Mosaic Philosophy

BOOK II OF SECTION I.

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...persuasions and words of human wisdom, but in the demonstration of the spirit and truth: we speak wisdom among the perfect; yet a wisdom not of this world, but we speak the Wisdom of God in a Mystery, which was hidden, which 1 Cor. 2:4 God revealed to the elect through His spirit, etc. By these words we are taught, first, that the speeches of worldly orators—sweet and honey-flowing as they may be—belong to those who are wise only in speech and not in real virtue, and to those sophisticated philosophers who promise much with their tongues but in effect can provide little or nothing. These are plainly empty winds, while conversely, real or essential original: "reales seu essentiales"; referring to a philosophy that deals with the actual essence of things rather than just labels or abstract logic. philosophers are accustomed to produce words fortified with virtue and power. Secondly, we learn that speech brought forth by a true and powerful philosopher becomes fruitful and blossoming, because it is supported by the wisdom of eternity and not by that of this world, which is found to be powerful only when examined by a touchstone original: "lapidis Lydij"; the Lydian stone was used to test the purity of gold.. Thirdly, because heavenly wisdom is mystically revealed to the human race and not by human tradition, as it is disclosed or manifested solely by divine power and only to the saints and the elect, it is consequently unknown to the Pagan original: "Ethnicis" sages and the unfaithful. And yet, these very pagans are the principal authors of the philosophy used by Christians; those Christians, rejecting or at least being ignorant of the laws of true and divine philosophy, venerate and follow the pagans with such confidence and effort as if divinity itself had been sent down from heaven to us men through them. Nevertheless, we gather from the Apostle’s words that such philosophy is deceitful, vain, and sophisticated, insofar as it has arisen from the tradition of men and is fashioned according to the elements of this world, and not from Christ—the true cornerstone in whom the fullness of Divinity dwells bodily. Hence, the same Colossians 2:8 author says elsewhere: We have not received the spirit of this world, but the spirit which is from God, and which was given to us by Him; we speak not in the learned words of human wisdom, but in the doctrine of the spirit, comparing spiritual things with 1 Cor. 2:12 spiritual things. For the natural man original: "Animalis homo"; literally "animal-like man," referring to one who relies only on his physical senses and reason without spiritual enlightenment. does not perceive those things which are of the spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, etc. And again: The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God: for God knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are foolish, etc. By these things 1 Cor. 3:13 we can also discern that there is a wisdom falsely so called, which is in effect contrary to true wisdom; for which reason it is frequently called "foolish" by the Apostle. Therefore, the concepts or imaginations of such sages or Philosophers and their Disciples (however highly they may think of themselves) are in truth foolish and of no value before God. Concerning such philosophers, the Prophet says: Woe to you who call evil good and good evil, making darkness light and light darkness, putting Isaiah 5:20 bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Woe to you who are wise in your own eyes and prudent in your own sight. Does not Saint James also assign a notable discrepancy between these types of wisdom? The wisdom (he says) that James 3:15 contradicts the truth is not that which descends from above from the father of light, but is earthly, sensual,

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devilish: But the wisdom descending from above is from God. By these things it is clear that, according to the complete harmony of the Holy Scriptures, just as wisdom is understood as earthly and worldly—which is counterfeit, that is, born of human invention and produced according to the elements of the world (as has been said)—so also there is a wisdom that is true, pure, and essential. This is surely that which has its origin or root in Christ, or the Word of God, according to that saying of the wise man: The Word of God most high is the fountain of wisdom. Ecclesiasticus 1:7 Since this is so, that adulterous and lying Philosophy, which derives its origin from the fictions of the unfaithful, must not be adored and embraced by us Christians with such fervor or vehemence that the most true and effective wisdom—founded upon the true foundation of Jesus Christ, the unique Cornerstone—is held in contempt and weighed as absolutely nothing; for it belongs to Him alone to fill, sustain, and give life to all things. In doing otherwise, we shall imitate the foolish and reckless Israelites, of whom the Prophet Baruch spoke in this sense: Baruch 3 Israel has forsaken the fountain of wisdom; that is, they neglected true wisdom to seek arts, science, and prudence among foreign, gentile nations, where it was not to be found—just as the Agarenes did, and those who were in Teman, who by this path could not reach the perfection of true wisdom. Shall we not, in such neglect of true philosophy, violate the precept of divine Prophecy? Which Jeremiah 10:2 is: that we should by no means learn the ways of the heathens, because the laws of the peoples are vain. And the Apostle, in these few words, seems to make known to us that extreme variety and dissonance which exists between these two species of wisdom. The Greeks (he says) sought wisdom; the Jews sought signs; we preach Christ crucified, etc. 1 Cor. 1:22 By this speech, he seems to rebuke the contemplative philosophy of the Greeks, which arose from the tradition of men and was crowded with mere imagination—the patrons of which were the Peripatetics, Stoics, and Epicureans. But the practical philosophy was that which the Jews affected (for they would not believe without the practical effects of philosophy). And in the final place, he seems to name the marrow of true philosophy, or the right study of wisdom, which consists in Jesus Christ crucified, which is from God alone, insofar as the wisdom of this philosophy has come forth from the mouth of Jehovah: Ecclesiasticus 24:5 since its fountain (as said) is the word of God. Hence, this true wisdom speaks thus in its own person: I came out of the mouth of the most high, etc. And for this reason, the Apostle, showing the difference between the philosophy of the Greeks, which was counterfeit, imaginary, and fantastical, and this true and real one, proposes this caution to us: That (he says) their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God the Father and of Jesus Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. This I say, lest any man should deceive you with enticing words: just as you have received... Colossians 2:2