To denote Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, because they were great before G.o.d.

7 And why was the wool put upon a stick? Because the kingdom of Jesus was founded upon the cross; and therefore they that put their trust in him, shall live for ever.

8 But why was the wool and hyssop put together? To signify that in the kingdom of Christ there shall be evil and filthy days, in which however, we shall be saved; and because he that has any disease in the flesh by some filthy humours, is cured by hyssop.

9 Wherefore these things being thus done, are to us indeed evident, but to the Jews they are obscure; because they hearkened not unto the voice of the Lord.

CHAPTER VIII.

Of the circ.u.mcision of the ears and how in the first inst.i.tution of circ.u.mcision Abraham mystically foretold Christ by name.

AND therefore the Scripture again speaks concerning our ears, that G.o.d has circ.u.mcised them, together with our hearts.

For thus saith the Lord by the holy prophet: By the hearing of the ear they obeyed me.

2 And again, They who are afar off, shall hear and understand what things I have done. And again, Circ.u.mcise your hearts, saith the Lord.

3 And again he saith, Hear O Israel! For thus saith the Lord thy G.o.d. And again the Spirit of G.o.d prophesieth, saying: Who is there that would live for ever, let him hear the voice of my Son.

4 And again, Hear, O Heavens, and give ear O Earth! Because the Lord has spoken these things for a witness.

5 And again, he saith, Hear the word of the Lord, ye princes of the people. And again, Hear O children! The voice of one crying in the wilderness.

6 Wherefore he has circ.u.mcised our ears, that we should hear his word, and believe. But as for that circ.u.mcision, in which the Jews trust, it is abolished: for the circ.u.mcision of which G.o.d spake, was not of the flesh.

7 But they have transgressed his commands, because the evil one hath deceived them. For thus G.o.d bespeaks them; Thus saith the Lord your G.o.d, (Here I find the new law) Sow not among thorns; but circ.u.mcise yourselves to the Lord your G.o.d. And what doth he mean by this saying?

Hearken unto your Lord.

8 And again he saith, Circ.u.mcise the hardness of your heart, and harden not your neck. And again, Behold, saith the Lord, all the nations are uncirc.u.mcised, (they have not lost their fore-skin): but this people is uncirc.u.mcised in heart.

9 But you will say the Jews were circ.u.mcised for a sign. And so are all the Syrians and Arabians, and all the idolatrous priests: but are they therefore of the covenant of Israel? And even the Egyptians themselves are circ.u.mcised.

10 Understand therefore, children, these things more fully, that Abraham was the first, that brought in circ.u.mcision, looking forward in the Spirit, to Jesus; circ.u.mcised, having received the mystery of three letters.

11 For the Scripture says that Abraham circ.u.mcised three hundred and eighteen men of his house.

But what therefore was the mystery that was made known unto him!

12 Mark, first the eighteen, and next the three hundred. For the numeral letters of ten and eight are T H. And these denote Jesus.

13 And because the cross was that by which we were to find grace, therefore he adds, three hundred; the note of which is T (the figure of his cross).

Wherefore by two letters he signified Jesus, and by the third his cross.

14 He who has put the engrafted gift of his doctrine within us, knows that I never taught to anyone a more certain truth: but I trust that ye are worthy of it.

CHAPTER IX.

That the commands of Moses concerning clean and unclean beasts, were all designed for a spiritual signification.

BUT why did Moses say Ye shall not eat of the swine, neither the eagle nor the hawk; nor the crow; nor any fish that has not a scale upon him?--I answer that, in the spiritual sense, he comprehended three doctrines, that were to be gathered from thence.

2 Besides which he says to them in the book of Deuteronomy, And I will give my statutes unto this people. Wherefore it is not the command of G.o.d that they should not eat these things; but Moses in the spirit spake unto them.

3 Now the sow he forbad them to eat; meaning thus much: Thou shalt not join thyself to such persons as are like unto swine, who, whilst they live in pleasure, forget their G.o.d; but when any want pinches them, then they know the Lord: as the sow when she is full knows not her master, but when she is hungry she makes a noise; and being again fed, is silent.

4 Neither, says he, shalt thou eat the eagle, nor the hawk, nor the kite, nor the crow; that is, thou shalt not keep company with such kind of men as know not how by their labour and sweat to get themselves food; but injuriously ravish away the things of others, and watch how to lay snares for them; when at the same time they appear to live in perfect innocence.

3 So these birds alone (seek not food for themselves,) but sitting idle, seek how they may eat of the flesh others have provided being destructive through their wickedness.

6 Neither, says he, shalt thou eat the lamprey, nor the polypus, nor the cuttle-fish; that is thou shalt not be like such men, by seeking to converse with them who are altogether wicked and adjudged to death. For so those fishes are alone accursed, that wallow in the mire, nor swim as other fishes, but tumble in the dirt at the bottom of the deep.

7 But, he adds, neither shalt thou eat of the hare. To what end?--To signify this to us; Thou shalt not be an adulterer, nor liken thyself to such persons.

For the hare every year multiplies the places of its conception; and as many years as it lives, so many it has.

8 Neither shalt thou eat of the hyena: that is, again, be not an adulterer, nor a corrupter of others; neither be like to such.

And wherefore so?--Because that creature every year changes its kind, which is sometimes male and sometimes female.

9 For which cause also he justly hated the weazel; to the end that they should not be like such persons who with their mouths commit wickedness by reason of their uncleanness; nor join themselves with those impure women, who with their mouths commit wickedness. Because that animal conceives with its mouth.

10 Moses, therefore, speaking as concerning meats, delivered indeed three great precepts to them in the spiritual signification of those commands. But they according to the desires of the flesh, understood him as if he had only meant it of meats.

11 And therefore David took aright the knowledge of his three-fold command, saying in like manner:

12 Blessed is the man that hath not walked in the counsel of the unG.o.dly; as the fishes before mentioned in the bottom of the deep, in darkness.

13 Nor stood in the way of sinners, as they who seem to fear the Lord, but yet sin, as the sow.

14 And hath not sat in the seat of the scorners; as those birds who sit and watch that they may devour.

15 Here you have the law concerning meat perfectly set forth and according to the true knowledge of it.

16 But, says Moses, ye shall eat all that divideth the hoof, and cheweth the cud. Signifying thereby such an one as having taken his food, knows him that nourisheth him; and resting upon him, rejoiceth in him.

17 And in this he spake well, having respect to the commandment.

What, therefore, is it that he says?--That we should hold fast to them that fear the Lord; with those who meditate on the command of the word which they have received, in their heart; with those that declare the righteous judgments of the Lord, and keep his commandments;

18 In short, with those who know that to meditate is a work of pleasure, and therefore exercise themselves in the word of the Lord.

19 But why might they eat those that clave the hoof?

Because the righteous liveth in this present world; but his expectation is fixed upon the other. See, brethren, how admirably Moses commanded these things.

20 But how should we thus know all this, and understand it?

We, therefore, understanding aright the commandments, speak as the Lord would have us.

Wherefore he has circ.u.mcised our ears and our hearts, that we might know these things.