Moses And Scripture

Quod vero, descendente denuo Moyse cum tabulis, facies ejus glorificata videtur, sed tamen velamin tegitur, hoc significabat ut ostenderet eam legem mystico esse velamine coopertam, tectamque infidelibus et occultam. Sermo quippe legis habet scientiae gloriam, sed secretam: habet et cornua duorum Testamentorum, quibus contra dogmata falsitatis incedit armata. Cum enim Moyses legitur, velamen et postium super cor eorum. Et manifeste dum legis et prophetarum scripturam per nimiam stoliditatem cordis carnaliter accipiunt infideles, illis tota facies Moysi quodam velamine tegitur, ita ut non possint loquentis legis gloriam sustinere. Sed si conversi fuerint ad Deum, aufertur velamen, occidens littera morietur, vivificans spiritus suscitabitur. Dominus enim spiritus est, et lex spiritualis est. Unde David orabat in Psalmo: Revela oculos meos et considerabo mirabilia de lege tua. Sanctus Isidorus Hispalensis,Mysticorum Expositiones Sacramentorum Seu Quaestiones In Vetus Testamentum, In Exodum, Caput XLIII Source: Migne PL 83.309b-310a

When Moses came down again with the tablets, his face was glorified but hidden by a veil, 1 which signifies that this law is covered with a mystical veil, and it is obscured and hidden to the unfaithful. Certainly the words of the law have the glory of knowledge, but it is secret, and it has the horns of the two Testaments by which it advances against false teachings. But when Moses is read, a veil is placed upon their hearts. 2 And manifestly, when the faithless understand the Scripture of the Law and the Prophets carnally on an account of an excessive dullness of heart, so the whole face of Moses is covered with a veil to them, for they are unable to endure the glory of the spoken law. But if they were converted to God, the veil would be removed, the killing letter would perish, and the living spirit would raise them up. 3 The Lord is a spirit, 4 and the law is spiritual. Whence David prays in the Psalm: 'Open my eyes and I shall consider the wonders of your law.' 5 Saint Isidore of Seville, Expositions of Sacred Mysteries or Questions on the Old Testament, On Exodus, Chap 43 1 Exodus 34.29-35 2 2 Cor 3.15 3 2 Cor 3.6 4 Jn 4.24 5 Ps 118.18