CHAP。32。——INWHATWAYGODUSESMAN。
35。ButneitherdoesHeuseafterourfashionofusing。Forwhenweuseobjects，wedosowithaviewtothefullenjoymentofthegoodnessofGod。God，however，inHisuseofus，hasreferencetoHisowngoodness。ForitisbecauseHeisgoodweexist；andsofaraswetrulyexistwearegood。And，further，becauseHeisalsojust，wecannotwithimpunitybeevil；andsofarasweareevil，sofarisourexistencelesscomplete。NowHeisthefirstandsupremeexistence，whoisaltogetherunchangeable，andwhocouldsayinthefullestsenseofthewords，\"IAMTHATIAM，\"and\"Thoushaltsaytothem，IAM
hathsentmeuntoyou；\"（6）sothatallotherthingsthatexist，bothowetheirexistenceentirelytoHim，andaregoodonlysofarasHehasgivenittothemtobeso。Thatuse，then，whichGodissaidtomakeofushasnoreferencetoHisownadvantage，buttooursonly；and，sofarasHeisconcerned，hasreferenceonlytoHisgoodnessWhenwetakepityuponamanandcareforhim，itisforhisadvantagewedoso；butsomehoworotherourownadvantagefollowsbyasortofnaturalconsequence，forGoddoesnotleavethemercyweshowtohimwhoneedsittogowithoutreward。Nowthisisourhighestreward，thatweshouldfullyenjoyHim，andthatallwhoenjoyHimshouldenjoyoneanotherinHim。
CHAP。33。——INWHATWAYMANSHOULDBEENJOYED。
36。Forifwefindourhappinesscompleteinoneanother，westopshortupontheroad，andplaceourhopeofhappinessinmanorangel。Nowtheproudmanandtheproudangelarrogatethistothemselves，andaregladtohavethehopeofothersfixeduponthem。But，onthecontrary，theholymanandtheholyangel，evenwhenwearewearyandanxioustostaywiththemandrestinthem，setthemselvestorecruitourenergieswiththeprovisionwhichtheyhavereceivedofGodforusorforthemselves；andthenurgeusthusrefreshedtogoonourwaytowardsHim，intheenjoymentofwhomwefindourcommonhappiness。Foreventheapostleexclaims，\"WasPaulcrucifiedforyou？
orwereyebaptizedinthenameofPaul？\"（1）andagain：
\"Neitherishethatplantethanything，neitherhethatwatereth；butGodthatgiveththeincrease。\"（2）Andtheangeladmonisheththemanwhoisabouttoworshiphim，thatheshouldratherworshipHimwhoishisMaster，andunderwhomhehimselfisafellow-servant。（3）
37。ButwhenyouhavejoyofamaninGod，itisGodratherthanmanthatyouenjoy。ForyouenjoyHimbywhomyouaremadehappy，andyourejoicetohavecometoHiminwhosepresenceyouplaceyourhopeofjoy。Andaccordingly，PaulsaystoPhilemon，\"Yea，brother，letmehavejoyoftheeintheLord。\"（4）
Forifhehadnotadded\"intheLord，\"buthadonlysaid，\"Letmehavejoyofthee，\"hewouldhaveimpliedthathefixedhishopeofhappinessuponhim，althoughevenintheimmediatecontextto\"enjoy\"isusedinthesenseofto\"usewithdelight。\"Forwhenthethingthatweloveisnearus，itisamatterofcoursethatitshouldbringdelightwithit。Andifyoupassbeyondthisdelight，andmakeitameanstothatwhichyouarepermanentlytorestin，youareusingit，anditisanabuseoflanguagetosaythatyouenjoyit。Butifyouclingtoit，andrestinit，findingyourhappinesscompleteinit，thenyoumaybetrulyandproperlysaidtoenjoyit。AndthiswemustneverdoexceptinthecaseoftheBlessedTrinity，whoistheSupremeandUnchangeableGood。
CHAP。34。——CHRISTTHEFIRSTWAYTOGOD。
38。AndmarkthatevenwhenHewhoisHimselftheTruthandtheWord，bywhomallthingsweremade，hadbeenmadefleshthatHemightdwellamongus，theapostleyetsays：\"Yea，thoughwehaveknownChristaftertheflesh，yetnowhenceforthknowweHimnomore。\"（5）ForChrist，desiringnotonlytogivethepossessiontothosewhohadcompletedthejourney，butalsotobeHimselfthewaytothosewhowerejustsettingout，determinedtotakeafleshlybody。Whencealsothatexpression，\"TheLordcreated（6）meinthebeginningofHisway，\"（7）thatis，thatthosewhowishedtocomemightbegintheirjourneyinHim。Theapostle，therefore，althoughstillontheway，andfollowingafterGodwhocalledhimtotherewardofHisheavenlycalling，yetforgettingthosethingswhichwerebehind，andpressingontowardsthosethingswhichwerebefore，（8）hadalreadypassedoverthebeginningoftheway，andhadnownofurtherneedofit；yetbythiswayallmustcommencetheirjourneywhodesiretoattaintothetruth，andtorestineternallife。ForHesays：\"Iamtheway，andthetruth，andthelife；\"（9）thatis，bymemencome，tometheycome，inmetheyrest。ForwhenwecometoHim，wecometotheFatheralso，becausethroughanequalanequalisknown；andtheHolySpiritbinds，andasitweresealsas，sothatweareabletorestpermanentlyinthesupremeandunchangeableGood。Andhencewemaylearnhowessentialitisthatnothingshoulddetainusontheway，whennotevenourLordHimself，sofarasHehascondescendedtobeourway，iswillingtodetainus，butwishesusrathertopresson；and，insteadofweaklyclingingtotemporalthings，eventhoughthesehavebeenputonandwornbyHimforoursalvation，topassoverthemquickly，andtostruggletoattainuntoHimself，whohasfreedournaturefromthebondageoftemporalthings，andhassetitdownattherighthandofHisFather。
CHAP。35。——THEFULFILLMENTANDENDOFSCRIPTUREISTHELOVEOFGODAND
OUR
NEIGHBOR。
