themselves were not steady in keeping his commandment; and very properly at evening, that is,
Book II 87 parts, that is to conceal their simplicity, of which cunning pride was now ashamed. Fig leaves, though, signify a kind of itch (if the word can properly be applied in the incorporeal sphere) which the spirit in astonishing ways can be afflicted with, out of greed and a delight in telling lies. This is also why people who love playing the fool are said to be salty, salsi in Latin. Pretense, after all, is the principal element in tomfoolery.33
The meaning of their encounter with God in Paradise
1 6, 24. And so when God was strolling in Paradise at evening—that is, he was strolling in Paradise when he was already coming to passjudgment on them even before their punishment34—they heard his voice, and hid themselves from his sight. Who are the ones who hide themselves from the sight of God, but those who have turned their backs on him and are beginning to love what is their very own? You see, they already had a covering for their falsehood, and anyone who utters falsehood is speakingfrom what is his own (Jn 8:44). And that is why they are said to have hidden themselves at the tree which was in the middle of para dise, that is, at themselves, ranged as they were in the middle of things, below God and above bodies.
So then they hid themselves at themselves, in order to be troubled with miser able errors after forsaking the light of truth, which they themselves were defi nitely not. The human soul, after all, can participate in truth, but Truth itself is God, unchanging above the soul. So then, turn away if you will from this Truth and turn to yourself, and exult in your own seemingly free movements rather than in being directed and enlightened by God; but you will be plunged in the darkness of falsehood, since whoever speaks falsehood is speaking from what is his own. And so you will be troubled in that way, and illustrate the truth of the prophet's words: My soul is troubled at myself (Ps 42:6).
And so Adam is now questioned by God, not because God doesn't know where he is, but in order to oblige him to confess his sin.35 And he answered that when he heard his voice he hid himself, since he was naked. His very answer was already an instance of a truly miserable error—as though his being naked, as God himself had made him, could displease God! But it is the very essence of error to assume that what is displeasing to oneself also displeases God. What the
33. And salt is used to conceal the unpleasant taste of food, to help the meat pretend it isn't bad—is that the idea behind this odd illustration of the point? 34. That is, the divine presence was in a kind of way being shaken about in them, when they themselves were not steady in keeping his commandment; and very properly at evening, that is, when the sun was already setting on them, that is, that inner light of truth was being taken away from them. 35. The Lord Jesus Christ, after all, asked any number of questions, but not because he didn't know the answers.