ERRATA IN THE INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. Page xv, l. 11, for IV read III. xvi, l. 20, for Chancel, Arches, read Chancel-Arches. 1. 22, for D read E. xxxvi, n. l. 21 for St. Paul in Eph. read S. Paulin. in Epp. xlviii, l. 34 for the veil even, His Flesh. read the veil, even His Flesh. xlix, l. 31 for see it in, read see in it. lxxix, l. 34 for adduced, read ordered. lxxx, l. 15, for doubled, read omitted. lxxxviii, l. 24, for Darcent, read Darenth. cvi, l. 5, for seperate, read separate. cvii, l. 25, for γυναῖκα είροι read γυναικα ευροι cviii, n. l. 4, for Et egredietus diabolut, read Et egredietur diabolus. cix, l. 13, for enotaph read cenotaph. cx, l. 19, for lid, read bud. cxii, l. 5, for symols, read symbols. 6. 7. MYSTICAL AND MORAL MEANING OF THE LAW. 8. 9. FOUR-FOLD SENSE OF SCRIPTURE. THE HISTORICAL. 14.-17. DIFFERENT CEREMONIES USED BY DIFFERENT CHURCHES. 18. 19. NAME OF RATIONALE, WHENCE DERIVED. DIVISION OF THE WORK. B ¶ Here beginneth the First Book of GULIELMUS DURANDUS his RATIONALE of the DIVINE OFFICES. The Proeme. 1. ALL things, as many as pertain to offices and matters ecclesiastical, be full of divine significations and mysteries, and overflow with a celestial sweetness: if so be that a man be diligent in his study of them, and know how to draw HONEY FROM THE ROCK, AND OIL FROM THE HARDEST STONE.1 But who KNOWETH THE ORDINANCES OF HEAVEN, OR CAN FIX THE REASONS THEREOF UPON THE EARTH ?2 For he that prieth into their majesty, is overwhelmed by the glory of them. Of a truth THE WELL IS DEEP, AND I HAVE NOTHING TO DRAW WITH :3 unless HE giveth it unto me WHO GIVETH TO ALL MEN LIBERALLY, AND UPBRAIDETH NOT: So that WHILE JOURNEY THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS5 I may DRAW WATER WITH JOY OUT OF THE WELLS OF SALVATION.6 Where 1 DEUTERONOMY XXXii, 13. 3 S. JOHN iv, 11. 2 JOB XXXviii, 33. 4 S. JAMES i, 5. 6 ISAIAH xii, 3. I 8 fore, albeit of the things handed down from our forefathers, capable we are not to explain all, yet if among them there be any thing which is done without reason, it should forthwith be put away. Wherefore I, WILLIAM, by the alone tender mercy of GOD, Bishop of the Holy Church which is in Mende, will knock diligently at the door, if so be that THE KEY OF DAVID will open unto me: that the King may BRING ME IN TO HIS TREASURY, and shew unto me the heavenly pattern which was shewed unto Moses in the mount: so that I may learn those things which pertain to Rites Ecclesiastical, whereof they teach and what they signify: and that 1 may be able plainly to reveal and make manifest the reasons of them, by His help, WHO HATH ORDAINED STRENGTH OUT OF THE MOUTH OF BABES AND SUCKLINGS :10 WHOSE SPIRIT BLOWETH WHere It listeTH, 11 dividing to EACH SEVERALLY AS IT WILL 12 to the praise and glory of the TRINITY. 2. Sacraments we have received to be signs or figures, not in themselves virtues, but the significations of virtues, by which men are taught as by letters. Now of signs there be that are natural, and there be that are positive: concern 7 "A city of France, and capital of the department of Lozére, situated on an eminence near the Lot: before the revolution, the See of a Bishop. The number of inhabitants is about 5000.”—CruttWELL'S Gazetteer, s. v. 8 APOCALYPSE iii, 7. 9 CANT. ii, 4. 10 PSALM viii, 2. See also WISDOM X, 21. 11 S. JOHN iii, 8. |