was found to be Christ, and he who was thought to be Christ was found to be a Prophet: what I have seen and heard according to the divinity: this he testifieth: according to the divinity no man received his testimony: here the whole is put for the part; likewise believe ye that God is true.

*It behoved him to pass through Samaria,* he shows that as he preached to the Jews, he should preach also to the gentiles: a farm, [0906C] that is, a field; a fountain for flowing, a well for drinking; Jesus wearied from the journey shows that he must come through the incarnation upon the history of the letter of the law; by the sixth hour is understood the faith of the Samaritans, who were fervent: the woman, that is, the synagogue: to draw water, to learn the history of the letter of the law: Jesus asketh to drink, that is, to ask the faith of the woman; the well is deep, that is, the depth of the mystery of the law: a fountain of water springing up unto life everlasting, that is, the preaching of the Gospel bubbling forth out of the mouth of the apostles or of believers: five husbands, he shows the five books of Moses; and him indeed whom thou hast is thine [var: Vulg. Jn 4:18 *et nunc quem habes non est tuus vir*, "and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband"], he shows the book of Joshua: she left her waterpot, that is, her former manner of life: she went into the city, which shows the primitive Church, as it were unto the gentiles or unto the people: lift up your eyes, that is, the eyes of faith; the white [0906D] harvests, that is, the hearts of the faithful: they that have sown, that is, the prophets; they that reap are the apostles. He abode with them two days, that is, after the two testaments delivered to the Jews: he went into Galilee, that is, unto the gentiles: here otherwise, they that are dead bodily, in the time to come hear his voice and are raised again: as he hath life in himself, so also the Son: what is said, he gave to the Son, this is for the part of the flesh: they that have done good things, in the resurrection of life, that is, he who judgeth himself riseth again; and otherwise, they that are dead in sins live unto life through the conversion of faith; they themselves rise again unto judgment who here have done evil: what he saith, I do nothing of myself, he shows for the part of the body: as I hear, so also I judge: my judgment is just, I seek not [0907A] mine own will, but of the Father who sent me; here he hath put his own will for his members.

*If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true;* as Solomon saith, praise thee a stranger, not thine own mouth: neither do they ever hear his voice [var: Vulg. Jn 5:37 *neque vocem eius umquam audistis*, "neither have ye ever heard his voice"], he shows the unbelievers who received not his preaching; he went up into a mountain with his disciples, that is, to ascend unto a higher life; trying Philip, that is, for proving and not for destroying: five loaves, the five books of Moses: by the [sic: *ordiatium*] is understood the harshness of the letter of the law: much grass shows the perfection of the people: doth aught perish of the remnants, that is, put not doctrine where it buildeth not up: he went up alone into the mountain, that is, unto the Father; the disciples went down to the sea, that is, unto the gentiles: they went up [0907B] into a ship, that is, into the Church; darkness was made, that is, the world growing toward evening, or the onset of persecution after the ascension of Christ: rowing, that is, fleeing unto Christ.

*Jesus walking upon the sea,* that is, treading down the vices of the world: the crowds going up into the ship, seeking Jesus, shows that all seek Christ with their own labour: it is called "manu" among the Hebrews, whence it took the name manna among the Latins, that is, the living bread or the body of Christ transfigured in mystery; in three ways is a man raised up, that is, from unbelief unto faith, from sin unto penitence, on the last day bodily, in the resurrection: I live because of the Father, they show it according to the [sic: *divitatem*]: Scenophegia, that is, the fashioning of tabernacles: ye go up [0907C] to the feast day, I go not up: ye in whom the world delighteth, I will not go up, because I am not of the world, the feast day being half over.

*Jesus went up to Jerusalem,* the zeal of the Jews burning most of all: my doctrine is not mine; and if it is mine, how is it not mine? it is mine which proceedeth to them out of my mouth: it is not mine, because what I have heard from the Father: these things I speak unto you; otherwise, according to the flesh it is mine, but according to the divinity it is not mine; I have done one work and ye all marvel, I have made a whole man whole on the sabbath, that is, the whole human race, in the New Testament: judge not according to the face, that is, accept not the person of a man: ye know not whence I am, that is, according to the flesh.

