Chapter XXV
RICHARD OF ST. VICTOR
acquire the palm of eternal reward. In the former corner it happens in them that they are God's debtors in the faith on account of having received divine favor, while in the latter corner on account of the merit of their patience and fortitude it is accomplished in them that they become, if it is proper to say so, God's just creditors.
"As for the rest," said the Apostle, "there is laid up for me a crown of justice which the Lord, the just judge, will return to me on that day" (2 Tim.
4:8). "He will return," He says, not "He will give," and "just judge," not "kindly judge." But so that he might become a just debtor of so great a reward he first must voluntarily become a liberal giver of such a benefit. Consider, therefore, what sort of thing it is when God contrives some great effort, when He busies
Himself with much exercising, when at some time He completes in the elect a certain marvelous work of art, in order that from being accused defendants they become just; from slaves, free persons; from miserable debtors, persons rich in benefits and heirs of the kingdom of heaven. This is, I think, a sufficient reason why that golden ring of divine disposition watches over this corner in a singular manner, where by means of a struggle of modest labor, it lifts a man to eternal rewards. This is that place in which such a golden ring shines more and glows with a more ruddy brilliance.
This is, I say, that place in which divine disposition appears more glorious and delightful while they rejoice in tribulation and are pleased with insults. And so from the things that we have already said concerning the corners or sides of the ark, we have shown with sufficient clarity, I think, how on one side the rings of foreknowledge and knowledge should appear more marvelous and how on the other side the rings of predestination and disposition should appear more delightful.
Chapter XXV That great wonder and remarkable exultation always ought to accompany the manifestation of contemplation I think that it will not be laborious to discover what sort of poles such rings ought to have or which pole we ought to place on which side.
Indeed, in the things that ought to be marveled at
THE MYSTICAL ARK
more, there is undoubted need for great wonder; however, in those which seem to be more delightful, it will be beneficial to employ great exultation. Therefore, our wonder ought to be great and our exultation strong, both being of the sort the contemplation of divine works requires. Let each be great; let each be strong; let both be solid after the manner of poles that are sufficient for carrying so great a load. Therefore, concerning both, let us make a wooden pole, not a reed staff. However, it ought not to be made of just any wood, but of Setim wood, namely a wood strong and incorruptible so that they may be unbendable on account of fortitude and incorruptible on account of long-suffering. Such good poles have both great and lasting wonder and extraordinary and continuing exultation. So that they may have a form after the manner of poles and may fulfill the function of poles, let both be solid and gilded.
Therefore, let both be made of hard firm oak, set in order according to the pattern of justice, and covered over with the gold of wisdom, so that both may be strong by fortitude, set in order by equity and shining by discretion. This sort of gilding on these poles pleases very much in every way, because prudent and careful discretion fares well in everything. Therefore, let our admiration be discreet, so that we wonder at nothing that is false in God's foreknowledge or knowledge.
Let our thanksgiving be no less discreet, so that we venerate nothing that is in divine predestination or disposition. In any case. He knows that both of these are marvelous without the patronage of falsity. He knows that both of these are sweet without the seasoning of vanity. Therefore, we marvel at nothing that is false in the foreknowledge of God or in His knowledge; we venerate nothing that is vain in God's predestination or disposition when we cover our poles with the gold of wisdom in the manner we ought.
Therefore poles of this sort are inserted through the rings of gold, and according to the Lord's example and order they are never taken out. Your wonder ought always to be with respect to the manifestation of divine foreknowledge or divine knowledge. Your delight ought always to be with respect to the consideration of divine predestination and disposition.
In the former you will always find what you can marvel at; in the latter you will find that in which you can delight. Why will it be necessary to seek some things in behalf of other things, and to run here and there through empty things
RICHARD OF ST. VICTOR
with wandering of thoughts? Nowhere is there more abundant matter for admiring; nowhere is there a more beneficial cause for showing joy. Surely in the former and the latter you will find that at which you can marvel and in which you can delight. For although each pole clings more closely to one side, neither distances itself very much from the other. Therefore, your admiration always ought to be of the former things and your delight always in the latter things. Let poles of this sort always be inserted in this way through golden rings, and you will rejoice that you have fulfilled the Lord's command.
Chapter XXVI That the mode of contemplation is varied according to the mode of wonder and exultation By these poles our ark is carried here and there; by these poles it is lifted up on high; by them it is set down in a low place again.
Assuredly with regard to the rational principle of divine works and the contemplation of them, the more fully you delight by wondering and wonder by delighting, the more willingly you remain, the more carefully you examine and the more deeply you are illumined.
As often as your soul is snatched away by various things on account of your admiration and is fixed delightfully on individual things, so often is your ark carried about because your contemplation is enlarged.
If your wonder snatches you up to higher and more profound things and suspends you delightfully in the investigation of these things, no doubt your ark rises up on high because your understanding grasps more subtle things. When the wonder of speculation and the delight of wonder decrease or even cease, your ark is set down in a low place because the divine showing comes to an end. And so, in this way, according to the quality and quantity of our wonder and exultation the ark now is turned in a circle, now is lifted up to the heights, and now is set down in a low place because according to the longing of a soul burning with desire, a showing is formed and the understanding is illumined in many ways.