D. ALBERT THE GREAT,

BISHOP OF RATISBON, OF THE ORDER OF PREACHERS,

ON THE GOSPEL

ACCORDING TO MATTHEW

A LUMINOUS EXPOSITION

PROLOGUE.

"Take" it, as made by me and opened by me. Ezekiel 2:9: "And I saw, and behold, a hand was sent to me, in which was a rolled book: and he spread it before me." Daniel 7:10: "The books were opened." Apocalypse 5:1: "I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne, a book written within and without, sealed with seven seals." And, below, verse 9: "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to take the book, and to open the seals thereof," etc. Therefore, the taking is a motion toward the taker from another who is offering. Do not, therefore, penetrate it with your own intellect; but bring into captivity every intellect to the obedience of Christ 2 Corinthians 10:5: "Bringing into captivity every understanding unto the obedience of Christ.", so that you may say: "My tongue is the pen of a scrivener that writeth swiftly" Psalm 44:2. Matthew 10:20: "For it is not you that speak, but the Spirit of your Father that speaketh in you." Job 32:8: "But as I see, there is a spirit in men, and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth understanding." 2 Peter 1:21: "For prophecy came not by the will of man at any time: but the holy men of God spoke, inspired by the Holy Spirit." Therefore, do not break in, but take it from the Holy Spirit, and from the right hand of him who sits upon the throne: noting that "he who is a searcher of majesty shall be overwhelmed by the glory" Proverbs 25:27. John 14:26: "The Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring all things to your mind, whatsoever I shall have said to you."