*Yet a little while I am with you,* he shows, unto [0907D] the passion: ye shall seek me and shall not find me, that is, bodily; and where I am ye cannot come, that is, through unbelief, save through faith: and in the last day of the feast, that is, the feast of the Jews being finished: he that thirsteth, let him come and drink, that is, he that thirsteth for the word of God, let him come and drink the doctrine of the Gospel: rivers out of the belly, that is, doctrine out of the heart: waters of life shall flow, that is, the preaching of the Gospel which giveth perpetual life: because Jesus was not yet honoured [var: Vulg. Jn 7:39 *glorificatus*, "glorified"], he shows the honouring of the passion and of the resurrection: they returned every man unto his own house, that is, unto his own malice.



## ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN. (cont.)

*The woman taken in adultery,* shows the synagogue which adulterated the law of Moses, and followed the traditions [0908A] of the fathers: or the Church out of the gentiles, which, forsaking God, committed fornication with devils: because they bring her into the midst, he shows the Jews, because they are accusers of the Church of Christ: Moses commanded to stone her, what sayest thou? tempting him for two causes; if he had said to stone her, they would have said, he doth not what he teacheth, send her back to us; if he had said she was not to be stoned, they would have said, he is a gainsayer of the law: Jesus stooping down, that is, from the seats of the Father into the world, to redeem the sins of the human race; he wrote with his finger on the ground, he shows their sins; he raised [sic: *te*] himself up, that he might raise up those who walked in sins: again stooping down, he wrote on the ground, he shows the sins of the woman forgiven: Jesus remained alone with the woman in the house, that is, with the Church in the world: he that [0908B] followeth me walketh not in darkness, he shows not only the steps of the feet but the affection of the heart: not in the darkness, that is, of ignorance, neither in the darkness of sins: but he shall have the light of life, that is, the light of knowledge and the perpetual light; I have many things to say of you and to judge, he shows that, if ye shall have believed, I will teach you many things: and if ye shall not have believed, to speak many things for your excuse.

*He was a murderer from the beginning:* because he slew his own self by being proud: otherwise, he made mortal the first man, whom God founded immortal, and by his suggestion Abel was slain: which of you shall convict me of sin? he that is of God heareth the words of God, that is, he that understandeth and doeth them: thou art a Samaritan and hast a devil; here what he was not, neither to have, [0908C] and what he was, by keeping silence he consented: I seek not mine own glory, there is one that seeketh and judgeth: God the Father; I seek not as dissemblers do, who judge unjustly: Abraham your father rejoiced that he might see my day: he saw it and was glad, that is, he saw the faith in the spirit, and he saw him in the person of the angels: three he saw, as one he saluted, where he said, turn aside, my lords, unto the house of your servant, if I have found grace in thine eyes: amen, amen, I say unto you; the doubled amen is understood as truly or faithfully: announcing the New and the Old Testament: before Abraham I am: the passage is of the divinity: they took up stones to cast at him, that is, having stony hearts: Jesus hid, he shows himself hidden from their hearts, himself he went out of the temple, that is, out of the people of the Jews; Jesus passed [0908D] through the midst of them, that is, he went away unto the gentiles.

*He saw a man blind from his birth:* by the blind man the human race is signified: *Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents,* that thou mayest understand this which he said, neither hath he sinned: Adam, first created for seeing, had his eyes closed to evil, when he transgressed the commandment of God: he held his eyes open to evil and closed them to good? what then are the parents, unless the human race, and the instigators of vices, or the vices themselves, are signified? I must work, that is, preach: while it is day, that is, while I am in the world: the night cometh, that is, the persecution of the apostles or the persecution of Antichrist: the night when no man can work, that is, after [0909A] the departure of each one: he spat on the ground, that is, the incarnation of Christ.

