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| The Lot and Inheritance of Virginity.
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Chapter
III.—The Lot and Inheritance of Virginity.
Furthermore, when they have come hither, they see
wonderful and glorious and blessed things of beauty, and such as cannot
be spoken to men. They see there righteousness itself and
prudence, and love itself, and truth and temperance, and other flowers
and plants of wisdom, equally splendid, of which we here behold only
the shadows2710
| 2710
The influence of Plato is traceable, here and elsewhere,
throughout the works of Methodius. It has been fully examined in
the able work of Jahn, Methodius Platonizans.—Tr. [Elucidation I.] | and apparitions,
as in dreams, and think that they consist of the actions of men,
because there is no clear image of them here, but only dim copies,
which themselves we see often when making dark copies of them.
For never has any one seen with his eyes the greatness or the form or
the beauty of righteousness itself, or of understanding, or of peace;
but there, in Him whose name is I AM,2711
they are seen perfect and clear, as they
are. For there is a tree of temperance itself, and of love, and
of understanding, as there are plants of the fruits which grow
here—as of grapes, the pomegranate, and of apples; and so, too,
the fruits of those trees are gathered and eaten, and do not perish and
wither, but those who gather them grow to immortality and a likeness to
God. Just as he from whom all are descended, before the fall and
the blinding of his eyes, being in paradise, enjoyed its fruits, God
appointing man to dress and to keep the plants of wisdom. For it
was entrusted to the first Adam to cultivate those fruits. Now
Jeremiah saw that these things exist specially in a certain place,
removed to a great distance from our world, where, compassionating
those who have fallen from that good state, he says:2712
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Baruch iii. 14, 15. The apocryphal book of
Baruch, as bearing the name of the companion of Jeremiah, was usually
quoted, in the second and third centuries, as the work of that great
prophet.—Tr. | “Learn where is wisdom,
where is strength, where is understanding; that thou mayest know also
where is length of days, and life, where is the light of the eyes, and
peace. Who hath found out her place? or who hath come into her
treasures?” The virgins having entered into the treasures
of these things, gather the reasonable fruits of the virtues, sprinkled
with manifold and well-ordered lights, which, like a fountain, God
throws up over them, irradiating that state with unquenchable
lights. And they sing harmoniously, giving glory to God.
For a pure atmosphere is shed over them, and one which is not oppressed
by the sun.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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