The eighth plague was of locusts devouring all green vegetation, by which liars are struck, who trample the truth with their teeth and lips. The Psalm: Their heart is vain; their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they dealt deceitfully.
The ninth plague was of darkness, by which the covetous and avaricious are struck, because nothing so blinds a man as covetousness. Whence the Prophet: Gifts and presents blind the eyes of the prudent and change the words of the just; Solomon: Nothing is more wicked than the avaricious man. For he has even his own soul for sale, because in his life he has cast away his inmost parts.
14. The tenth plague was the death of the firstborn, by which the carnal are struck, like Esau. For the Apostle says: Lest anyone among you be a fornicator, like Esau, and lose his birthright. Carnal concupiscence took from us our noble generation, by which we would all be born innocent and heirs of paradise, and it makes us be born in death and guilt and the loss of the birthright. This was prefigured in Reuben, who lost the right of the firstborn, because he went up to his father's bed and defiled his couch; and Joseph, on account of his chastity, was made prince over his brothers.
It is now clear how transgressors of the law are struck by these plagues.
15. But who will deliver us from these plagues? Certainly there is one alone who came to deliver us, namely Christ, who made ten condescensions against the ten plagues. This is prefigured in the book of Kings, where it is said that the sun went back ten degrees, by which are signified the ten condescensions that the Lord made for the sake of man.
16. The first was down to our flesh.
The second was down to our mortality.
The third, to our neediness, for he suffered hunger, thirst, and cold.
The fourth was to our poverty, for he was made destitute , having no place to which he might turn.
The fifth, to our temptation, when he permitted himself to be tempted; and in this he bore our weakness. The Apostle: We do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one tempted in all things.
The sixth, to the weariness of body and our toil.
The seventh, to our anxiety; whence: Jesus began to be fearful and distressed and said: My soul is sorrowful even unto death.
The eighth was to the cross, and this was wondrous.
The ninth was to death. — The tenth was to the prison of hell.
17. These are the ten condescensions by which God condescended to man. But why did he descend to the prison of hell? Certainly, so that in the blood of the covenant he might lead the captives out of prison, those sitting in darkness and the shadow of death. Christ, through the blood of the new covenant, freed us and led us from death to life, and from darkness to light.
18. We therefore must also rise to a new life, so that, just as Christ rose from the dead, so we too might walk in newness of life . Christ has freed us at this time from the hand of Pharaoh and has led us into the promised land; and as a sign of this the Passover is now eaten, because we have now been set free. We too must make the passage and begin a new life and not return to Egypt. Let no one be a false traitor. Three things are necessary for any penitent, namely, that sin should displease him, and that he should be prepared to guard himself from sin with the help of God and the Holy Spirit, and that he should wish to make satisfaction according to the measure of his ability, and resolve never to repeat sin. And this is the consummation of these words: we must always be conformed to Christ and be refreshed with him, so that we may arrive at the eternal refreshment, which may he who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever deign to grant us. Amen.
HERE END THE COLLATIONS ON THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.
OF THE SERAPHIC DOCTOR
SAINT BONAVENTURE