in word or deed, that is ascribed in Holy Scripture to God or
CHAP. XL] THE IXTERPEETATION OF FIGURES. 91 tilings, without reference to God. Again, wliat lust, when unsubdued, does towards corrupting one's own soul and body, is called vice ;^ but what it does to injure another is called crime? And these are the two classes into which all sins may be divided. But the vices come first ; for when these have exhausted the soul, and reduced it to a kind of poverty, it easily slides into crimes, in order to remove hindrances to, or to find assistance in, its vices. In the same way, what charity does with a view to one's own advantage is lorudcnce ; but what it does with a view to a neighbour's advantage is called
Vcncvolcncc. And here prudence comes first ; because no one can confer an advantage on another which he does not himself possess. Now in proportion as the dominion of lust is pulled down, in the same proportion is that of charity built up.
Chap. xi.—Rule for interpreting i^hrases which seem to ascribe severity to God and the saints.
17. Every severity, therefore, and apparent cruelty, either in word or deed, that is ascribed in Holy Scripture to God or His saints, avails to the pulling down of the dominion of lust. And if its meaning be clear, we are not to give it some secondary reference, as if it were spoken figuratively. Take, for example, that saying of the apostle : " But, after thy hardness and impenitent heart, treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God ; who will render to every man according to his deeds : to them who, by patient continuance in w^ell-doing, seek for glory, and honour, and immortality, eternal life ; but unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile."^ But this is addressed to those who, being unwilling to subdue their lust, are themselves involved in the destruction of their lust. When, however, the dominion of lust is overturned in a man over whom it had held sway, this plain expression is used : " They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh, with the affections and lustg." ^ Only that, even in these instances, some words are used figuratively, as for example, " the wrath of God " and
1 Flasitium. ^ Facinus. 3 n^^^^. ii. 5-9. * Cuil. v. 24.