William Hone

For the Lord himself, being asked by a certain person, When his kingdom should come? answered, When two shall be one, and that which is without as that which is within; and the male with the female, neither male nor female.

Now two are one, when we speak the truth to each other, and there is (without hypocrisy) one soul in two bodies:

3 And that Which is without as that which is within;—He means this: he calls the soul that which is within, and the body that which is without. As therefore thy body appears, so let thy soul be seen by its good works.

4 And the male with the female neither male nor female;—He means this; he calls our anger the male, our concupiscence the female.

5 When therefore a man is come to such a pass that he is subject neither to the one nor the other of these (both of which, through the prevalence of custom, and an evil education, cloud and darken the reason,)

2 561 Now the assistants of our faith are fear and patience ; our fellow-combatants, long-suffering and continence.

3 Whilst these remain pure in what relates unto the Lord, wisdom, and understanding, and science, and knowledge, rejoice together with them.

For thus saith the Scripture: 594He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities, and by his blood we are healed.

This he spake, because a man will justly perish, if having the knowledge of the way of truth, he shall nevertheless not refrain himself from the

Now the sow he forbade them to eat ; meaning thus much; thou shalt not join thyself to such persons as are like unto swine; who whilst they live in pleasure, forget their God ; but when any want pinches them, then they know the Lord; as the sow when she is full knows not her master; but when she is hungry she makes a noise ; and being again fed, is silent.

4 Neither, says he, shalt thou eat the eagle, nor the hawk, nor the kite, nor the crow ; that is thou shalt not keep company with such kind of men as know not how by their labour and sweat to get themselves food: but injuriously ravish away the things of others; and watch how to lay snares for them ; when at the same time they appear to live in perfect innocence.

5 (677 So these birds alone seek not food for themselves, but) sitting idle seek how they may eat of the flesh others have provided ; being destructive through their wickedness.

Neither, says he, shalt thou eat the lamprey, nor the polypus, nor the cuttle-fish ; that is, thou shalt not be like such men, by using to converse with them ; who are altogether wicked and adjudged to death. For so those fishes are alone accursed, and wallow in the mire, nor swim as other fishes, but tumble in the dirt at the bottom of the deep.

7 But he adds, neither shalt thou eat of the hare. To what end ?—To signify this to us; Thou shalt not be an adulterer; nor liken thyself to such persons. For the hare every year multiplies the places of its conception; and so many years as it lives, so many it has.

Neither shalt thou eat of the hyena; that is, again, be not an adulterer, nor a corruptor of others; neither be like to such. And wherefore so?—Because that creature every year changes its kind, and is sometimes male and sometimes female.

For which cause also he justly hated the weasel; to the end that they should not be like such persons who with their mouths commit wickedness by reason of their uncleanness ; nor join themselves with those impure women, who with their mouths commit wickedness. Because that animal conceives with its mouth.

Consider, my children, what that signifies, he finished them in six days. The meaning of it is this; that in 722 six thousand years the Lord God will bring all things to an end.

5 For with him one day is a thousand years; as himself testifieth, saying, Behold this day shall be as a thousand years. Therefore, children, in six days, that is, in six thousand years, shall 723 all things be accomplished.