39。Ofall，then，thathasbeensaidsinceweentereduponthediscussionaboutthings，thisisthesam：thatweshouldclearlyunderstandthatthefulfillmentandtheendoftheLaw，andofallHolyScripture，istheloveofanobjectwhichistobeenjoyed，andtheloveofanobjectwhichcanenjoythatotherinfellowshipwithourselves。Forthereisnoneedofacommandthateachmanshouldlovehimself。Thewholetemporaldispensationforoursalvation，therefore，wasframedbytheprovidenceofGodthatwemightknowthistruthandbeabletoactuponit；andweoughttousethatdispensation，notwithsuchloveanddelightasifitwereagoodtorestin，butwithatransientfeelingrather，suchaswehavetowardstheroad，orcarriages，orotherthingsthataremerelymeans。Perhapssomeothercomparisoncanbefoundthatwillmoresuitablyexpresstheideathatwearetolovethethingsbywhichweareborneonlyforthesakeofthattowardswhichweareborne。
CHAP。36。——THATINTERPRETATIONOFSCRIPTUREWHICHBUILDSUSUPINLOVE
ISNOT
PERNICIOUSLYDECEPTIVENORMENDACIOUS，EVENTHOUGHITBEFAULTY。THE
INTERPRETER，HOWEVER，SHOULDBECORRECTED。
40。Whoever，then，thinksthatheunderstandstheHolyScriptures，oranypartofthem，butputssuchaninterpretationuponthemasdoesnottendtobuildupthistwofoldloveofGodandourneighbor，doesnotyetunderstandthemasheought。If，ontheotherhand，amandrawsameaningfromthemthatmaybeusedforthebuildingupoflove，eventhoughhedoesnothappenupontheprecisemeaningwhichtheauthorwhomhereadsintendedtoexpressinthatplace，hiserrorisnotpernicious，andheiswhollyclearfromthechargeofdeception。Forthereisinvolvedindeceptiontheintentiontosaywhatisfalse；andwefindplentyofpeoplewhointendtodeceive，butnobodywhowishestobedeceived。Since，then，themanwhoknowspractisesdeceit，andtheignorantmanispractisedupon，itisquiteclearthatinanyparticularcasethemanwhoisdeceivedisabettermanthanhewhodeceives，seeingthatitisbettertosufferthantocommitinjustice。Noweverymanwholiescommitsaninjustice；andifanymanthinksthatalieiseveruseful，hemustthinkthatinjusticeissometimesuseful。Fornoliarkeepsfaithinthematteraboutwhichhelies。Hewishes，ofcourse，thatthemantowhomheliesshouldplaceconfidenceinhim；andyethebetrayshisconfidencebylyingtohim。Noweverymanwhobreaksfaithisunjust。Either，then，injusticeissometimesuseful（whichisimpossible），oralieisneveruseful。
41。WhoevertakesanothermeaningoutofScripturethanthewriterintended，goesastray，butnotthroughanyfalsehoodinScripture。Nevertheless，asIwasgoingtosay，ifhismistakeninterpretationtendstobuilduplove，whichistheendofthecommandment，hegoesastrayinmuchthesamewayasamanwhobymistakequitsthehighroad，butyetreachesthroughthefieldsthesameplacetowhichtheroadleads。Heistobecorrected，however，andtobeshownhowmuchbetteritisnottoquitthestraightroad，lest，ifhegetintoahabitofgoingastray，hemaysometimestakecrossroads，orevengointhewrongdirectionaltogether。
CHAP。37。——DANGERSOFMISTAKENINTERPRETATION。
Forifhetakesuprashlyameaningwhichtheauthorwhomheisreadingdidnotintend，heoftenfallsinwithotherstatementswhichhecannotharmonizewiththismeaning。Andifheadmitsthatthesestatementsaretrueandcertain，thenitfollowsthatthemeaninghehadputupontheformerpassagecannotbethetrueone：
andsoitcomestopass，onecanhardlytellhow，that，outofloveforhisownopinion，hebeginstofeelmoreangrywithScripturethanheiswithhimself。Andifheshouldoncepermitthateviltocreepin，itwillutterlydestroyhim。\"Forwewalkbyfaith，notbysight。\"（1）NowfaithwilltotteriftheauthorityofScripturebegintoshake。Andthen，iffaithtotter，loveitselfwillgrowcold。Forifamanhasfallenfromfaith，hemustnecessarilyalsofallfromlove；forhecannotlovewhathedoesnotbelievetoexist。Butifhebothbelievesandloves，thenthroughgoodworks，andthroughdiligentattentiontothepreceptsofmorality，hecomestohopealsothatheshallattaintheobjectofhislove。Andsothesearethethreethingstowhichallknowledgeandallprophecyaresubservient：faith，hope，love。
CHAP。38。——LOVENEVERFAILETH。
42。Butsightshalldisplacefaith；andhopeshallbeswallowedupinthatperfectblisstowhichweshallcome：love，ontheotherhand，shallwaxgreaterwhentheseothersfail。Forifwelovebyfaiththatwhichasyetweseenot，howmuchmoreshallweloveitwhenwebegintosee！Andifwelovebyhopethatwhichasyetwehavenotreached，howmuchmoreshallweloveitwhenwereachit！Forthereisthisgreatdifferencebetweenthingstemporalandthingseternal，thatatemporalobjectisvaluedmorebeforewepossessit，andbeginstoproveworthlessthemomentweattainit，becauseitdoesnotsatisfythesoul，whichhasitsonlytrueandsureresting-placeineternity：aneternalobject，ontheotherhand，islovedwithgreaterardorwhenitisinpossessionthanwhileitisstillanobjectofdesire，fornooneinhislongingforitcansetahighervalueonitthanreallybelongstoit，soastothinkitcomparativelyworthlesswhenhefindsitoflessvaluethanhethought；onthecontrary，howeverhighthevalueanymanmaysetuponitwhenheisonhiswaytopossessit，hewillfindit，whenitcomesintohispossession，ofhighervaluestill。
CHAP。39。——HEWHOISMATUREINFAITH，HOPEANDLOVE，NEEDSSCRIPTURE
NOLONGER。
43。Andthusamanwhoisrestinguponfaith，hopeandlove，andwhokeepsafirmholduponthese，doesnotneedtheScripturesexceptforthepurposeofinstructingothers。Accordingly，manylivewithoutcopiesoftheScriptures，eveninsolitude，onthestrengthofthesethreegraces。Sothatintheircase，Ithink，thesayingisalreadyfulfilled：\"Whethertherebeprophecies，theyshallfail；whethertherebetongues，theyshallcease；