*He made clay, he anointed mine eyes:* he shows that as he formed the first man out of the slime of the earth, so through the same kind of clay he reformed the human race: Go and wash in the pool of Siloe, showing baptism: by the parents is understood the devil or the vices: they who said, he is of age, let him speak for himself: who would not confess the man to be Christ: this man we know not whence he is, he shows that they knew not his divinity: for judgment I came into this world, he shows that he who heareth the word and hath received judgment hath received it unto condemnation: that they which see not may see, he shows the gentiles, which received not the law: and that they which see may be made blind, that is, the Jews, who saw through the law, were made blind, [0909B] because they believed not in Christ.

*They who enter not by the door:* [var: Vulg. Jn 10:1 *Qui non intrat per ostium in ovile ovium*, "he that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold"] he shows the bishops who enter by rewards, not by the calling of God or of the people; they are shepherds of the sheep who are for the gain of souls, not for the ambition of the world: to him the doorkeeper openeth: the first doorkeeper is John, the forerunner of Christ; of the Scriptures, by divine Scripture called, named, that is, the Lord knoweth them that are his: he leadeth them forth into doctrine or into the kingdom; he goeth before them, that is, what he taught by example he first did: he goeth before them into the kingdoms of heaven, or also all good teachers go before by examples.

*They hear my voice,* that is, the doctrine: a stranger they follow [var: Vulg. Jn 10:5 *alienum autem non sequuntur*, "but a stranger they follow not"], that is, the faith, the doctrine of heretics: as many as came were thieves and robbers, that is, the false prophets [0909C] who have been and shall be in the time of Antichrist: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved: that is, he who shall be saved through the doctrine of Christ: let him enter through penitence into the Church, and they shall go out from the present world unto the kingdom of God: otherwise, go out against the heretics, to be fought down: the thief cometh not but to kill and to destroy [var: Vulg. Jn 10:10 *nisi ut furetur, et mactet, et perdat*, "but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy"], these are the orders of priests who enter for the sake of filthy lucre, not for the gain of souls; I am come that ye may have life, that is, my doctrine, and that ye may have it more abundantly, that is, life eternal: he is a hireling who teacheth for earthly gain: he seeth the wolf, he fleeth, that is, the devil or the heretic: other sheep I have which are not of this fold, he shows the gentiles; let there be one flock and one shepherd [var: Vulg. Jn 10:16 *fiet unum ovile et unus pastor*, "there shall be one fold and one shepherd"], that is, the Church and Christ: here the corner stone, the middle [0909D] wall, which maketh both one.

*I have power to lay down my soul and to take it again:* he shows it for the part of the flesh; the Father, what he hath given me is greater than all, he shows that Christ, or the Spirit of God, is greater than all the works of the world: I said, ye are gods; it is said in three ways, that is, essentially, he who always is, that is, God: by appellation, ye are gods: falsely are called gods the devils or the idols.

*He went away beyond Jordan,* that is, unto the gentiles, where John was first baptizing, he abode there, he shows the Church: Lazarus figures the Jews, because the Jews were weak in the faith of Christ: Martha and Mary show the doctrine of the good among the Jews: this sickness is not unto death, he shows that they who are dead to men shall live [0910A] to God: he abode there two days, that is, the two testaments. Let us go into Judea again, the faith returned unto the Jews through Elias and Enoch at the end of the world: there are twelve hours of the day, the day is Christ: the twelve hours, the twelve apostles; if any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not; in the day, that is, in the doctrine of Christ or of the apostles, he stumbleth not in sin, because he seeth the light of this world, that is, he seeth Christ through knowledge.

*If any man walk in the night, he stumbleth:* by the night is understood the darkness of sins, or the ignorance of the heart: he was not there, he shows the presence of the flesh; he knew that he was dead, that is, because he knoweth all things: one in the house of the ruler of the synagogue, two, the son of the widow in the gate of the city, the third, Lazarus out of the tomb: in the house, that is, in the heart: in the gate, that is, in the mouth; in the tomb, [0910B] that is, in the deed; by the same a man dieth, and by the same he shall be raised again.

