XXII. De elementorum vi, et de animae vita spirituali.

XXII. De elementorum vi, et de animae vita spirituali.

But from the marrow of his bones, namely, that of the aforementioned man, the powers of the elements exude, and they return again into those same marrows, just as a man exhales his breath and then draws it back to himself: for just as the marrow of men strengthens, and just as his bones support him, so from the strongest power of the Creator, the virtues of the elements proceed, which hold and bear the world, bringing heat, moisture, greenness, and tenacity to various creatures, making them germinate and grow, and also afterward returning to that same strongest power of their Creator, where they allow those same creatures to decline. For the creatures that exist under the elements, some come to life now, while others die. For when the elements fulfill their functions, they produce fruit; but when they are gathered together by God's command, they withhold that fruit. Just as a person exhales their breath to avoid falling into barrenness, and gathers it back to themselves for the refreshment of growth, so these works also pertain to the life of the soul. For the strength of spiritual life in the soul is like the marrow of the bones in the body, from which, through good reputation, the powers of virtues are nourished like the elements, and they return again to that same strength through the contemplation of prayers. Just as the compunction of the heart, stirred within a person, pours out tears to God, and just as from that same compunction ceasing, it again contains tears within itself.