whethertherebeknowledge，itshallvanishaway。\"（1）
Yetbymeansoftheseinstruments（astheymaybecalled），sogreatanedificeoffaithandlovehasbeenbuiltupinthem，that，holdingtowhatisperfect，theydonotseekforwhatisonlyinpartperfect——ofcourse，Imean，sofarasispossibleinthislife；
for，incomparisonwiththefuturelife，thelifeofnojustandholymanisperfecthere。Thereforetheapostlesays：\"Nowabidethfaith，hope，charity，thesethree；butthegreatestoftheseischarity：\"（2）
because，whenamanshallhavereachedtheeternalworld，whiletheothertwograceswillfail，lovewillremaingreaterandmoreassured。
CHAP。40。——WHATMANNEROFREADERSCRIPTUREDEMANDS。
44。And，therefore，ifamanfullyunderstandsthat\"theendofthecommandmentischarity，outofapureheart，andofagoodconscience，andoffaithunfeigned，\"（3）andisbentuponmakingallhisunderstandingofScripturetobearuponthesethreegraces，hemaycometotheinterpretationofthesebookswithaneasymind。Forwhiletheapostlesays\"love，\"headds\"outofapureheart，\"toprovideagainstanythingbeinglovedbutthatwhichisworthyoflove。Andhejoinswiththis\"agoodconscience，\"inreferencetohope；for，ifamanhastheburthenofabadconscience，hedespairsofeverreachingthatwhichhebelievesinandloves。Andinthethirdplacehesays：\"andoffaithunfeigned。\"Forifourfaithisfreefromallhypocrisy，thenwebothabstainfromlovingwhatisunworthyofourlove，andbylivinguprightlyweareabletoindulgethehopethatourhopeshallnotbeinvain。
ForthesereasonsIhavebeenanxioustospeakabouttheobjectsoffaith，asfarasIthoughtitnecessaryformypresentpurpose；formuchhasalreadybeensaidonthissubjectinothervolumes，eitherbyothersorbymyself。Andsoletthisbetheendofthepresentbook。InthenextIshalldiscuss，asfarasGodshallgivemelight，thesubjectofsigns。
BOOKII。
ARGUMENT。
HAVINGCOMPLETEDHISEXPOSITIONOFTHINGS，THEAUTHORNOWPROCEEDS
TODISCUSSTHESUBJECTOFSIGNS。HEFIRSTDEFINESWHATASIGNIS，ANDSHOWS
THATTHEREARETWOCLASSESOFSIGNS，THENATURALANDTHECONVENTIONAL。
OFCONVENTIONALSIGNS（WHICHARETHEONLYCLASSHERENOTICED），WORDSARE
THEMOSTNUMEROUSANDIMPORTANT，ANDARETHOSEWITHWHICHTHEINTERPRETER
OFSCRIPTUREISCHIEFLYCONCERNED。THEDIFFICULTIESANDOBSCURITIESOF
SCRIPTURESPRINGCHIEFLYFROMTWOSOURCES，UNKNOWNANDAMBIGUOUSSIGNS。
THEPRESENTBOOKDEALSONLYWITHUNKNOWNSIGNS，THEAMBIGUITIESOFLANGUAGE
BEINGRESERVEDFORTREATMENTINTHENEXTBOOK。THEDIFFICULTYARISINGFROM
IGNORANCEOFSIGNSISTOBEREMOVEDBYLEARNINGTHEGREEKANDHEBREWLANGUAGES，INWHICHSCRIPTUREISWRITTEN，BYCOMPARINGTHEVARIOUSTRANSLATIONS，AND
BYATTENDINGTOTHECONTEXT。INTHEINTERPRETATIONOFFIGURATIVEEXPRESSIONS，KNOWLEDGEOFTHINGSISASNECESSARYASKNOWLEDGEOFWORDS；ANDTHEVARIOUS
SCIENCESANDARTSOFTHEHEATHEN，SOFARASTHEYARETRUEANDUSEFUL，MAY
BETURNEDTOACCOUNTINREMOVINGOURIGNORANCEOFSIGNS，WHETHERTHESE
BEDIRECTORFIGURATIVE。WHILSTEXPOSINGTHEFOLLYANDFUTILITYOFMANY
HEATHENSUPERSTITIONSANDPRACTICES，THEAUTHORPOINTSOUTHOWALLTHAT
ISSOUNDANDUSEFULINTHEIRSCIENCEANDPHILOSOPHYMAYBETURNEDTOA
CHRISTIANUSE。ANDINCONCLUSION，HESHOWSTHESPIRITINWHICHITBEHOVES
USTOADDRESSOURSELVESTOTHESTUDYANDINTERPRETATIONOFTHESACREDBOOKS。
CHAP。1。——SIGNS，THEIRNATUREANDVARIETY。
AswhenIwaswritingaboutthings，Iintroducedthesubjectwithawarningagainstattendingtoanythingbutwhattheyareinthemselves，（1）
eventhoughtheyaresignsofsomethingelse，sonow，whenIcomeinitsturntodiscussthesubjectofsigns，Ilaydownthisdirection，nottoattendtowhattheyareinthemselves，buttothefactthattheyaresigns，thatis，towhattheysignify。Forasignisathingwhich，overandabovetheimpressionitmakesonthesenses，causessomethingelsetocomeintothemindasaconsequenceofitself：aswhenweseeafootprint，weconcludethatananimalwhosefootprintthisishaspassedby；andwhenweseesmoke，weknowthatthereisfirebeneath；andwhenwehearthevoiceofalivingman，wethinkofthefeelinginhismind；andwhenthetrumpetsounds，soldiersknowthattheyaretoadvanceorretreat，ordowhateverelsethestateofthebattlerequires。
Nowsomesignsarenatural，othersconventional。Naturalsignsarethosewhich，apartfromanyintentionordesireofusingthemassigns，doyetleadtotheknowledgeofsomethingelse，as，forexample，smokewhenitindicatesfire。Foritisnotfromanyintentionofmakingitasignthatitisso，butthroughattentiontoexperiencewecometoknowthatfireisbeneath，evenwhennothingbutsmokecanbeseen。Andthefootprintofananimalpassingbybelongstothisclassofsigns。Andthecountenanceofanangryorsorrowfulmanindicatesthefeelinginhismind，independentlyofhiswill：andinthesamewayeveryotheremotionofthemindisbetrayedbythetell-talecountenance，eventhoughwedonothingwiththeintentionofmakingitknown。Thisclassofsigns，however，itisnopartofmydesigntodiscussatpresent。Butasitcomesunderthisdivisionofthesubject，Icouldnotaltogetherpassitover。Itwillbeenoughtohavenoticeditthusfar。
CHAP。2。——OFTHEKINDOFSIGNSWEARENOW
CONCERNEDWITH。