*Martha, when she heard that Jesus was come, went to meet him:* Here Martha signifies the Church, which went to meet Christ through faith: Mary sat at home, she shows the life of contemplation; he that believeth in me, and shall have died, liveth, whether bodily, or in sins through penitence: every one that liveth and believeth in me, who here liveth in Christ in good works, shall not die for ever.

*Jesus wept:* he shows that, as true God and true man, he is an example of compassion; with hands bound, and feet, he shows the bonds of sins: his face bound with a napkin, that is, the veil upon the hearts of the Jews: loose him, that is, through the preaching [0910C] of faith. The greater the signs the Jews saw, the more were they blinded: they took away the place and the nation; the place, Jerusalem, the Romans possess, and the gentiles who are scattered through the regions; the prince spoke the causes, it is expedient that one man die rather than the whole nation perish, because he had the ministry of God in hand and the Spirit of God; he spoke this, that the Son of God should gather into one, in the whole world, those who had been divided [var: Vulg. Jn 11:52 *ut filios Dei, qui erant dispersi, congregaret in unum*, "that he might gather into one the children of God that were dispersed"]: Martha served, she shows the active life.

*Lazarus sitting at meat with Jesus,* signifies the Church: Mary took a pound of ointment, so also the whole world, which is understood as the hearts of the faithful: by the ointment the odour of confession; Mary signifies the Church; she anointed the feet of Jesus, that is, through the confession of penitence: the house was filled with the odour of the ointment, [0910D] so also the whole world is filled with the passion and the resurrection of Christ.

*When the crowd heard that Jesus was come, they took branches of palms, and went forth to meet Jesus.* He shows that three, according to the coming after the resurrection, are caught up into the air with the Lord; he found an ass, by the ass he shows the people of the gentiles: he sat upon him, that is, through the confession of faith: fear not thy destruction, for thy Saviour cometh, daughter of Sion [var: Vulg. Jn 12:15 *Noli timere, filia Sion: ecce rex tuus venit*, "Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy king cometh"], he shows the gathering of the faithful out of the Jews and out of the gentiles: the whole world went after him, because through his passion and his resurrection he redeemed the whole world from sin, and it followed him: they came to Philip and asked that they might see Jesus, he shows [0911A] the gentiles converted to the faith through the preaching of the apostles: the grain of wheat holdeth the figure of Christ; if it shall have died, it bringeth forth many grains: so also Christ . . . multiplied his Church.

*I will glorify, and again I will glorify,* [var: Vulg. Jn 12:28 *Et clarificavi, et iterum clarificabo*, "I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again"] that is, glorify him in the resurrection of Lazarus, again glorify him in his own resurrection: the prince of the world is sent forth, that is, the devil being cast out from the power of the world through the passion of the cross: walk while ye have the light, that is, while ye have Christ bodily and spiritually with you: lest the darkness overtake you, that is, the darkness of ignorance and the persecutions of sins: he hid himself from them, that is, bodily or spiritually; Lord, who hath believed our report? "who" is put for rarity, or for difficulty; the hearing is faith, [0911B] which we have heard through the Holy Spirit: the arm of the Lord is the Son of God, which was revealed, that is, some part out of the Jews, revealed out of the gentiles, that is, he who believeth in me not only according to the humanity, but according to the divinity; otherwise, not only in me, but also in the Father, because I am in the Father and the Father in me: he that seeth me seeth him that sent me; as if he had said openly, he that hath seen me to be true man and believeth me to be true God, seeth also the Father according to the divinity.

*I came not to judge, but to save the world:* he shows that through the shedding of his blood he should redeem the world: I have loved you, because I was in the world, unto the end he loved: he gave an example that all should remain in the truth of God unto the end: supper being ended, [0911C] it shows the passion of Christ; as after supper no dinner is made, so Christ, after he once suffered, showed not that he should suffer again: rising from supper, he shows our passion, the resurrection or the ascension: he layeth aside his garments, he shows that his garments were to be laid aside for the cross.



