Heaven and Scripture

De quo adhuc libro subditur: Qui erat scriptus intus et foris. Liber enim sacri eloquii intus scriptus est per allegoriam, foris per historiam. Intus per spiritalem intellectum, foris autem per sensum litterae simplicem, adhuc infirmantibus congruentem. Intus, quia invisibilia promittit; foris, quia visibilia praeceptorum suorum rectitudine disponit. Intus, quia coelestia pollicetur, foris autem quia terrena contemptibilia qualiter sint, vel in usu habenda, vel ex desiderio fugienda, praecipit. Alia namque de secretis coelestibus loquitur, alia vero in exterioribus actionibus jubet. Et ea quidem quae foris praecipit patent, sed illa quae de internis narrat plene apprehendi nequeunt. Unde scriptum est: Extendens coelum sicut pellem, qui tegis in aquis superiora ejus. Quid enim coeli nomine nisi sacra Scriptura signatur? De qua nobis et sol sapientiae, et luna scientiae, et ex antiquis Patribus stellae exemplorum atque virtutum lucent. Quod sicut pellis extenditur, quia, per scriptores suos carnis lingua formatum, ante oculos nostros per verba doctorum exponendo displicatur. Quid vero aquarum nomine, nisi sanctissimi angelorum signantur chori? De quibus scriptum est: Et aquae quae super coelos sunt laudent nomen Domini. Hujus coeli superiora Dominus in aquis tegit, quia alta sacri eloquii, id est ea quae de natura divinitatis vel de aeternis gaudiis narrat, nobis adhuc nescientibus, solis angelis in secreto sunt cognita. Coelum ergo hoc et coram nobis extenditur, et tamen in aquis superiora ejus conteguntur, quia et quaedam sacri eloquii jam nobis per apertionem spiritus patent, et quaedam quae solis angelis possunt esse manifesta nobis adhuc servantur occulta. De quibus tamen occultis jam partem per spiritalem intelligentiam sentimus, jam sancti Spiritus pignus accepimus, quia haec et plene necdum cognovimus, et tamen medullitus amamus, et in multis spiritalibus sensibus, quos jam cognovimus, veritatis pabulo pascimur. Sanctus Gregorius Magnus, In Ezechielem Prophetam, Liber Primus, Homilia IX

Concerning this book it is written: Which was written within and without. 1 For the book of sacred words is written within in allegory, and without literally. Within is the spiritual understanding, outside the simple meaning of the letter, which to those yet weak is appropriate. Within because it promises things unseen, without because the visible things of its precepts it arranges with rectitude. Within because heavenly things are promised, without because contemptible earthly things it directs either the use of them when they are possessed, or that we fly from the desire of them. One concerning celestial secrets speaks, the other gives guidance to exterior acts. And these things which are without may be grasped openly, but those things which are told within are not able to fully understood.  Whence it is written, 'Extending the heavens like a pelt, you who cover the heights with water.' 2 And what is the name of heaven here unless that it designates Sacred Scripture? That which to us is a sun of wisdom and a moon of knowledge, and from the fathers of old the stars of example and virtue shine. And like a pelt is it extended because it was formed through writers with the tongue of the flesh, being unfurled before our eyes by the explanatory words of teachers. Why is there the name of waters, unless it signifies a most holy choir of angels? Concerning which it is written: 'And the waters which are above the heavens, let them praise the name of the Lord.' 3 The Lord with these waters covers the heights of heaven, because the high things of sacred speech, that is, those things which concern Divine nature or eternity, with joy they tell to us yet to know, to angels only in secret known. Heaven therefore, is extended before us, and yet with waters the heights are covered because a certain part of sacred speech is already open to us, and a certain portion, which only to angels can be made manifest, is kept hidden from us. Concerning this, however, that which is hidden, we already know in part through spiritual understanding, already receiving the pledge of the Holy Spirit, that these things we do not yet know fully, and yet we love the marrow, and in much spiritual meaning which already we know, we feed on the true bread. Saint Gregory the Great, On the Prophet Ezekiel, Book 1, Homily 9 1 Ez 2.9 2 Ps 103.2 3 Ps 148.4 4 Lk. 12. 49