3。Conventionalsigns，ontheotherhand，arethosewhichlivingbeingsmutuallyexchangeforthepurposeofshowing，aswellastheycan，thefeelingsoftheirminds，ortheirperceptions，ortheirthoughts。Noristhereanyreasonforgivingasignexceptthedesireofdrawingforthandconveyingintoanother’smindwhatthegiverofthesignhasinhisownmind。Wewish，then，toconsideranddiscussthisclassofsignssofarasmenareconcernedwithit，becauseeventhesignswhichhavebeengivenusofGod，andwhicharecontainedintheHolyScriptures，weremadeknowntousthroughmen——those，namely，whowrotetheScriptures。Thebeasts，too，havecertainsignsamongthemselvesbywhichtheymakeknownthedesiresintheirmind。Forwhenthepoultry-cockhasdiscoveredfood，hesignalswithhisvoiceforthehentoruntohim，andthedovebycooingcallshismate，oriscalledbyherinturn；andmanysignsofthesamekindaremattersofcommonobservation。Nowwhetherthesesigns，liketheexpressionorthecryofamaningrief，followthemovementofthemindinstinctivelyandapartfromanypurpose，orwhethertheyarereallyusedwiththepurposeofsignification，isanotherquestion，anddoesnotpertaintothematterinhand。AndthispartofthesubjectIexcludefromthescopeofthisworkasnotnecessarytomypresentobject。
CHAP。3。——AMONGSIGNS，WORDSHOLDTHECHIEF
PLACE。
4。Ofthesigns，then，bywhichmencommunicatetheirthoughtstooneanother，somerelatetothesenseofsight，sometothatofhearing，averyfewtotheothersenses。For，whenwenod，wegivenosignexcepttotheeyesofthemantowhomwewishbythissigntoimpartourdesire。
Andsomeconveyagreatdealbythemotionofthehands：andactorsbymovementsofalltheirlimbsgivecertainsignstotheinitiated，and，sotospeak，addresstheirconversationtotheeyes：andthemilitarystandardsandflagsconveythroughtheeyesthewillofthecommanders。Andallthesesignsareasitwereakindofvisiblewords。Thesignsthataddressthemselvestotheearare，asIhavesaid，morenumerous，andforthemostpartconsistofwords。Forthoughthebugleandthefluteandthelyrefrequentlygivenotonlyasweetbutasignificantsound，yetallthesesignsareveryfewinnumbercomparedwithwords。Foramongmenwordshaveobtainedfarandawaythechiefplaceasameansofindicatingthethoughtsofthemind。
OurLord，itistrue，gaveasignthroughtheodoroftheointmentwhichwaspouredoutuponHisfeet；（1）andinthesacramentofHisbodyandbloodHesignifiedHiswillthroughthesenseoftaste；andwhenbytouchingthehemofHisgarmentthewomanwasmadewhole，theactwasnotwantinginsignificance。（2）Butthecountlessmultitudeofthesignsthroughwhichmenexpresstheirthoughtsconsistofwords。ForIhavebeenabletoputintowordsallthosesigns，thevariousclassesofwhichIhavebrieflytouchedupon，butIcouldbynoeffortexpresswordsintermsofthosesigns。
CHAP。4。——ORIGINOFWRITING。
5。Butbecausewordspassawayassoonastheystrikeupontheair，andlastnolongerthantheirsound，menhavebymeansoflettersformedsignsofwords。Thusthesoundsofthevoicearemadevisibletotheeye，notofcourseassounds，butbymeansofcertainsigns。Ithasbeenfoundimpossible，however，tomakethosesignscommontoallnationsowingtothesinofdiscordamongmen，whichspringsfromeverymantryingtosnatchthechiefplaceforhimself。Andthatcelebratedtowerwhichwasbuilttoreachtoheavenwasanindicationofthisarroganceofspirit；andtheungodlymenconcernedinitjustlyearnedthepunishmentofhavingnottheirmindsonly，buttheirtonguesbesides，thrownintoconfusionanddiscordance。（3）
CHAP。5。——SCRIPTURETRANSLATEDINTOVARIOUSLANGUAGES。
6。AndhenceithappenedthatevenHolyScripture，whichbringsaremedyfortheterriblediseasesofthehumanwill，beingatfirstsetforthinonelanguage，bymeansofwhichitcouldatthefitseasonbedisseminatedthroughthewholeworld，wasinterpretedintovarioustongues，andspreadfarandwide，andthusbecameknowntothenationsfortheirsalvation。Andinreadingit，menseeknothingmorethantofindoutthethoughtandwillofthosebywhomitwaswritten，andthroughthesetofindoutthewillofGod，inaccordancewithwhichtheybelievethesementohavespoken。
CHAP。6。——USEOFTHEOBSCURITIESINSCRIPTUREWHICHARISEFROMITSFIGURATIVE
LANGUAGE。
7。Buthastyandcarelessreadersareledastraybymanyandmanifoldobscuritiesandambiguities，substitutingonemeaningforanother；andinsomeplacestheycannothituponevenafairinterpretation。
Someoftheexpressionsaresoobscureastoshroudthemeaninginthethickestdarkness。AndIdonotdoubtthatallthiswasdivinelyarrangedforthepurposeofsubduingpridebytoil，andofpreventingafeelingofsatietyintheintellect，whichgenerallyholdsinsmallesteemwhatisdiscoveredwithoutdifficulty。Forwhyisit，Iask，thatifanyonesaysthatthereareholyandjustmenwhoselifeandconversationtheChurchofChristusesasameansofredeemingthosewhocometoitfromallkindsofsuperstitions，andmakingthemthroughtheirimitationofgoodmenmembersofitsownbody；menwho，asgoodandtrueservantsofGod，havecometothebaptismalfontlayingdowntheburdensoftheworld，andwhorisingthencedo，throughtheimplantingoftheHolySpirit，yieldthefruitofatwo-foldlove，alove，thatis，ofGodandtheirneighbor；——howisit，Isay，thatifamansaysthis，hedoesnotpleasehishearersomuchaswhenhedrawsthesamemeaningfromthatpassageinCanticles，whereitissaidoftheChurch，whenitisbeingpraisedunderthefigureofabeautifulwoman，\"Thyteetharelikeaflockofsheepthatareshornwhichcameupfromthewashing，whereofeveryonebearstwins，andnoneisbarrenamongthem？\"（1）
