The More Select and Obscure Dogmas of the Kabbalists

...is committed, or thrown before swine A reference to the biblical proverb from Matthew 7:6: "Do not throw your pearls before swine.". This spirit is handed down only to the sons of God and citizens of the heavenly kingdom, who can cry from the heart, "Abba, Father" original: "Abba pater." A phrase from the New Testament (Romans 8:15) signifying an intimate relationship with God as a child to a father.. To one it is given in this way, to another in that; only Christ, in whom the fullness of divinity dwelt, received it without measure.

The philosophers and all those who were estranged from God lacked this wisdom. Therefore, they became vain in their thoughts, and their hearts were darkened. They felt their way like the blind along a wall, and like those without eyes, they groped and stumbled at midday as if in the dark—to use the words of Isaiah original: "Esaiae." Refers to Isaiah 59:10.. These men were content only with prudence and worldly wisdom. While such wisdom may be great and especially necessary for this kind of domestic and peaceful life, it offers no help in attaining the future life unless heavenly wisdom is added. For knowledge puffs up, but charity builds up original: "Scientia enim inflat, charitas autem ædificat." A famous quote from 1 Corinthians 8:1.. If knowledge is supported by charity, then earthly wisdom migrates into the heavenly, and darkness is turned into light.

Therefore, excellent reader, receive from among those whom antiquity commends the sayings of the leading Cabalists Practitioners of Kabbalah, the Jewish mystical tradition which some Renaissance Christian scholars believed held secrets that could prove Christian truths., which are like divine utterances. They illuminate a keen intellect and give off the "good odor of Christ." I do not wish to boast too arrogantly here of my own labor or the genius of the authors; indeed, if you look within a little more carefully, I believe you will not find fault with our industry, and you will greatly admire the dignity of the authors.

All these things must be weighed so that we do not err, and so that we do not give the enemies of the Church an opportunity to mock us as if we were ignorant. For this reason, it was most wisely decreed in the Council of Vienne A Church council held in 1311–1312 which, among other reforms, mandated the teaching of Hebrew, Arabic, and Aramaic. (as Clement states in the only Clementine original: "Clementina." Referring to the Clementinae, a collection of Catholic canon law named after Pope Clement V. decree regarding teachers) that in most major universities—namely Bologna, Paris, Salamanca, and Oxford original: "Exoniensi." Although literally "Exeter," in the historical context of this specific decree from the Council of Vienne, it refers to Oxford.—and especially wherever the Roman Curia The administrative and judicial body of the Papacy. happens to reside, schools of study should be established...