The soul that kuows what it is goes not with themany. 403 Ver. 7. He scornetJt the rnuliHude ofthe city. Book • . . XXX dQ. To scorn the multitude of the city, is to avoid the rr-^ evil employments of human conversation, so as no longer to take pleasure in imitating the abandoned manners of earthly men, who, through the abundance of iniquity, are many. For they desire to enter, with the few, the narrow gate, and seek not, with the many, to enter the broad roads which lead to destruction. For they carefully behold by Whom, and for what, they are created ; and from a right consider- ation of the image they have received, they disdain to follow the vulgar herd. Wheiice it is said by the voice of the Bridegroom to the Bride, in the Song of Songs, If thouso\. knowest ?wt thyself, O beautiful among women, go forth,^^^^^ ^' and go thy tvay after the footsteps of the flocks, and feed thy kids. For she who is beautiful among women knows herself, when every Elect soul, though placed amongst sinners, remembers that it was fashioned after the image and similitude of its Creator, and goes on, in accordance with the similitude it has perceiv^ed. But if it knows not itself, it goes forth ; because, being expelled from the secret recess of its own heart, it is dissipated by outward objects of desire. But when it has gone forth, it goeth after the footsteps of the flocks, because namely, forsaking its own inward thoughts, it is led to the broad way, and follows the examples of the peoples. And it no longer feeds lambs, but kids, because it strives to nourish, not the harmless thoughts of the mind, but the evil motions of the flesh. Because then every Elect and continent person scorns to go after the footsteps of the herds, let it be rightly said, He scornelh the multitude ofthe city. Where it is also fitly subjoined; He heareth not the cry ofthe exactor. 57. What other exactor can be understood, but the devil, xviii. who once offered to man in paradise the coin of evil per- suasion, and seeks to exact from him daily the guilt of this debt } The word of this exactor is the beginning of evil persuasion. The cry of this exactor is temptation, no longer gentle, but violent. This exactor cries out, when he tempts mightily. Not to hear then the voice of the exactor, is not at all to consent to the violent emotions of temptations. For a man would hear, if he were to do the things which