Doesthehearerlearnanythingmorethanwhenhelistenstothesamethoughtexpressedintheplainestlanguage，withoutthehelpofthisfigure？Andyet，Idon’tknowwhy，I
feelgreaterpleasureincontemplatingholymen，whenIviewthemastheteethoftheChurch，tearingmenawayfromtheirerrors，andbringingthemintotheChurch’sbody，withalltheirharshnesssofteneddown，justasiftheyhadbeentornoffandmasticatedbytheteeth。Itiswiththegreatestpleasure，too，thatIrecognizethemunderthefigureofsheepthathavebeenshorn，layingdowntheburthensoftheworldlikefleeces，andcomingupfromthewashing，i。e。，frombaptism，andallbearingtwins，i。e。，thetwincommandmentsoflove，andnoneamongthembarreninthatholyfruit。
8。ButwhyIviewthemwithgreaterdelightunderthataspectthanifnosuchfigureweredrawnfromthesacredbooks，thoughthefactwouldremainthesameandtheknowledgethesame，isanotherquestion，andoneverydifficulttoanswer。Nobody，however，hasanydoubtaboutthefacts，boththatitispleasanterinsomecasestohaveknowledgecommunicatedthroughfigures，andthatwhatisattendedwithdifficultyintheseekinggivesgreaterpleasureinthefinding。——Forthosewhoseekbutdonotfindsufferfromhunger。Those，again，whodonotseekatallbecausetheyhavewhattheyrequirejustbesidethemoftengrowlanguidfromsatiety。Nowweaknessfromeitherofthesecausesistobeavoided。AccordinglytheHolySpirithas，withadmirablewisdomandcareforourwelfare，soarrangedtheHolyScripturesasbytheplainerpassagestosatisfyourhunger，andbythemoreobscuretostimulateourappetite。Foralmostnothingisdugoutofthoseobscurepassageswhichmaynotbefoundsetforthintheplainestlanguageelsewhere。
CHAP。7。——STEPSTOWISDOM：FIRST，FEAR；SECOND，PIETY；THIRD，KNOWLEDGE；
FOURTH，RESOLUTION；FIFTH，COUNSEL；SIXTH，PURIFICATIONOFHEART；SEVENTH，STOPOR
TERMINATION，WISDOM。
9。Firstofall，then，itisnecessarythatweshouldbeledbythefearofGodtoseektheknowledgeofHiswill，whatHecommandsustodesireandwhattoavoid。Nowthisfearwillofnecessityexciteinusthethoughtofourmortalityandofthedeaththatisbeforeus，andcrucifyallthemotionsofprideasifourfleshwerenailedtothetree。Nextitisnecessarytohaveourheartssubduedbypiety，andnottoruninthefaceofHolyScripture，whetherwhenunderstooditstrikesatsomeofoursins，or，whennotunderstood，wefeelasifwecouldbewiserandgivebettercommandsourselves。Wemustratherthinkandbelievethatwhateveristherewritten，eventhoughitbehidden，isbetterandtruerthananythingwecoulddevisebyourownwisdom。
10。Afterthesetwostepsoffearandpiety，wecometothethirdstep，knowledge，ofwhichIhavenowundertakentotreat。
ForinthiseveryearneststudentoftheHolyScripturesexerciseshimself，tofindnothingelseinthembutthatGodistobelovedforHisownsake，andourneighborforGod’ssake；andthatGodistobelovedwithalltheheart，andwithallthesoul，andwithallthemind，andone’sneighborasone’sself——thatis，insuchawaythatallourloveforourneighbor，likeallourloveforourselves，shouldhavereferencetoGod。（1）AndonthesetwocommandmentsItouchedinthepreviousbookwhenIwastreatingaboutthings。（2）Itisnecessary，then，thateachmanshouldfirstofallfindintheScripturesthathe，throughbeingentangledintheloveofthisworld——i。e。，oftemporalthings——hasbeendrawnfarawayfromsuchaloveforGodandsuchaloveforhisneighborasScriptureenjoins。ThenthatfearwhichleadshimtothinkofthejudgmentofGod，andthatpietywhichgiveshimnooptionbuttobelieveinandsubmittotheauthorityofScripture，compelhimtobewailhiscondition。Fortheknowledgeofagoodhopemakesamannotboastful，butsorrowful。AndinthisframeofmindheimploreswithunremittingprayersthecomfortoftheDivinehelpthathemaynotbeoverwhelmedindespair，andsohegraduallycomestothefourthstep，——thatis，strengthandresolution，（3）——inwhichhehungersandthirstsafterrighteousness。Forinthisframeofmindheextricateshimselffromeveryformoffataljoyintransitorythings，andturningawayfromthese，fixeshisaffectiononthingseternal，towit，theunchangeableTrinityinunity。
11。Andwhen，totheextentofhispower，hehasgazeduponthisobjectshiningfromafar，andhasfeltthatowingtotheweaknessofhissighthecannotendurethatmatchlesslight，theninthefifthstep——thatis，inthecounselofcompassion（4）——hecleanseshissoul，whichisviolentlyagitated，anddisturbshimwithbasedesires，fromthefilthithascontracted。Andatthisstageheexerciseshimselfdiligentlyintheloveofhisneighbor；
andwhenhehasreachedthepointoflovinghisenemy，fullofhopesandunbrokeninstrength，hemountstothesixthstep，inwhichhepurifiestheeyeitselfwhichcanseeGod，（5）sofarasGodcanbeseenbythosewhoasfaraspossibledietothisworld。
FormenseeHimjustsofarastheydietothisworld；andsofarastheylivetoittheyseeHimnot。Butyet，althoughthatlightmaybegintoappearclearer，andnotonlymoretolerable，butevenmoredelightful，stillitisonlythroughaglassdarklythatwearesaidtosee，becausewewalkbyfaith，notbysight，whilewecontinuetowanderasstrangersinthisworld，eventhoughourconversationbeinheaven。（6）Andatthisstage，too，amansopurgestheeyeofhisaffectionsasnottoplacehisneighborbefore，orevenincomparisonwith，thetruth，andthereforenothimself，becausenothimwhomhelovesashimself。Accordingly，thatholymanwillbesosingleandsopureinheart，thathewillnotstepasidefromthetruth，eitherforthesakeofpleasingmenorwithaviewtoavoidanyoftheannoyanceswhichbesetthislife。Suchasonascendstowisdom，whichistheseventhandlaststep，andwhichheenjoysinpeaceandtranquillity。
