The Ruler’s Daily Meditation on the Sacred Law

But all this is duly carried out by a ruler if, inspired by the spirit of heavenly fear and love, he meditates every day on the commands of Holy Scripture. Then the words of God’s admonition may restore in him the power of concern and of far-sighted watchfulness for the heavenly life, which constant dealings with people keep destroying; and one who is drawn toward the old way of life by worldly company may always be renewed, by the stirring of heartfelt sorrow, to love of the spiritual homeland. For the heart goes greatly to waste amid human talk. And since it is beyond doubt that, when it is driven by the tumult of outward business, it loses its balance and falls, one must take care without ceasing that it rises again through eager pursuit of instruction. That is why Paul admonishes his disciple, who had been put over the flock, saying, “Until I come, give your attention to reading.” That is why David says, “How I have loved your law, O Lord! It is my meditation all day long.” [a]

That is why the Lord commanded Moses about the carrying of the ark, saying, “You shall make four rings of gold, which you shall put at the four corners of the ark; and you shall make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold, and put them through the rings that are on the sides of the ark, so that it may be carried by them; and they shall always be in the rings, and shall never be drawn out of them.” What does the ark stand for but the holy church? Four rings of gold are ordered to be fixed to it at its four corners because, stretching out as it does toward the four quarters of the world, it is plainly declared to be equipped for its journey with the four books of the holy Gospel. And poles of acacia wood are made and put through those same rings for carrying, because strong and persevering teachers must be sought, like timbers that do not decay, who by always holding fast to instruction from the sacred books may proclaim the unity of the holy church, and, as it were, carry the ark by being fitted into its rings. For to carry the ark by poles is to bring the holy church, through preaching, before the untaught minds of unbelievers by means of good teachers. And these are also ordered to be overlaid with gold, so that while they ring out to others in their words, they may also shine themselves in the splendor of their lives.

Of these teachers it is fittingly added, “They shall always be in the rings, and shall never be drawn out of them,” because it is surely necessary that those who serve in the office of preaching should not draw back from the study of sacred learning. The poles are ordered to be always in the rings for this purpose: that when there is need to carry the ark, no delay in carrying it may arise from having to put the poles in. That is to say, when a pastor is asked by those under him about some spiritual matter, it is most shameful if he goes off to learn at the very moment he ought to be answering the question. But let the poles stay always in the rings, so that teachers, always meditating in their own hearts on the words of Holy Scripture, may lift the ark of the covenant without delay; and so it will be if they teach at once whatever is asked of them. That is why the first pastor of the church admonishes all other pastors well, saying, “Always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you.” It is as if he said plainly, “So that no delay may hinder the carrying of the ark, never let the poles be drawn out of the rings.”