## HERE BEGINS THE CAPITULATIO.

*Taking a towel, he girded himself with the towel,* that is, his own mortification: he putteth water into a basin, he shows the grace of baptism: he began to wash the feet of his disciples and to wipe them with the towel; by the washing of the feet the baptism of the apostles is understood, by the wiping with the towel he shows the wiping away of sins through the passion of Christ: thou shalt not wash my feet for ever, [0911D] stricken with dread he said this: if I wash thee not, thou shalt have no part with me, he shows that he who is not washed through baptism and through the confession of penitence shall have no part with the Lord: he took his garments again; again it is shown that he shall return to the Jews at the end of the world: the servant is not greater than his lord, neither the Apostle greater than he that sent him, that is, if I suffer, ye also suffer. Otherwise, if I humble myself even to your footsteps, so do ye also humble yourselves to all men: he shall lift up his heel against me, that is, the heel is the outermost part of the limb.

*And by the morsel Satan entered into him,* [var: Vulg. Jn 13:27 *post bucellam*, "after the morsel"] that is, as the Apostle saith, he that receiveth unworthily the body of the Lord and his blood, eateth and drinketh judgment: [0912A] a new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another: in the old it is said, thou shalt love thy friend [var: Vulg. Matt 5:43 *proximum tuum*, "thy neighbour"] and hate thine enemy; the Lord saith, love your enemies: this is the new commandment; let not your heart be troubled, here he preacheth to the Apostles concerning his passion; believe in God, and believe in me, because I am the Son of God.

*Believe, in the house of my Father,* that is, in the Church there are many mansions, that is, as in one man the sense is divided, so in the Church, which is the body of Christ, the graces are many: I go to prepare for you a [sic: *loc*], that is, I will prepare life for you, as the Apostle saith, we have an advocate with the Father, who maketh intercession for us: I am the way and the truth and the life; the way without error is Christ, the truth without falsehood, the life without death is he himself.

[0912B] *Henceforth ye know him and have seen him,* [var: Vulg. Jn 14:7 *amodo cognoscetis eum*, "from henceforth ye shall know him"] that is, whom they knew with the eyes of the body, and knew with the eyes of the heart, according to the divinity through the illumination of the Holy Spirit: he doeth greater things than these, because Christ healed the woman by the hem of his garment: but the Apostles shall cure the sick by their shadow.

*Here endeth the Passion.*

*I will ask my Father, and he shall give you another Paraclete:* by the Spirit received twice, the love of God and of the neighbour is understood: the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive, that is, he that loveth the world receiveth him not; I will not leave you orphans, that is, I will not leave you according to the divinity: in that day ye shall know, that is, in the time to come, or in the resurrection [0912C] of Christ. I in the Father, that is, according to the divinity; ye in me, because ye are my members: and I in you, that is, in the love of your heart: I will manifest myself to him, that is, to them that believe in the divinity; we will make our abode with him, as he himself saith, where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I also, and the rest: my peace I give unto you, that is, as I patiently endure all things, so also ye have patience: my peace I leave with you, that is, as I have suffered, so also shall ye suffer: not as the world giveth peace do I give unto you; the world giveth a peace that is broken off, God giveth an eternal one: the prince of the world cometh to me, and findeth nothing in me, that is, the devil came to the cross, and found no sin in the Lord; he sought to take, and was taken by him: [0912D] as the Father hath commanded me, so I do; the Father sent him to pour out his blood for the human race, and so he did: I am the true vine, whence flow forth blood and water: and my Father is the husbandman, that is, the tiller of the Church: ye are the branches, that is, the apostles or the faithful of the Church: as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abide in the vine, so also each one beareth not fruit unless he abide in Christ.