ForthefearofGodisthebeginningofwisdom。（7）Fromthatbeginning，then，tillwereachwisdomitself，ourwayisbythestepsnowdescribed。
CHAP。8。——THECANONICALBOOKS。
12。Butletusnowgobacktoconsiderthethirdstepherementioned，foritisaboutitthatIhavesetmyselftospeakandreasonastheLordshallgrantmewisdom。Themostskillfulinterpreterofthesacredwritings，then，willbehewhointhefirstplacehasreadthemallandretainedtheminhisknowledge，ifnotyetwithfullunderstanding，stillwithsuchknowledgeasreadinggives，——thoseofthem，atleast，thatarccalledcanonical。
Forhewillreadtheotherswithgreatersafetywhenbuiltupinthebeliefofthetruth，sothattheywillnottakefirstpossessionofaweakmind，nor，cheatingitwithdangerousfalsehoodsanddelusions，fillitwithprejudicesadversetoasoundunderstanding。
Now，inregardtothecanonicalScriptures，hemustfollowthejudgmentofthegreaternumberofcatholicchurches；andamongthese，ofcourse，ahighplacemustbegiventosuchashavebeenthoughtworthytobetheseatofanapostleandtoreceiveepistles。Accordingly，amongthecanonicalScriptureshewilljudgeaccordingtothefollowingstandard：topreferthosethatarereceivedbyallthecatholicchurchestothosewhichsomedonotreceive。Amongthose，again，whicharenotreceivedbyall，hewillprefersuchashavethesanctionofthegreaternumberandthoseofgreaterauthority，tosuchasareheldbythesmallernumberandthoseoflessauthority。If，however，heshallfindthatsomebooksareheldbythegreaternumberofchurches，andothersbythechurchesofgreaterauthority（thoughthisisnotaverylikelythingtohappen），Ithinkthatinsuchacasetheauthorityonthetwosidesistobelookeduponasequal。
13。NowthewholecanonofScriptureonwhichwesaythisjudgmentistobeexercised，iscontainedinthefollowingbooks：——FivebooksofMoses，thatis，Genesis，Exodus，Leviticus，Numbers，Deuteronomy；onebookofJoshuathesonofNun；oneofJudges；oneshortbookcalledRuth，whichseemsrathertobelongtothebeginningofKings；nextfourbooksofKings，andtwoofChronicles——theselastnotfollowingoneanother，butrunningparallel，sotospeak，andgoingoverthesameground。Thebooksnowmentionedarehistory，whichcontainsaconnectednarrativeofthetimes，andfollowstheorderoftheevents。Thereareotherbookswhichseemtofollownoregularorder，andareconnectedneitherwiththeorderoftheprecedingbooksnorwithoneanother，suchasJob，andTobias，andEsther，andJudith，andthetwobooksofMaccabees，andthetwoofEzra，（1）whichlastlookmorelikeasequeltothecontinuousregularhistorywhichterminateswiththebooksofKingsandChronicles。NextaretheProphets，inwhichthereisonebookofthePsalmsofDavid；andthreebooksofSolomon，viz。，Proverbs，SongofSongs，andEcclesiastes。Fortwobooks，onecalledWisdomandtheotherEcclesiasticus，areascribedtoSolomonfromacertainresemblanceofstyle，butthemostlikelyopinionisthattheywerewrittenbyJesusthesonofSirach。（2）Stilltheyaretobereckonedamongthepropheticalbooks，sincetheyhaveattainedrecognitionasbeingauthoritative。TheremainderarethebookswhicharestrictlycalledtheProphets：twelveseparatebooksoftheprophetswhichareconnectedwithoneanother，andhavingneverbeendisjoined，arereckonedasonebook；thenamesoftheseprophetsareasfollows：——Hosea，Joel，Amos，Obadiah，Jonah，Micah，Nahum，HabakkukZephaniah，Haggai，Zechariah，Malachi；thentherearethefourgreaterprophets，Isaiah，Jeremiah，Daniel，Ezekiel。
TheauthorityoftheOldTestament（3）iscontainedwithinthelimitsoftheseforty-fourbooks。ThatoftheNewTestament，again，iscontainedwithinthefollowing：——FourbooksoftheGospel，accordingtoMatthew，accordingtoMark，accordingtoLuke，accordingtoJohn；fourteenepistlesoftheApostlePaul——onetotheRomans，twototheCorinthians，onetotheGalatians，totheEphesians，tothePhilippians，twototheThessalonians，onetotheColossians，twotoTimothy，onetoTitus，toPhilemon，totheHebrews：twoofPeter；threeofJohn；
oneofJude；andoneofJames；onebookoftheActsoftheApostles；
andoneoftheRevelationofJohn。
CHAP。9。——HOWWESHOULDPROCEEDINSTUDYINGSCRIPTURE。
14。InallthesebooksthosewhofearGodandareofameekandpiousdispositionseekthewillofGod。Andinpursuingthissearchthefirstruletobeobservedis，asIsaid，toknowthesebooks，ifnotyetwiththeunderstanding，stilltoreadthemsoastocommitthemtomemory，oratleastsoasnottoremainwhollyignorantofthem。Next，thosemattersthatareplainlylaiddowninthem，whetherrulesoflifeorrulesoffaith，aretobesearchedintomorecarefullyandmorediligently；andthemoreoftheseamandiscovers，themorecapaciousdoeshisunderstandingbecome。
