23. Nor, in that the Law
orders a man to be purified even after intercourse with a wife,
doth it show it to be sin: unless it be that which is allowed by
way of pardon, which also, being in excess, hinders prayers. But,
as the Law sets19991999 many
things in sacraments and shadows of things to come; a certain as it
were material formless state of the seed, which having received
form will hereafter produce the body of man, is set to signify a
life formless, and untaught: from which formless state, forasmuch
as it behoves that man be cleansed by form and teaching of
learning; as a sign of this, that purification was ordered after
the emission of seed. For neither in sleep also doth it take place
through sin. And yet there also a purification was commanded. Or,
if any think this also to be sin, thinking that it comes not to
pass save from some lust of this kind, which without doubt is
false; what? are the ordinary menses also of women sins? And yet
from these the same old Law commanded that they should be cleansed
by expiation; for no other cause, save the material formless state
itself, in that which, when conception hath taken place, is added
as it were to build up the body, and for this reason, when it flows
without form, the Law would have signified by it a soul without
form of discipline, flowing and loose in an unseemly manner. And
that this ought to receive form, it signifies, when it commands
such flow of the body to be purified. Lastly, what? to die, is that
also a sin? or, to bury a dead person, is it not also a good work
of humanity? and yet a purification was commanded even on occasion
of this also; because also a dead body, life abandoning it, is not
sin, but signifies the sin of a soul abandoned by righteousness.20002000
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