Jerome

“ Chapter 3 I don't say this, because there is any such goodness in me, that you can either hear or learn from me; but because with your fervent love and study of learning are admirable in themselves; for a wit able to be taught is praiseworthy even without a teacher. We don't take heed to what you may find, but to what you seek. Wax is soft and easy to form, though the hands of craftsmen and formers cease, nevertheless within it is the potential for all shapes, that may me made with it. ”

“ For we read it in this way: "Truly, those that are wise learned men will shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who teach many men to righteousness will shine like the stars, forever and ever." Why is Paul the apostle said the vessel of choice? Truly because he was the vessel of the law, and the cabinet of holy scripture. The Pharisees are astonished at the doctrine of the Lord, and wonder at Peter and John, how they knew the law, since they learned no letters. ”

“ How many men know this day that they know letters, and hold the sealed book, and can't open it, but if it is unlocked by him that has the key of David "who opens and no man closes, and closes and no man opens." In the Acts of the Apostles the holy eunuch, yes, the holy man, because holy writ called him so, that when he read Isaiah the prophet, he was asked by Philip, "Do you think that you understand the words that you read?" ”

“ And in the description of righteous man, when David likened him to the tree of life that is in paradise, among other virtues he said this, "His will is in the law of the Lord, and he will think on His law day and night." Daniel in the end of a very holy vision says, "Righteous men will shine like the stars, and wise learned men as the firmament." ”

“ Chapter 4 Truly, holy churlishness in a clergyman only lets him benefit himself because as much as he may benefit the church by his good life, he harms it the same because he can't withstand the destroyers of the faith. ”

“ True wisdom will destroy false wisdom, and although the folly of preaching is held in the cross, nevertheless Paul speaks wisdom among perfect men; not wisdom of this wold, which is destroyed, nor of princes of this world; but he speaks wisdom of God hidden in mystery, that god ordained before the world. Christ is the wisdom of God, for "Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God." This wisdom is in hidden mystery, for which the title of the ninth psalm is "for the hidden things of the son of God," in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and of hidden knowledge of God ”

“ The living voice of God's word spoken has a hidden inward working, and when the voice is spoken into the ears of the disciple from the mouth of the authour, it sounds more strongly. Therefore, when Æschines was exiled at Rhodes, and the oration of Demosthenes that was against him was read, he, amid all the men wondering and praising, sighing said, "What if you had heard the beast telling his own words!" ”

“ For the Holy Spirit told them everything, that God commonly gave others by daily study and thinking on the law of God every day, and, as it is written, "they were taught by God." Our Savior had only reached 12 years of age, and then he, sitting in the temple, and asking questions of the law, taught mutch more by asking wise questions. ”

“ He beholds the maker of the locust, and the Lord standing upon the daubed or adamant wall, and the apple crook drawing torments to sinful men, and hunger on earth, not hunger of bread, nor thirst of water, but of hearing of the word of God. ”

“ This science of scriptures the chattering old woman, and the doting old man, and the sophist full of words, and all folks presume to know this, and chatter about it, and tear it apart, and teach it before they learn it. Other folks, with stern faces, and great chattering words, talk as philosophers of holy letters among young women; other men learn of women what they should teach men (that is shame) ”

“ Therefore the prophets were called seers, for they saw him, who the other men didn't see. "Abraham saw the day of him, and he was glad." Heavens were opened to Ezekiel, which were closed to the sinful people. David says, "Lord, open my eyes, and I'll behold the marvels of your law." For the law is spiritual, and therefore it has need of open revelation, so that it can be understood, that we may behold the glory of God with open faces. ”

“ I hold my peace on the topic of grammarians, rhetoricians, philosophers, geometers, logicians, musicians, astronomers, astrologers, physicians, whose science is sufficient, or very profitable, to mortal men, and is divided in 3 parts as in doctrine, and in reason, and use. ”

“ Every one of its words is very sensible; and, though I hold my peace on other things, he proficies of resurrection of bodies, so that no man can write more openly, or more carefully, on this matter, for he says this, "I know that my redeemer lives, and I shall rise from the earth on the last day ”