ForamongthethingsthatareplainlylaiddowninScripturearetobefoundallmattersthatconcernfaithandthemanneroflife，——towit，hopeandlove，ofwhichIhavespokeninthepreviousbook。Afterthis，whenwehavemadeourselvestoacertainextentfamiliarwiththelanguageofScripture，wemayproceedtoopenupandinvestigatetheobscurepassages，andindoingsodrawexamplesfromtheplainerexpressionstothrowlightuponthemoreobscure，andusetheevidenceofpassagesaboutwhichthereisnodoubttoremoveallhesitationinregardtothedoubtfulpassages。Andinthismattermemorycountsforagreatdeal；butifthememorybedefective，norulescansupplythewant。
CHAP。10。——UNKNOWNORAMBIGUOUSSIGNSPREVENTSCRIPTUREfROMBEINGUNDERSTOOD。
15。Nowtherearetwocauseswhichpreventwhatiswrittenfrombeingunderstood：itsbeingvailedeitherunderunknown，orunderambiguoussigns。Signsareeitherproperorfigurative。Theyarecalledproperwhentheyareusedtopointouttheobjectstheyweredesignedtopointout，aswesayboswhenwemeananox，becauseallmenwhowithususetheLatintonguecallitbythisname。Signsarefigurativewhenthethingsthemselveswhichweindicatebythepropernamesareusedtosignifysomethingelse，aswesaybos，andunderstandbythatsyllabletheox，whichisordinarilycalledbythatname；butthenfurtherbythatoxunderstandapreacherofthegospel，asScripturesignifies，accordingtotheapostle’sexplanation，whenitsays：\"Thoushaltnotmuzzletheoxthattreadethoutthecorn。\"（4）
CHAP。11。——KNOWLEDGEOFLANGUAGES，ESPECIALLYOFGREEKANDHEBREW，NECESSARY
TO
REMOVEIGNORANCEorSIGNS。
16。Thegreatremedyforignoranceofpropersignsisknowledgeoflanguages。
AndmenwhospeaktheLatintongue，ofwhomarethoseIhaveundertakentoinstruct，needtwootherlanguagesfortheknowledgeofScripture，HebrewandGreek，thattheymayhaverecoursetotheoriginaltextsiftheendlessdiversityoftheLatintranslatorsthrowthemintodoubt。Although，indeed，weoftenfindHebrewwordsuntranslatedinthebooksasforexample，Amen，Halleluia，Racha，Hosanna，andothersofthesamekind。Someofthese，althoughtheycouldhavebeentranslated，havebeenpreservedintheiroriginalformonaccountofthemoresacredauthoritythatattachestoit，asforexample，AmenandHalleluia。Someofthem，again，aresaidtobeuntranslatableintoanothertongue，ofwhichtheothertwoIhavementionedareexamples。Forinsomelanguagestherearewordsthatcannotbetranslatedintotheidiomofanotherlanguage。
Andthishappenschieflyinthecaseofinterjections，whicharewordsthatexpressratheranemotionofthemindthananypartofathoughtwehaveinourmind。Andthetwogivenabovearesaidtobeofthiskind，Rachaexpressingthecryofanangryman，Hosannathatofajoyfulman。Buttheknowledgeoftheselanguagesisnecessary，notforthesakeofafewwordslikethesewhichitisveryeasytomarkandtoaskabout，but，ashasbeensaid，onaccountofthediversitiesamongtranslators。ForthetranslationsoftheScripturesfromHebrewintoGreekcanbecounted，buttheLatintranslatorsareoutofallnumber。ForintheearlydaysofthefaitheverymanwhohappenedtogethishandsuponaGreekmanuscript，andwhothoughthehadanyknowledge，wereiteversolittle，ofthetwolanguages，venturedupontheworkoftranslation。
CHAP。12。——ADIVERSITYOFINTERPRETATIONSISUSEFUL。ERRORSARISING
FROMAMBIGUOUS
WORDS。
17。AndthiscircumstancewouldassistratherthanhindertheunderstandingofScripture，ifonlyreaderswerenotcareless。Fortheexaminationofanumberoftextshasoftenthrownlightuponsomeofthemoreobscurepassages；forexample，inthatpassageoftheprophetIsaiah，（1）onetranslatorreads：\"Anddonotdespisethedomesticsofthyseed；\"（2）anotherreads：\"Anddonotdespisethineownflesh。\"（3）Eachoftheseinturnconfirmstheother。Fortheoneisexplainedbytheother；because\"flesh\"maybetakeninitsliteralsense，sothatamanmayunderstandthatheisadmonishednottodespisehisownbody；and\"thedomesticsofthyseed\"maybeunderstoodfigurativelyofChristians，becausetheyarespirituallybornofthesameseedasourselves，namely，theWord。Whennowthemeaningofthetwotranslatorsiscompared，amorelikelysenseofthewordssuggestsitself，viz。，thatthecommandisnottodespiseourkinsmen，becausewhenonebringstheexpression\"domesticsofthyseed\"intorelationwith\"flesh，\"kinsmenmostnaturallyoccurtoone’smind。Whence，Ithink，thatexpressionoftheapostle，whenhesays，\"IfbyanymeansImayprovoketoemulationthemwhicharemyflesh，andmightsavesomeofthem；\"（4）thatis，thatthroughemulationofthosewhohadbelieved，someofthemmightbelievetoo。AndhecallstheJewshis\"flesh，\"onaccountoftherelationshipofblood。Again，thatpassagefromthesameprophetIsaiah：（5）\"Ifyewillnotbelieve，yeshallnotunderstand，\"（6）anotherhastranslated：\"Ifyewillnotbelieve，yeshallnotabide。\"（7）Nowwhichoftheseistheliteraltranslationcannotbeascertainedwithoutreferencetothetextintheoriginaltongue。Andyettothosewhoreadwithknowledge，agreattruthistobefoundineach。Foritisdifficultforinterpreterstodiffersowidelyasnottotouchatsomepoint。Accordinglyhere，asunderstandingconsistsinsight，andisabiding，butfaithfeedsusasbabes，uponmilk，inthecradlesoftemporalthings（fornowwewalkbyfaith，notbysight）；（8）as，moreover，unlesswewalkbyfaith，weshallnotattaintosight，whichdoesnotpassaway，butabides，ourunderstandingbeingpurifiedbyholdingtothetruth；——forthesereasonsonesays，\"Ifyewillnotbelieve，yeshallnotunderstand；\"buttheother，\"Ifyewillnotbelieve，yeshallnotabide。\"
