which brings a remedy for the terrible diseases of the human
CHAP. VI.] THE OBSCURITIES OF SCRIPTURE. 37 upon the air, and last no longer than their sound, men have by means of letters formed si^ns of words. Thus the sounds of the voice are made visible to the eye, not of course as sounds, but by means of certain signs. It has been found impossible, however, to make those signs commqn^to all nations owing to the sin of discord among men^ 'svhicli sjDrings from every man trying to snatch the chief place for himself. And that celebrated tower which was built to reach to heaven was an indication of this arrogance of spirit ; and the ungodly men concerned in it justly earned the punishment of having not their minds only, but their tongues besides, thrown into confusion and discordance.^
Chap. v.—Scripture translated into various languages.
6. And hence it happened that even Holy Scripture, which brings a remedy for the terrible diseases of the human will, being at first set forth in one language, by means of which it could at the fit season be disseminated through the whole world, was interpreted into various tongues, and spread far and wide, and thus became known to the nations for their salvation. And in reading it, men seek nothing more than to find out the thought and will of those by whom it was written, and through these to find out the will of God, in accordance with which they believe these men to have spoken.
CuAP. VI. Use of tlce obscurities in Scripture wJiich arise from its figurative language.
7. But hasty and careless readers are led astray by many and manifold obscurities and ambiguities, substitutinoone meaning for another ; and in some places they cannot hit upon even a fair interpretation. Some of the expressions are so obscure as to shroud the meaning in the thickest darkness. And I do not doubt that all this was pivinely arranged for the purpose of subduing pride by toil, and of preventing a feeling of satiety in the intellect, which generally holds in small esteem what is discovered without difficulty. / For why is it,
I ask, that if any one says that there are holy and just men whose life and conversation the Church of Christ uses as a means of redeeming those who come to it from all kinds of superstitions, and making them through their imitation of
* Gen. xL