*In this is my Father glorified, that ye bring forth the first fruit,* [var: Vulg. Jn 15:8 *plurimum*, "very much"] that is, as I have borne fruit by preaching and by the passion, so do ye also: as the Father hath loved me, I also have loved you, that is, as the Father sent me to preach and to suffer, so I send you: greater charity hath no man, and the rest: love [0913A] is stronger than death; I suffer for you out of love, and ye suffer for the Church: all things which I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you, that is, the precepts of the Gospel: I have chosen you out of the world, that is, out of worldly deeds: ye are not of the world, that is, because ye love not the world: as Solomon saith, such is the adulterous woman, who, when she hath eaten, wipeth her mouth and saith, I have done no evil [var: Vulg. Prov 30:20 *Talis est et via mulieris adulterae, quae comedit, et tergens os suum dicit: Non sum operata malum*, "Such is also the way of an adulterous woman, who eateth, and wiping her mouth saith: I have done no evil"], it figures the Church out of the gentiles, which through confession wiped herself clean of the uncleanness of sins: from the beginning ye have been [sic: *istis*] with me, that is, from the beginning of the preaching.

*If I go not away, the Paraclete will not come unto you:* when the Paraclete is come, he shall reprove the world of sin, that is, because it believeth not in me, let it believe through the preaching of the Gospel: and of judgment, because the prince [0913B] of the world is judged: He reproveth of sin, that is, that through your preaching they may be converted to penitence: of justice, that as a man loveth his neighbour, he may love God also with his whole heart: of judgment, that whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

*A little while, and ye shall not see me,* that is, while I lay in the sepulchre: a little while again, and ye shall see me, that is, through the resurrection: the hour cometh when I shall not speak with you in proverbs, but shall manifest to you plainly of the Father, that is, through the resurrection: in that day ye shall ask in my name, that is, because I ascend to the Father by rising again through power. The Father loveth you, because ye love me; I leave the world and go to the Father, that is, through the presence of the body, for according to [0913C] the divinity he leaveth not the world: ye have pressure, that is, tribulation from worldly men: I have overcome the world, that is, I have bound the strong man in the world, who is the devil.

*The hour is come, Father, to glorify thy Son:* that is, through the resurrection: that the Son may glorify thee, that is, that through the Son they may be converted and believe: I have glorified thee upon the earth, that is, I have made thee known to all, with thee I have manifested thy name to men, he shows that according to the divinity he was with the Father, and bodily on the earth: whom thou gavest me out of the world, they were thine, in foreknowledge from the beginning they were thine: thou gavest them to me, that is, to be taught: and they have kept thy word, that is, they have remained in the faith; I pray for them, not for the world, because God knoweth who are [0913D] his: all thine are mine, and mine are thine: and I am glorified in them, that is, in those same gentiles I am made manifest, that is, because they believed in me: I am in the world bodily, and I am not in the world bodily: and for them I sanctify myself, that is, through martyrdom and resurrection: I have given them the glory which thou gavest me, that is, the divine precepts: he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, he shows the onset of persecution.

*Jesus again passing over with his disciples,* that is, from the world to the Father, and from the Jews to the gentiles; they came with lanterns and [sic: *fagulis*], that is, they themselves kindled for themselves a light of punishment; they led him to Annas, Annas is interpreted the grace of God, who by the grace of God had received [0914A] the chief place of the priesthood: but she was seen to be a doorkeeper, who brought Peter into the hall; it signifies the primitive Church; he reproached him because he had said that he was the Son of God: assuredly he thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant.

*Jesus bearing his own cross:* He gave an example, as he himself said: he that will come after me, let him deny himself, and the rest: two thieves were crucified with Jesus; he who remained in his perfidy shows the Jews, he who confessed signifies the gentiles: it was written in the title, the king of the Jews, that is, the king of confessors: they made four parts of the garments of Jesus: four soldiers, that is, the four Evangelists: the garments divided, that is, the preaching, [0914B] the incarnation, the passion and the resurrection, which they preached in the four parts of the world; but the coat without seam, woven from above, shows that the divinity in the Father and the Son is inseparable: let us not rend it, but let us cast lots for it whose it was, he shows that Catholic men rend not the unity of the divinity.

