Complete Works, Vol. XX

In which Gospel it is useful for those desiring God to know things thus: whether proper, or intermediate, or perfect: so that reading through the whole, they may understand both the vocation of the Apostle, and the work of the Gospel, and the love of God born in the flesh, and recognize this in that which they have been apprehended by and strive to apprehend.

Behold the end of those reading and studying in the Gospel. He says two things here, namely, how one must study, and what is the fruit of the study.

The manner of study, or how one must study: it is in the desire for God. Psalm 104:4: Seek his face always. Isaiah 26:8: Thy name and thy remembrance are in the desire of the soul.

"Whether proper, or intermediate." Behold the fruit of study, and it is twofold: namely, according to knowledge, and according to affection.

According to knowledge, two things must be attended to: namely, the letter, and the intention of the letter.

In the letter, three things are to be known: namely, the first, which pertain to the assumption of humanity; the intermediate, which are for the illumination of those called; the perfect, which pertain to the redemption and glorification of the illuminated. In the first, John 1:14: The Word was made flesh. In the second, John 1:9: That was the true light, which enlighteneth every man that cometh into this world. In the third, He said: It is consummatedJohn 19:30.. John 17:4: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

Or, the first are historical: the intermediate are allegorical, constructing the truth of faith, and tropological, building up toward virtue: but the perfect are anagogical, elevating to eternal happiness. Proverbs 30:4: There are four very little things of the earth, and they are wiser than the wise. For the four expositions of Scripture are little because of humility.

The intention of the letter, however, is that from the writing we may know how miraculous is the vocation of the Apostle, who was called from being a Publican to the throne of majesty among the animals of God. Apocalypse 4:6: Round about the throne were four living creatures, full of eyes before and behind. I Kings 2:8: Raising up the needy from the dust, and lifting up the poor out of the dunghill: that he may sit, etc. And from this material, let us know the "work of the Gospel," in the operation of our salvation, in the assumption, word, work, passion, and resurrection. And from the cause, let us know the "love of God born in the flesh." For nothing induced Him to this except love. John 3:16: God so loved the world, etc. Jeremiah 31:3: I have loved thee with an everlasting love. Deuteronomy 33:3: He hath loved the people, all the saints are in his hand.

"And recognize that in which they have been apprehended, etc." Behold the fruit according to affection. "That they may recognize that in which they have been apprehended," and may apprehend in the same love according to their capacity. Philippians 3:12: I follow after, if I may by any means apprehend, wherein I am also apprehended by Christ Jesus.

For this was the object of our study of this argument, both to hand down the faith of the deed done, and not to be silent to those seeking to understand diligently the disposition of the working God.

Behold the end of Jerome's argument, in which he touches upon two things: he makes mention of the intention, and states what is intended.

The argument was that which argued the mind, and constrained it in translating: and it is not accepted properly unless it be from authority: because that argument is infallible in the Gospel, because it is founded upon eternal truth. Job 29:22: To my words they durst add nothing, and my speech dropped upon them.