> John xii. 3-7 ; Mark xiv. 8. « Matt. ix. 20.
3 G ON CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE. [BOOK II.
expression or tlie cry of a man in grief, follow the movement of the mind instinctively and apart from any purpose, or wliether they are really used with the purpose of signification, is another question, and does not pertain to the matter in hand. And this part of the subject I exclude from the scope of this work as not necessary to my present object.
CiiAr. HI. Among signs, tcords hold tlie chief place.
4. Of the signs, then, by which men communicate their thoughts to one another^ some relate to the sense of sight, some to that of hearing, a very few to the other senses. For, when we nod, we give no sign except to the eyes of the man to whom we wish by this sign to impart our desire. And some convey a great deal by the mpjbion of the hands : and actors by movements of all their limbs give certain signs to the initiated, and, so to speak, address their conversation to the eyes : and the military standards and flags convey through the eyes the will of the commanders. And all these signs are as it were a kind of visible words. The signs that address themselves to the ear are, as I have said, more numerous, and for the most part consist of words. For though the bugle and the flute and the lyre frequently give not only a sweet but a significant sound, yet all these signs are very few in number compared with words. For among men words have obtained far and away the chief place as a means of indicating the thoughts of the mind. Our Lord, it is true, gave a sign through the odour of the ointment which was poured out upon His feet;^ and in the sacrament of His body and blood He signified His will through the sense of taste ; and when by touching the hem of His garment the woman was made whole, the act was not wanting in significance.^ But the countless multitude of the signs through which men express their thoughts consist of words. For I have been able to put into words all those signs, the various classes of whicli I liave briefly touclied upon, but
I could by no efl'ort express words in terms of those signs.
Chat. iv.—Origin of irriting.
5. r>ut because words pass away as soon as they strike
John xii. 3-7 ; Mark xiv. 8. « Matt. ix. 20.