*Woman, behold thy son: to the disciple, behold thy mother:* here he commended the virgin, that he might keep her uncorrupt: they did not break the legs of Jesus, that is, what had been figured before by the lamb in Egypt: neither raw nor boiled with water, but roasted only with fire, shows the passion of Christ; the staff in the hand shows the cross of Christ, from the world to the Father: ye shall not break a bone of him, shows that the cross of Christ [0914C] should not be broken; with a lance they pierced his side, that the scripture might be fulfilled: they saw on whom they had pierced.

*There went out blood and water:* as out of the side of Adam Eve was taken, so out of the side of Christ went forth the redemption of the Church: through the blood remission, through the water baptism: two disciples running? Peter and John, he shows two peoples running, the Jews by the letter of the law, the gentiles by the law of nature.

*John outran him more swiftly; he saw the linen cloths laid, and he went not in.* The Jews through the law and the Prophets saw that Christ should come, and received not his coming. Peter came following him, he saw the linen cloths and went in, he shows the gentiles who believed in the coming of Christ, or in his doctrine: by the linen cloths the incarnation of Christ is understood: by the napkin the mystery [0914D] of the divinity is understood: the napkin not with the linen cloths, but folded up separately into one place, shows that the divinity is far removed from human senses; into one place, who are universal: then went in also that other disciple who had come first to the sepulchre, he shows the Jews returning to the faith at the end of the world: the angels sitting at the head and at the feet show the beginning and the end.

*Mary said, I know not where they have laid him,* he shows that according to the flesh she loved the world, and through faith she believed what Mary said; it shows the thought of the voice: because through the love of the neighbour a man knoweth God: Jesus said, touch me not, that is, in thy heart, I have not ascended for thee through the divinity; the disciples fishing [0915A] the whole night took nothing: the fishermen, the old teachers; by the night he shows that before the coming of Christ no man had come unto perfection through the preaching of the old law.



## HERE BEGINS THE CAPITULATIO. (cont.)

*But when the morning was come:* he shows the coming of Christ accomplished: cast on the right side, that is, cast the preaching among the gentiles. For Peter was naked, that is, they were naked of the faith of Christ: he girt himself with his coat, that is, the faith of the Church: he cast himself into the sea, that is, into the tossings and the bitternesses of the world through the love of Christ: the other disciples came in a ship, that is, treading down the tossing of the world in the Church; they saw coals, and a fish and bread laid thereon; by the fish he shows faith, by the coals the warmth of charity, by the bread the divine word: drawing the net to [0915B] the land, by the shores he shows the end of the world: full of great fishes, that is, the fulness and the greatness of the Church, through the remission of sins: by the three he shows the Trinity: the net undivided and not broken, that is, the Church uncorrupted in the time to come: Jesus ate after the resurrection, he shows the true incarnation of the body, that they which believed might believe.

*Jesus said, Simon son of John, lovest thou me?* He shows that as he thrice denied, so he should thrice confess the faith of the Trinity: feed my sheep, that is, in the Church: Jesus entering in when the doors were shut shows that he entered the womb when the doors were shut, so also all the saints after the resurrection [0916A] put on a spiritual body, and can enter everywhere without fear, whence whole and uncorrupt in marriage; three testify to this sentence.

*The disciple whom Jesus loved.* The second miracle is that which Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, he pressed out wine from water, a work made ready, the virginity of John, he shows that a spouse was joined to him: the testimony that Jesus commended his mother to John: by Mary the Church is figured. John the chief place; as John was a virgin in marriage, so was he uncorrupt also in death: John relateth the genealogy from the divinity, for the others relate it from the man: of the divinity John saith, in the beginning was the Word; he lay upon the breast of Jesus, and John ascended to the knowledge of the divinity which was in the breast of Jesus, from the joining [0916B] of the two breasts; a grafted tree, in another it maketh the fruit of the tree, of the other in which it is planted. If according to the order of the canon this book were to be set before Matthew, and that it is placed in the last part, it is because the earth was sanctified first, then the water, and afterwards last of all the fire, because it is brighter and subtler: likewise after the likeness of the two laws, that is, the old and the new; the old was delivered first, yet the new is brighter and greater, because it discerneth of heavenly things, and more abundant mine, which pertaineth to the Gospel of John out of what is said above.
