Two Treatises on the Nature of the Elements and the Fifth Essence

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This very thing I experienced, then when I conducted myself humbly and submissively: And my misery (miseria) turned to glory (gloriam) for me: misery into the sting of death (mors): death into victory (victoriam): victory was my immortal soul (anima): the soul's true riches (diuitiæ)—Riches, I say, are GOD Most Good and Great (DEVS Opt. Max.), from whom and through whom is whatever was, whatever is, and toward whom all things, as if toward their end, hasten. Now, so that we may show ourselves grateful, what will be necessary to do? Shall we burn myrrh or frankincense? Shall we circumcise foreskins? Shall we shave our hair? Shall we raise our pulpit (suggestum) higher, and dressed in black or white garments, shall we preach? Or those who are destitute of the knowledge of GOD, shall we eradicate them with iron and flames? Or are we to chant the praises of GOD? Or finally, are we to write great volumes of books so that we may procure eternal fame for ourselves? All things, brother, are splendid vanity (vanitas). With what, I ask, shall we present GOD, whose own are all things, who is the possessor of all, who has scattered his glory and fame through all things, even more extensively than our mind can grasp? What therefore