The Gnats

Post haec cyniphes producuntur. Hoc animal quidem pennis suspenditur per aera volitans; sed ita subtile est, et minutum, ut oculi visum, nisi acute cernentis, effugiat. Corpus autem cui insederit acerbissimo terebrat stimulo, ita ut quem volantem quis videre non valet, sentiat statim stimulantem. Hoc ergo animalis genus subtilitati haereticae comparatur: quae subtilibus verborum animas terebat, tantaque calliditate circumvenit, ut deceptus quisque nec videat, nec intelligat, unde decipiatur. Quod vero in tertio signo magi cessaverunt dicentes: Hic digitus est Dei; magi illi typum haereticorum atque animositatem habuerunt. Declarat hoc Apostolus, dicens: Sicut Jannes, et Mambres restiterunt Moysi, sic et hi resistunt veritati; homines mente corrupti, et reprobi circa fidem, sed ultra non proficient. Dementia eorum manisfesta erit omnibus, sicut et illorum fuit. Hi autem, qui per ipsam corruptionem mentis inquietissimi fuerunt, in signo tertio defecerunt, fatentes sibi adversum esse Spiritum sanctum, qui erat in Moyse. Terto enim loco ponitur Spiritus sanctus, qui est digitus Dei. Unde et illi deficientes in tertio signo, dixerunt: Digitus Dei est hic. Sicut autem conciliatus et placatus Spiritus sanctus praestat requiem mitibus et humilibus corde, ita contrarius adversus immites ac superbos inquietudinem exagitat, quam inquietudinem muscae illae brevissimae significaverunt, sub quibus magi Pharaonis defecerunt, dicentes: Digitus Dei est hic. Sanctus Isidorus Hispalensis,Mysticorum Expositiones Sacramentorum Seu Quaestiones In Vetus Testamentum, In Exodum, Caput XIV Source: Migne PL 83.292d-293b

After that plague come the gnats. 1 This animal flies through the air suspended by wings, but it is so delicate and so small that it escapes the vision of the eye unless it has acute sight. But the body of the one it lands on it pierces with a most bitter sting, so that that which is not seen in its flight is immediately felt by its bite. Thus this type of animal may be compared to the subtility of the heretic who pierces souls with the fineness of his words, and with such cleverness he whirls around that anyone who is deceived does not see, nor does he understand from whence he is deceived. And with this third sign the magicians were wanting in their arts, saying, 'This is the finger of God,' the magicians who were a type of heretics and hostility. And the Apostle declares this, saying: 'As Jannes and Mambres resisted Moses, so even these resist the truth, men with corrupt minds, and reprobate concerning the things of faith, but they will not advance very far. Their madness shall be manifest to all, as was theirs.' 2 These who through the same corruption of mind were disturbed, failed in their arts at the third sign, and confessed themselves opponents of the Holy Spirit who was in Moses. Indeed the third sign reveals the Holy Spirit, who is the finger of God. 3 Whence those failing in the third sign said: 'This is the finger of God.' As the wise and peaceful Spirit gives rest to the meek and humble in heart, so on the contrary He stirs up distress among the merciless and the proud, which distress these most small flying things have signified, under which the magicians of the Pharaoh were found wanting, saying, 'This is the finger of God.' Saint Isidore of Seville, Expositions of Sacred Mysteries or Questions on the Old Testament, On Exodus, Chap 14 1 Exod 8.16-19 2 2 Tim 3.8 3 Lk 11.20