Chapter XXIV.
The prerogative of power over other animals, through the blessing with which Noah and his family were endowed, has been divinely bestowed upon mankind. And concerning the understanding of the Lord having given all reptiles as food to these same humans, even though some of them are hunted.
86. And the Lord blessed Noah and his sons, saying: Increase and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it: and let the fear and dread of you be upon all the beasts of the earth, and upon all the fowls of the air, and all that move upon the earth. And upon all the fishes of the sea. But in that place where it is said that God made man, it is said: He made them male and female, and blessed them, saying: Increase and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it, and have dominion over the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the air, and all living creatures that move upon the earth (Gen. I, 28). I have mentioned this so that you understand the twofold generation of man: one according to the image of God, the other according to the likeness made from the clay of the earth. Finally, the creation of man from the clay of the earth seems to have been made after the world, after God rested from his works. In a way, the formation of the earthly statue is late. There was no rain on the earth, nor did man work the earth. Then God fashioned man from the clay of the earth and breathed into his face the breath of life, and man became a living soul (Gen. II, 5 and 7). But on the sixth day, as the perfect number by which all of God's works were concluded, man was made according to the image of God, and he is also compared to the righteous one who was found in the flood. And therefore God created him above all earthly things, just as He made him in the image of God, because both were tempered from earthly vices. That one who was generated in such a way that he owed nothing to earthly contamination: this one, who had also been tested in dangers, and examined in sufferings, and found not to have been subject to confusion in suffering.
87. But the higher sense is that justice is increased by the magnitude and multitude of virtue, and by learning; and it fills the earth, like a heart in which there is a receptacle of intelligible things. Thus, wisdom allows no void, which foolishness can invade. Therefore, having conquered not only all earthly passions, but also bodily senses, it subjects even beasts to itself with a certain terror and fear, in which the appearance of malice and ferocity seems to reside. For all wickedness is cruel and savage, and swells with a certain swelling. Nor is it obscure that certain reptiles have a kind of lethal species of passions, from which a certain venom seems to be infused into the mind. Therefore, the righteous man commands these things to whom he does not mix: but he restrains them, if his mind is not led by pleasure, not by desire, not broken by sadness and fear; nor does he even take the slippery and fleeting course of this life in luxury and delights, but wisdom drives away from itself such passions through self-control and moderation.
88. But since he immediately added, 'All reptiles that are alive shall be food for you' (Gen. IX, 3); lest it may disturb you because we previously spoke about venomous reptiles, know that there are other reptiles that are venomous, and others that are gentle. Therefore, take from the gentle reptiles, which although they do not crawl on their belly and chest like snakes, they have such small feet that they seem to crawl rather than walk. Therefore, receive the unclean passions similar to venomous reptiles in the body, but the clean ones from the gentle ones. For every emotion that is beyond the allure of ugly pleasure is indeed a passion, but a good passion. Desire, anger, and fear, these are harmful passions of the soul; but harmless emotions are good passions. And through these, a certain usefulness and cause is provided for us to live: we use them as food for the grace of life, we delight in their banquets.