Apodeixis, Antichristianismi

way to the discovery of a decent duty is the meditation and study of the divinely inspired scriptures. For in these both precepts of actions will be found, and the lives of blessed men handed down in letters are proposed as certain living images of the divine Commonwealth for the imitation of the good. Therefore, in whatever matter anyone feels himself to be unworthy, if he converses in these, he finds a remedy suitable for his ailment as if from a common pharmacy. After he confirmed this with the examples of Joseph, Job, David, and Moses, he finally concludes this recommendation of the reading of the scriptures with these words: Everywhere, just as painters paint an image from an image, frequently looking back at the model, they make it their study to transfer the outline from it to their own work; so it behooves him who makes it his study to render himself perfect in all parts of virtue, to look back at the lives of the saints as if to noble and active statues, and to make their good deeds his own through imitation.

Marginal note: Location p. 32

Another place is Chrysostom explaining the history of Jacob and Laban his father-in-law, in his 57th homily on Genesis: Not without cause, he says, did the grace of the Holy Spirit leave us these histories written: but so that it might provoke us to the emulation and imitation of such great men. To the two Greek authors I will add one Latin author, namely Ambrose, who teaches that the history of Ahab and Naboth most beautifully pertains to all times; and among other things he writes most truly: Not one Ahab is born, but what is worse, an Ahab is born daily, and he never dies to this