Chapter II.
He explains the function of the Christian athlete, which is to encourage him to maintain the faith of renunciation, amplifying the dignity of the witnesses who were present when it was made, and finally adding light to the matter through example.
We came to the fountain (On the Consecration, dist. 4, c. You Came to the Fountain), you entered: consider whom you saw, consider what you said, repeat diligently. A Levite comes to you, a priest comes to you: you are anointed as an athlete of Christ, as if about to wrestle the struggles of this world, you have declared the contests of your struggle. He who struggles, has something to hope for: where there is struggle, there is a crown. You wrestle in the world, but you are crowned by Christ, and are you crowned for the struggles of the world? For although the reward is in heaven, here the merit of the reward is bestowed.
When he asked you: Do you renounce the devil and his works, what did you respond? I renounce. Do you renounce the world and its pleasures, what did you respond? I renounce. Remember your promise and never let your series of caution slip away. If you give a promissory note to someone, you are bound to him in order to receive his money: you are bound and the reluctant lender binds you; if you refuse, you go to the judge, and there you are convicted by your own caution.
6 and 7. Where you have promised, consider, or to whom you have promised. You have seen the Levite, but he is a minister of Christ. You have seen him ministering before the altars. Therefore, your written document is held not on earth, but in heaven. Consider where you receive the heavenly sacraments. If this is the body of Christ, here are also the angels. Where the body is, there also the eagles, as you have read in the Gospel (Matthew 24:28). Where the body of Christ is, there also the eagles are accustomed to fly; so that they may flee from earthly things and seek heavenly things. Why do I say this? Because both human beings and angels who announce Christ are seen to be assigned a place among the angels. How? Take the example of John the Baptist. John was born of a man and a woman; nevertheless, listen to this: he himself is an angel. 'Behold, I send my angel before your face, who will prepare your way before you' (Matthew 11:10). Take another example from the prophet Malachi: 'The lips of the priest guard knowledge, and people seek instruction from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts' (Malachi 2:7). These things are said in order to proclaim the glory of the priest, not to attribute anything to personal merits.
Therefore, renounce the world, renounce the age, be diligent. He who owes money always considers his guarantee: and you, who owe faith to Christ, keep faith, which is much more precious than money; for faith is an eternal inheritance, money is temporal. And therefore, always remember what you have promised; and you will be more cautious. If you keep your promise, you will also keep your guarantee.
Caut III.
Although neophytes may only see the fountain and the servants, the author reveals that there are greater things that are not seen.
Then you approached closer: you saw the fountain, you also saw the priest above the fountain. And I cannot doubt that what did not occur to your mind, happened to that Syrian Naaman (IV Kings, 5:11 et seq.); because even though he was cleansed, he still doubted. Why? I will tell you, listen.
You entered, you saw water, you saw the priest, you saw the Levite. Lest perhaps someone may say: Is this the whole? No, it is the whole. Truly the whole, where there is complete innocence, complete piety, complete grace, complete sanctification. You have seen what you were able to see with the eyes of your body, and with human sight: you have not seen those things which they accomplish; because they are not seen. Those things which are not seen are much greater than those which are seen; because those things which are seen are temporal: those which are not seen are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18).