Commentariorum in apocalypsim Johannis

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AND YOU ALSO, O venerable Archbishop of Cologne, FREDERICK, perceive this, and the expressed example of truth in the scriptures teaches it: for all those striving toward the true land of promise, there is a need for the work of the spirit of piety, so that they may be meek. Matthew 5. The meek shall inherit the earth. For the Lord himself says, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth," excluding the un-meek from blessedness, since they shall not inherit the earth. A well-known and famous example of both classes, both of those who are meek and therefore will inherit the earth, and of those who are un-meek and therefore will not inherit the earth, is expressed in those spies whom Moses, at the Lord's command, sent to inspect the land of Canaan. Numbers 13. For those among them who were meek, that is, who knowing the truth did not resist it—namely Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh—said: "The land through which we passed is exceedingly good. If the Lord is favorable, he will lead us into it and give us the ground flowing with milk and honey. Do not be rebellious against the Lord." These ones possessed that same land. But the others, who were un-meek and rebellious against the truth, and speaking against their own knowledge, said: "The land through which we have gone devours its inhabitants." These ones did not possess that same land. Sacred Scripture is called the land of promise. What indeed is sacred scripture to us, if not the true land of promise? Finally, what it was for them to go out of Egypt physically and enter that promised land, this it is for us to have gone out from the darkness of ignorance and to enter into the knowledge of God through the truth of the scriptures. Indeed, this is more abundant for us, as much as the body or reality excels the shadow or figure. To be sure, while we read or understand through the scriptures, we do not yet see the Lord face to face; nevertheless, that vision of God itself, which must one day be perfected, is already begun here through the scriptures. And what part of this land, that is, of holy scripture, is more fertile than this book of the Apocalypse of John the apostle? John 15. To the study and meditation of which part the pleasantness of your conversations has especially excited me. What was the occasion for the author's writing. For a man illustrious in religion and studious in sacred letters, Lord Cuno, abbot of Siegburg. Cuno, abbot of the monastery of Siegburg, was insistent, proposing certain chapters of this book first separately and then in your hearing; namely with the intention that it might be discovered by you as well, that I (as he himself thought) might be able to add something useful beyond what the ancient fathers felt or said in explaining this book. He did this out of the excessive benevolence of his mind, by which he had long ago begun to think more highly of my smallness than the possibility of my talent allows. Truly, both before and after those same gatherings, he urged that I should undertake this work; nor did he stop persuading until at last he prevailed as he wished. Praise of the book of the Apocalypse. What sequence of sacred scripture, I ask, is more beautiful on the surface or richer in sense than this Apocalypse? For By Saint Jerome in the argument of the book. (as it was said before us) it has as many mysteries original: "sacramenta" as words. This is to say too little; and all praise is inferior to the merit of the volume. In individual words, manifold meanings lie hidden. Therefore, so that we may possess this land, let us follow the example of the faithful spies who were meek. Against the heretics disparaging this book. Numbers 16. By speaking against the un-meek heretics who disparage this land, because the land through which we passed is exceedingly good. They say, "The land through which we have gone devours its inhabitants," but they lie. For this land, the land of God, does not devour its inhabitants; rather, their own inventions devour the proud. Just as with those former grumblers, it was not that land of promise, which they did not reach, but the very earth they trod upon that devoured them, and swallowed them up, being broken open under their feet. Therefore, it is expedient that (as has already been said) we be meek in spirit, whoever enters this land, that is, this scripture; and that we judge a deeper majesty of divine meanings to lie hidden there, even where we still understand less. For if the Lord is favorable, he will lead us into it, and give us the ground flowing with milk and honey, so that we may find the hidden riches of salvation in it, the treasures of wisdom and understanding, of counsel and strength, of knowledge and piety, and of the fear of the Lord. Objection regarding the arduous labor of writing. But someone will say, it is already enough what others, better and holier, and no less more learned, have found and written.