Clods may represent divers classes in the Church. 379 ing to the diversity of their merits, we are ])erhaps able to Book distinguish tliem still more minutely. For while there is * one order of preachers, another of hearers ; another of rulers, and another of subjects; one of the married, another of those who abstain from marriage ; one of penitents, another of virgins ; there is, as it were, a diversely distinguished form of clods from the same earth, when in the one faith, and in the one charity, the merits of good workers are shewn to be unequal. That people, who with the same zeal offered diff'erent gifts for the construction of the tabernacle, signified these clods; of which it is written ; Whatever was Ex. 35, 21 23 necessary for the worship of the tabernacle, and for the ' holy garments^ men with womenfurnished, bracelets and earrings, rings and armlets. Every golden vessel was set apartfor the offerings of the Lord. If any man had blue, purple^ and twice dyedscarlet,fine linen, and goats'" hair, Spc. 24. For the adorning, therefore, of the tabernacle men offer gifts together with women, because in fulfilling the service of Holy Church, both the lofty deeds of the strong and the lowliest works of the weak are reckoned. But what is designated by bracelets which bind the arms, except theworks ofsturdily labouring rulers \ And what is expressed by earrings, but the obedience of subjects? What by rings, but the seal of secrets? For teachers commonly put a seal on that which they consider cannot be understood by their hearers. And what is spoken of by armlets, but the orna- ments of the first works? What is understood by a golden vessel set apart for the offerings of the Lord, except the understanding of the Godhead? which is the more detached from the love of inferior objects, the more it is raised to love those things only which are eternal. What by blue, but the hope of heavenly things ? What by purple, but blood, and endurance of sufferings, displayed from love of the eternal kingdom? And what is pointed out by the twice dyed scarlet, but charity, which is twice dipped in order to its perfection, because it is adorned with the love of God, and one's neighbour? What by fine linen, but the immaculate purity of the flesh? And what is designated by the goats' hair, of which the roughness of the hair cloths is woven, except the hard affliction of penitents ? Whilst some there- c c 2