The Many Meanings of Scripture

But as the renewal of our soul grows through this study, Scripture too will begin to put on a new face, and the beauty of its holier meanings will somehow grow as we grow. For its form is adapted to the capacity of human understanding: it will appear earthly to carnal people and divine to spiritual ones, so that those to whom it once seemed wrapped in thick clouds cannot grasp its subtleties or bear its light. But to make what we are aiming at somewhat clearer by an example, it will be enough to bring forward a single passage of the law. By it we can prove that all the heavenly commands as well are applied to people according to the measure of our state. For it is written in the law: “You shall not commit adultery.” A man who is still in bondage to foul passions rightly keeps this according to the simple meaning of the letter. But one who has already left behind these filthy acts and impure desires must keep it in the spirit. He must forsake not only the worship of idols but also all pagan superstitions, and the observance of auguries and omens and all signs and days and times; or at the least he must not be entangled in guesses drawn from words and names, which destroy the simplicity of our faith. By fornication of this kind, we read, Jerusalem was defiled, as she committed adultery “on every high hill and under every green tree.” The Lord also rebuked her through the prophet, saying: “Let now the astrologers stand and save you, those who gazed at the stars and counted the months, so that from them they might tell you the things that will come upon you.” Of this fornication the Lord also says elsewhere, rebuking them: “The spirit of fornication deceived them, and they played the prostitute, departing from their God.” But one who has forsaken both these kinds of fornication will have a third kind to avoid, which lies in the superstitions of the law and of Judaism. Of this the apostle says: “You observe days and months and times and years,” and again: “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle.” There is no doubt that this is said of the superstitions of the law. Whoever has fallen into them has certainly played the prostitute, departing from Christ, and is not worthy to hear this from the apostle: “For I have betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” Instead, what follows will be addressed to him in the words of the same apostle: “But I am afraid that, as the serpent by his cunning deceived Eve, so your minds may be corrupted and fall away from the simplicity that is in Christ Jesus.” But if someone has escaped the uncleanness even of this fornication, there will still be a fourth, which is committed by adulterous union with heretical teaching. Of this too the blessed apostle speaks: “I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among yourselves men will arise speaking perverse things, so as to draw away the disciples after them.” But if a man has managed to avoid even this, let him beware of falling by a more subtle sin into the guilt of fornication. I mean the fornication that consists in wandering thoughts. For every thought that is not only shameful but even idle, and that departs in however small a degree from God, is regarded by the perfect man as the foulest fornication. [a]