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| The Mystery of the Vision of Zechariah.
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Chapter VI.—The Mystery of the Vision of
Zechariah.
Moreover, Zechariah shows that the olive shadows
forth the law of Moses, speaking thus: “And the angel that
talked with me came again and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of
his sleep, and said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have
looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top
of it.…And two olive-trees by it, one upon the right side of the
bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.”2801
And after
a few words, the prophet, asking what are the olives on the right and
left of the candlestick, and what the two olive-boughs in the hands of
the two pipes, the angel answered and said: “These are the
two sons of fruitfulness2802
which stand by the Lord of the whole
earth,” signifying the two first-born virtues that are waiting
upon God, which, in His dwelling, supply around the wick, through the
boughs, the spiritual oil of God, that man may have the light of divine
knowledge. But the two boughs of the two olives are the law and
the prophets, around, as it were, the lot2803
| 2803
σχοίνισμα
: same word as that translated
“wick.”—Tr. | of the inheritance, of which Christ and
the Holy Spirit are the authors, we ourselves meanwhile not being able
to take the whole fruit and the greatness of these plants, before
chastity began to rule the world, but only their boughs—to wit,
the law and the prophets—did we formerly cultivate, and those
moderately, often letting them slip. For who was ever able to
receive Christ or the Spirit, unless he first purified himself?
For the exercise which prepares the soul from childhood for desirable
and delectable glory, and carries this grace safely thither with ease,
and from small toils raises up mighty hopes, is chastity, which gives
immortality to our bodies; which it becomes all men willingly to prefer
in honour and to praise above all things; some, that by its means they
may be betrothed to the Word, practising virginity; and others, that by
it they may be freed from the curse, “Dust thou art, and unto
dust shalt thou return.”2804
This, O Arete, is the discourse on virginity which you
required of me, accomplished according to my ability; which I pray, O
mistress, although it is mediocre and short, that thou wilt receive
with kindness from me who was chosen to speak last. E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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