THE SACRAMENTS: IV Chapter 1 (1) In the Old Testament the priests were accustomed to enter the first tabernacle frequently;l the highest priest entered the second tabernacle once a year. Evidently recalling this to the Hebrews, the Apostle PauP explains the series of the Old Testament. For there was manna in the second tabernacle;3 there was also the rod of Aaron, that had withered and afterwards blossomed, and the censer.4 (2) To what does this point? That you may understand what the second tabernacle is, in which the priest introduced you, in which once a year5 the highest priest is accustomed to enter, that is, the baptistry, where the rod of Aaron flourished. Formerly it was dry; afterwards it blossomed: 'And 1 Cf. Exod 30.10; Lev. 16.2·34; Reb. 9.6·7. 2 Cf. Reb. 9.1·7. 3 Cf. Reb. 9.3·4. 4 Cf. Num. 17.2·10. 5 Reb. 9.7. 297 298 SAINT AMBROSE you were dried, and you begin to flower by the watering of the font.'6 You had become dry by sins, you had become dry by errors and transgressions, but now you began to bring forth fruit 'planted near the running waters.'7 (3) But perchance you may say: 'What was this to the people, if the rod of the priest had become dry and blossomed again?' What is the people itself, if not of the priest? To these it was said: 'But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood , a holy nation,' as says the Apostle Peter.s Everyone is anointed into the priesthood, is anointed into the kingdom, but the spiritual kingdom is also the spiritual priesthood. (4) In the second tabernacle also is the censer.9 The censer is that which is accustomed to emit good odor. Thus you also now are the good odor of Clirist;lO now there is no lot of transgressions in you, no odor of graver error. Chapter 2 (5) There follows your coming to the altar. You began to come; the angels observed; they saw you approaching, and that human condition which before was stained with the shadowy squalor of sins they saw suddenly shining bright, and so they said: 'Who is this that cometh up from the desert whitewashed?'l So the angels also marvel. Do you wish to know how they marvel? Hear the Apostle Peter saying that 6 cr. Vergil, Georgics 4.32. 7 Ps. 1.3. 8 1 Peter 2.9. 9 Cf. Reb. 9.4. IO cr. 2 cor. 2.15. 1 Cf. Cant. 8.5. [44.221.81.212] Project MUSE (2024-03-29 10:48 GMT) THE SACRAMENTS: IV 299 those things have been conferred on you which the angels also desired to see.2 Hear again. It says: 'The eye hath not seen, nor ear heard what things God hath prepared for them that love him.'3 (6) Then recognize what you have received. The holy Prophet David saw this grace in figure and desired it. Do you wish to know how he desired it? Again hear him as he says: 'Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed; thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow.'4 Why? Because snow, although it is white, quickly grows dark with some filth and is corrupted; that grace which you have received, if you hold fast what you have received, will be lasting and perpetual.5 (7) You came, then, desiring; inasmuch as you had seen so much grace, you came to the altar desiring to receive the sacrament. Your soul says: 'And I will go in to the altar of God, to God who giveth joy to my youth.'6 You laid aside the old age of sins, you took on the youth of grace. The heavenly sacraments have bestowed this upon you. Finally, again, hear David as he says: 'Thy youth will be renewed like the eagle's.'7 You have begun to be a good eagle, which seeks heaven, disdains earthly things. Good eagles are about the altar, for 'Wheresoever the body shall be, there shall the eagles also be gathered together.,g The form of the body is the altar, and the body of Christ is on the altar; you are the eagles renewed by the washing away of transgression. 2 Cf. 1 Peter 1.12. 3 Cf. 1 Cor. 2.9. 4 Ps. 50.9. 5 Cf. Apoc. 3...