18。Andveryoftenatranslator，towhomthemeaningisnotwellknown，isdeceivedbyanambiguityintheoriginallanguage，andputsuponthepassageaconstructionthatiswhollyalientothesenseofthewriter。Asforexample，sometextsread：\"Theirfeetaresharptoshedblood；\"（9）forthewordozus
amongtheGreeksmeansbothsharpandswift。Andsohesawthetruemeaningwhotranslated：\"Theirfeetareswifttoshedblood。\"Theother，takingthewrongsenseofanambiguousword，fellintoerror。Nowtranslationssuchasthisarenotobscure，butfalse；andthereisawidedifferencebetweenthetwothings。Forwemustlearnnottointerpret，buttocorrecttextsofthissort。Forthesamereasonitis，thatbecausetheGreekwordhoskosmeansacalf，somehavenotunderstoodthatmoskeumata（1）areshootsoftrees，andhavetranslatedtheword\"calves；\"andthiserrorhascreptintosomanytexts，thatyoucanhardlyfinditwritteninanyotherway。Andyetthemeaningisveryclear；foritismadeevidentbythewordsthatfollow。For\"theplantingsofanadultererwillnottakedeeproot，\"（2）isamoresuitableformofexpressionthanthe\"calves；\"（3）becausethesewalkuponthegroundwiththeirfeet，andarenotfixedintheearthbyroots。
Inthispassage，indeed，therestofthecontextalsojustifiesthistranslation。
CHAP。13。——HOWFAULTYINTERPRETATIONSCAN
BEEMENDED。
19。Butsincewedonotclearlyseewhattheactualthoughtiswhichtheseveraltranslatorsendeavortoexpress，eachaccordingtohisownabilityandjudgment，unlessweexamineitinthelanguagewhichtheytranslate；andsincethetranslator，ifhebenotaverylearnedman，oftendepartsfromthemeaningofhisauthor，wemusteitherendeavortogetaknowledgeofthoselanguagesfromwhichtheScripturesaretranslatedintoLatin，orwemustgetholdofthetranslationsofthosewhokeepratherclosetotheletteroftheoriginal，notbecausethesearesufficient，butbecausewemayusethemtocorrectthefreedomortheerrorofothers，whointheirtranslationshavechosentofollowthesensequiteasmuchasthewords。Fornotonlysinglewords，butoftenwholephrasesaretranslated，whichcouldnotbetranslatedatallintotheLatinidiombyanyonewhowishedtoholdbytheusageoftheancientswhospokeLatin。Andthoughthesesometimesdonotinterferewiththeunderstandingofthepassage，yettheyareoffensivetothosewhofeelgreaterdelightinthingswheneventhesignsofthosethingsarekeptintheirownpurity。Forwhatiscalledasolecismisnothingelsethantheputtingofwordstogetheraccordingtoadifferentrulefromthatwhichthoseofourpredecessorswhospokewithanyauthorityfollowed。Forwhetherwesayinterhomines（amongmenorinterhominibus，isofnoconsequencetoamanwhoonlywishestoknowthefacts。Andinthesameway，whatisabarbarismbutthepronouncingofawordinadifferentwayfromthatinwhichthosewhospokeLatinbeforeuspronouncedit？
Forwhetherthewordignoscere（topardon）shouldbepronouncedwiththethirdsyllablelongorshort，isnotamatterofmuchconcerntothemanwhoisbeseechingGod，inanywayatallthathecangetthewordsout，topardonhissins。Whatthenispurityofspeech，exceptthepreservingofthecustomoflanguageestablishedbytheauthorityofformerspeakers？
20。Andmenareeasilyoffendedinamatterofthiskind，justinproportionastheyareweak；andtheyareweakjustinproportionastheywishtoseemlearned，notintheknowledgeofthingswhichtendtoedification，butinthatofsigns，bywhichitishardnottobepuffedup，（4）seeingthattheknowledgeofthingsevenwouldoftensetupourneck，ifitwerenothelddownbytheyokeofourMaster。Forhowdoesitpreventourunderstandingittohavethefollowingpassagethusexpressed：\"Qaeestterrainquaistiinsiduntsupeream，sibonaestannequam；elquaesuntcivitates，inquibusipsiinhabitantinipsis？\"（5）AndI
ammoredisposedtothinkthatthisissimplytheidiomofanotherlanguagethanthatanydeepermeaningisintended。Again，thatphrase，whichwecannotnowtakeawayfromthelipsofthepeoplewhosingit：\"Superipsumautemflorietsanctificatiomea，\"（6）surelytakesawaynothingfromthemeaning。Yetamorelearnedmanwouldpreferthatthisshouldbecorrected，andthatweshouldsay，notfloriet，butflorebit。Nordoesanythingstandinthewayofthecorrectionbeingmade，excepttheusageofthesingers。Mistakesofthiskind，then，ifamandonotchoosetoavoidthemaltogether，itiseasytotreatwithindifference，asnotinterferingwitharightunderstanding。Buttake，ontheotherhand，thesayingoftheapostle：\"QuodstultumestDei，sapientiusesthominibus，etquodinfirmumestDei，fortiusesthominibus。\"（7）
IfanyoneshouldretaininthispassagetheGreekidiom，andsay，\"QuodstultumestDei，sapientiusesthominumetquodinfirmumestDeifortiusesthominum，\"（8）aquickandcarefulreaderwouldindeedbyaneffortattaintothetruemeaning，butstillamanofslowerintelligenceeitherwouldnotunderstanditatall，orwouldputanutterlyfalseconstructionuponit。FornotonlyissuchaformofspeechfaultyintheLatintongue，butitisambiguoustoo，asifthemeaningmightbe，thatthefollyofmenortheweaknessofmeniswiserorstrongerthanthatofGod。Butindeedeventheexpressionsapientiusesthominibus（strongerthanmen）isnotfreefromambiguity，eventhoughitbefreefromsolecism。Forwhetherhominibusisputasthepluralofthedativeorasthepluraloftheablative，doesnotappear，unlessbyreferencetothemeaning。Itwouldbebetterthentosay，sapientiusestguamhomines，andfortiusestquamhomines。