Quaestio illustris: an'ne renati de sua ipsorum et de aliorum Piorum aeterna electione, certo pronunciare, & per fidem, in Domino, de eadem gloriari debeant

that are depraved, which corrupt good morals: dangerous is both idleness, which gives rise to vices, and companionship with Epicureans and other sons of this world, who look only at earthly things, not at heavenly ones.

Therefore the faithful man is ἐλαιώδης olive-like, because he is of a mild and gentle disposition: so that an old proverb can be said about the same: More tranquil than oil.

On the contrary, the unfaithful man is ἀνέλαιος void of oil, as is said about the foolish virgins, Matt. 25.3. Indeed, where there is no brilliance of faith, which the oil of the grace of the Holy Spirit nurtures, there is neither the ardor of charity, which meekness, ταπεινοφροσύνη humility, modesty, ἀνεξικακία forbearance, and other gifts commend.

Bernard says excellently, discussing the name of the Spouse Jesus Christ: There is, he says, undoubtedly a similarity between Oil and the name of the Spouse, nor did the Holy Spirit compare one to the other without reason. I, however, speak of a certain triple quality of Oil, which shines, feeds, and anoints. It nurtures fire, nourishes the flesh, soothes pain: it is light, food, and medicine. See the same now also regarding the name of the Spouse. Preached, it shines; recollected, it feeds; invoked, it soothes and anoints. Whence do you think there is such a great and sudden light of faith in the whole world, if not from the preached Jesus?

That oil symbolically signifies the gifts of the Holy Spirit is clear from this sentence of David concerning the blessed Messiah: O God, your (Father) God has anointed you