9. The seven shepherds are the precepts of the law, whereby the flock not yet endued with reason are led through the wilderness by the rod of Moses, and governed. The eight bites of man are the commandments of the Gospel, and the words of the Lord’s mouth. Rom. x. 10. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Those bites are good whereby we have tasted the gift of eternal life, and in the Body of Christ have received the remission of sins. In the Old Testament the bite of death is bitter, wherefore it is said, Isa. xxv. 8. Prevailing death has devoured[222]. In the New Testament sweet is the taste of life, which has swallowed up death, wherefore the Apostle says, 1 Cor. xv. 54, 55. Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting, O grave, where is thy victory?
10. Moreover, to use the testimony of the Apostles, when God made man, Heb. iv. 4. He rested from all His works on the seventh day. But when the Jews wilfully disobeyed the commands of their God, the Lord said, Ib. 3. If they shall enter into My rest. And therefore the Lord appointed another day, whereof He says, Ps. xcv. 8. To-day if ye will hear My voice. For in general Scripture speaks of two days, yesterday and to-day, of which it is said, Heb. xiii. 8. Jesus Christ the same, yesterday to-day and for ever. On the first day the promise is made, on the second it is fulfilled. But since on the former day neither Moses nor Joshua brought the people into their rest, Christ, to Whom the Father said, This day have I begotten Thee, has brought them in to-day, for by His Resurrection Jesus has obtained peace for His people. The Lord Jesus is our rest; Who says, S. Luke xxiii. 43. To-day shalt thou be with Me in Paradise. For rest is in heaven, not on earth.
11. Why then need I watch the rising and setting of the stars, at whose rising the fallows should be ploughed up and pierced by the hard plough-shares, and at whose setting the fruitful crop should be cut down by the sickle? One star suffices for me in the place of all others, Rev. xxii. 16. the bright and morning Star, at Whose rising was sown the seed notof corn but of martyrs; when Rachel wept for her children, and offered in the stead of Christ her children washed in her own tears. The setting of this Star raised from the tomb not the senseless relics of the funeral pile, but the triumphant bands of the re-animated dead.
12. Let then this number seven be observed by us, seeing that the life of man passes through seven stages to old age, as Hippocrates the teacher of medicine has explained in his writings. The first age is infancy, the second boyhood, the third youth, the fourth adult age, the fifth manhood, the sixth fulness of years, the seventh old age. Thus we have the infant, the boy, the youth, the young man, the man, the elder, the aged.
13. Solon however made ten periods of life, each of seven years; so that the first period, or infancy, should extend to the growth of the teeth, to chew its food, and utter articulate words so as to seem intelligible; boyhood again extends to the time of puberty and of carnal temptation; youth to the growth of the beard; adult age lasts until virtue has attained its perfection; the fifth is the age of manhood, fitted, during its whole course, for marriage; the sixth belongs also to manhood, in that it is adapted to the combat of prudence, and is strenuous in action;the seventh and eighth period also exhibit man ripe in years, vigorous in faculties, and his discourse endowed with a grace of utterance not unpleasing;the ninth period has still some strength remaining, and in speech and wisdom are of a chastened kind; the tenth period fills up the measure, and he who has strength to reach it, will after a full period of years knock late at the gate of death.
14. Thus Hippocrates and Solon recognized either seven ages, or periods of age consisting of seven years. In this then let the number seven prevail; but the octave introduces one uninterrupted period during which we grow up into Eph. iv. 18. a perfect man, in the knowledge of God, in the fulness of faith, wherein the measure of a legitimate period of life is completed.
15. In our inward parts also the virtue of the seventh number is manifested; for it is said that we have within us seven organs, the stomach, heart, lungs, spleen, liver,and the two kidneys, and outwardly seven also, the head, the hinder parts, the belly, two hands and two feet.
16. Very excellent are these members, but subject to pain. Who then can doubt that the office of the Octave, which has renewed the whole man, so as not to be susceptible of pain, is more exalted? Wherefore the seventh age of the world being completed, the grace of the Octave has shone upon us, that grace which has made man to be no longer of this world, but above the world. But now we live not according to our own life but to that of Christ. For to us Phil. i. 21. to live is Christ, and to die is gain, Gal. ii. 20. and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God. So says the Apostle, 1 S. John ii. 18. whence we gather that the day of the world is come to a close. Again, at the last hour the Lord Jesus came, and died for us, 2 Cor. v. 15. and we are all dead in Him, that we may live to God. It is not then our former selves that now live, but Christ liveth in us.
17. The number seven is passed away, the octave is arrived. Yesterday is gone, to-day is come, that promised day wherein we are admonished to hear and follow the word of God. That day of the Old Testament is passed away, that new day is come, wherein the New Testament is perfected, whereof it is said, Jer. xxxi. 31, 32;
Heb. viii. 8, 9. Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah; not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt. He adds too the reason why the Testament was changed, Ib. 9. Because they continued not in My covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
18. The priests of the Law, the tribunals of the Law have passed away; let us draw nigh to Heb. iv. 14. our new High Priest, to the throne of grace, to the guest of our souls, to the Priest, Ib. vii. 16. Who is not made after the law of the carnal commandment,but elected after the power of an endless life[223]. For He took not this honour to himself, but was chosen by the Father, as the Father Himself saith, Ib. 17.
Ps. cx. 4. Thou art a Priest for ever, after the order of Melchisedech. Other priests offered forthemselves and for their people; this Man, not having sin, that He should offer for Himself, offered Himself for the whole world, and by His own blood entered into the Sanctuary.