garments which the people of Israel brought with them out of
78 ON CIIRISTIA.X DOCTRINT. [BOOK U in love, we may be able to comprebeud with aU saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height,^—that is, to comprehend the cross of our Lord, the breadth of which is indicated by the transverse wood on which the hands are stretched, its length by the part from the ground up to the cross-bar on which the whole body from the head downwards is fixed, its height by the part from the cross-bar to the top on which the head lies, and its depth by the part which is hidden, being fixed in the earth. And by this sign of the cross all Christian action is symbolized, viz. to do good works in Christ, to cling with constancy to Him, to hope for heaven, and not to desecrate the sacraments. And purified by this Christian action, we shall be able to know even "the love of Christ which passeth knowledge," who is equal to the Father, by whom all things were made, " that we may be filled with all the fulness of God."^ There is besides in hyssop a purgative virtue, that the breast may not be swollen with that knowledge which puffeth up, nor boast vainly of the riches brought out from Egypt. " Purge me with hyssop," the psalmist says,^
" and I shall be clean ; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness." Then he immediately adds, to show that it is purifying from pride that is indicated by hyssop, " that the bones which Thou hast broken* may rejoice."
Chap. xlii.—Sacred Scripture compared with profane authors,
63. But just as poor as the store of gold and silver and garments which the people of Israel brought with them out of Egypt was in comparison with the riches which they afterwards attained at Jerusalem, and which reached their height in the reign of King Solomon, so poor is all the useful knowhnlge which is gathered from the books of the heathen when compared with the knowledge of Ploly Scripture. For whatever man mav have learnt from other sources, if it is hurtful, _M i ^ it is there condemned ; if it is useful, it is therein contained. And while every man may find there all that he has learnt of useful elsewhere, he will iind there in much greater abundance
» Eph. iii. 17, 18. 'Kj.h. iii. 19.
Fs. li. 7, 8. "• 0."<o>a humiiiata, Vulgate.
CHAP. XLII.] CONCLUSION. 79 tliingjs that are to be found nowhere else, but can be learnt only in the wonderful sublimity and wonderful simplicity of the Scriptures.
When, then, the reader is possessed of the instruction here pointed out, so that unknown signs have ceased to be a hindrance to him ; when he is meek and lowly of heart, subject to the easy yoke of Christ, and loaded with His light burden, rooted and grounded and built up in Mth, so that dJiitAl^ knowledge cannot puff him up, let him then approach the consideration and discussion of ambiguous signs in Scripture. And about these I shall now, in a third book, endeavour to say what the Lord shall be pleased to vouchsafe.