XVII. Verba EzecJiielis
XVII. Verba EzecJiielis
The face of a man and the face of a lion are on the right side of the four. The face of the ox was on the left side of the four creatures; and the face of the eagle was above them. Its meaning is such. For the work of God is man, and this work is from God. The face of man signifies piety, through which a person has sensitivity. The face of the lion represents the power of God, in which God gave reason to humanity; and this is from the right side, because piety and virtue of God reveal divine inspiration through the understanding of the greatness of good works, like wings. But the face of the ox is a sacrifice that God announces; in this, He has shown man how to sacrifice to God, and this is also from the left side, because in the sacrifice there is a certain defect, where one thing is given and another is left behind; just as those who offer their will to God sometimes meditate on heavenly things and sometimes on earthly ones. For in the sacrifice, God draws man to Himself; and I don't know if something has fallen out in both texts. The last words are not clear, nor do they fit well; and hardly is the response of Peace seen in the words of the Sword, as a perpetual series suggests. Unless he inspires you to make yourself a sacrifice to God. The face of the eagle symbolizes the knowledge of God, which gives knowledge to humanity and the possibility of understanding, according to what pleases Him; it is above all other virtues, and because it is terrifying in man, it is life for him, and that life does not fail; but it breathes from all sides and sees from all sides, and in man, it appears like stars in the firmament. The number of the elect and the reprobate is known to no one. But they also won't be counted who are seduced by the suggestion of the Devil and dwell with him.
Read the original Latin
« Facies hominis et facies leonis a dextris ipsorum quatuor.
Facies autem bovis a sinistris ipsorum quatuor; et facies aquilae desuper ipsorum quatuor. )i Cujus sensus talis est.
Nam opus operis Dei homo est, et hoc opus a Deo est.
Facies hominis pietatem designat, per quam homo sensibilitatem habet.
Et facies leonis virtutem Dei, in qua Deus rationalitatem homini dedit; et hoc a dextriSy quoniam pietas et virtus Dei, per comprehensionem magnitudinis bonorum operum, velut alas, divinam inspirationem ostendunt.
Sed facies bovis sacrificium quod Deus est, denuntiat; in quo demonstravit homini Deo sacrificare, et hoc etiam a sinistris est, quoniam in sacrificio quidam defectus est, ubi unum datur, et aliud relinquitur; sicut etiam qui voluntatem suam Deo oflFert •), interdum coelestia, interdum terrestria meditatur.
Nam in sacrificio Deus hominem ad se trahit; ct etiam homiI) Nescio an aliquid in utroque codice cxciderit.
Ultima verba ncc perspicua sunt, neque apte coliaerent; ac vix non cxspectatur Pacis rcsponsum ad verba Gladii, ut perpetua series suadet. ni inspirat ut seipsum sacrificium Deo faciat.
Facies autem aquilae scientiam Dei praefigurat, quae homini scientiam dat et possibilitatem scientiae, secundum quod ipsi placet; quae super alias virtutes est, et quoniam in homine terribilis est, et homini vita est, et vita illa non deficit; sed undique spirat, et undique videt, ac in homine, ut stellac in firmamento, apparet.
XVIIL Electorum et reproborum numerus nulli homini notus.
Sed et nec illi dinumerari poterunt, qui in suggestione Diaboli seducti, cum Diabolo habitabunt.
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