§1Proprium iam negotium passus meae opinionis Latine quoque ostendam virgines nostras velari oportere ex quo transitum aetatis suae fecerint: hoc exigere veritatem, cui nemo praescribere potest, non spatium temporum, non patrocinia personarum, non privilegium regionum.
Having already undergone a personal business regarding my opinion, I shall also demonstrate in Latin that our virgins ought to be veiled from the time they have made the transition of their age: that this is demanded by truth, against which no space of times, no patronage of persons, no privilege of regions can prescribe.
Ex his enim fere consuetudo initium ab aliqua ignorantia vel simplicitate sortita in usum per successionem corroboratur et ita adversus veritatem vindicatur.
For from these elements, custom, having obtained its beginning from some ignorance or simplicity, is usually strengthened into use through succession, and is thus defended against truth.
Sed dominus noster Christus veritatem se, non consuetudinem, cognominavit. Si semper Christus, et prior omnibus, aeque veritas sempiterna et antiqua res.
But our Lord Christ called Himself 'truth,' not 'custom.' If Christ is always, and prior to all, truth is equally an everlasting and ancient thing.
Viderint ergo quibus novum est quod sibi vetus est.
Let them, therefore, look to it for whom that is new which is old to themselves.
Haereses non tam novitas quam veritas revincit.
It is not so much novelty as truth that refutes heresies.
Quodcumque adversus veritatem sapit, hoc erit haeresis, etiam vetus consuetudo.
Whatever tastes against truth, this will be heresy, even an old custom.
Ceterum suo vitio quis quid ignorat.
Moreover, it is by one's own fault that one is ignorant of anything.
Quod autem ignoratur fuit tam requirendum quam recipiendum quod agnoscitur.
But that which is ignored ought to have been as much sought after as that which is acknowledged is received.
Regula quidem fidei una omnino est, sola immobilis et irreformabilis, credendi scilicet in unicum deum omnipotentem, mundi conditorem, et filium eius Iesum Christum, natum ex virgine Maria, crucifixum sub Pontio Pilato, tertia die resuscitatum a mortuis, receptum in caelis, sedentem nunc ad dexteram patris, venturum iudicare vivos et mortuos per carnis etiam resurrectionem.
The rule of faith is indeed entirely one, alone immovable and irreformable, namely, believing in one sole God Almighty, the creator of the world, and His Son Jesus Christ, born of the Virgin Mary, crucified under Pontius Pilate, raised from the dead on the third day, received into the heavens, sitting now at the right hand of the Father, about to come to judge the living and the dead through the resurrection also of the flesh.
Hac lege fidei manente cetera iam disciplinae et conversationis admittunt novitatem correctionis, operante scilicet et proficiente usque in finem gratia dei.
While this law of faith remains, other matters of discipline and conversation now admit the novelty of correction, through the grace of God operating and progressing indeed even unto the end.
Quale est enim, ut diabolo semper operante et adiciente cottidie ad iniquitatis ingenia opus dei aut cessaverit aut proficere destiterit? cum propterea paracletum miserit dominus, ut, quoniam humana mediocritas omnia semel capere non poterat, paulatim dirigeretur et ordinaretur et ad perfectum perduceretur disciplina ab illo vicario domini, spiritu sancto.
For what kind of thing is it that, while the devil is always operating and daily adding to the inventions of iniquity, the work of God should have either ceased or stopped progressing? Especially since the Lord sent the Paraclete for this purpose, so that, because human mediocrity could not receive all things at once, discipline might be gradually directed, ordered, and brought to perfection by that vicar of the Lord, the Holy Spirit.
Adhuc, inquit, multa habeo loqui vobis, sed nondum potestis ea baiulare: cum venerit ille spiritus veritatis, deducet vos in omnem veritatem et supervenientia renuntiabit vobis. Sed et supra de hoc eius opere pronuntiavit.
'I still have,' He says, 'many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them yet; when that Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth and will declare to you the things that are to come.' But He also pronounced above concerning this work of His.
Quae est ergo paracleti administratio, nisi haec, quod disciplina dirigitur, quod scripturae revelantur, quod intellectus reformatur, quod ad meliora proficitur? Nihil sine acta(??)e est, omnia tempus expectant.
What, then, is the administration of the Paraclete except this: that discipline is directed, scriptures are revealed, intellect is reformed, and progress is made toward better things? Nothing is without development, all things await their time.
Denique Ecclesiastes, Tempas, inquit, omni rei. Aspice ipsam creaturam paulatim ad fru(??) promoveri.
Indeed, Ecclesiastes says, 'A time for every thing.' Behold the creation itself being gradually promoted to fruit.
Granum est primo, et de grano frutex oritur, et de frutice arbuscula enititur. deinde rami et frondes invalescunt et tetum arboris nomen expanditur, inde germinis tumor et flos de germine solvitur, et de flore fructus aperitur: is quoque rudis aliquamdiu et informis paulatim aetatem suam dirigens eruditur in mansuetudinem saporis.
It is first a grain, and from the grain a shrub arises, and from the shrub a young tree springs forth; then the branches and foliage grow strong, and the complete name of 'tree' is expanded; then comes the swelling of the bud, and the flower is released from the bud, and from the flower the fruit is opened: this also, raw and shapeless for some time, gradually directing its age, is educated into the mildness of flavor.
Sic et iustitia (nam idem deus i(??)slitiae et creaturae) primo fuit in rudimentis, natura deum metuens: dehinc per legem et prophetas promovit in infantiam, dehinc per evangelium efferbuit in iuventutem, nunc per paracletum componitur in maturitatem.
Thus also righteousness (for the God of righteousness and of creation is the same) was at first in rudimentary stages, nature fearing God; thence through the law and the prophets it promoted into infancy; thence through the gospel it effervesced into youth; now through the Paraclete it is settled into maturity.
Hic erit solus a Christo magister et dicendos et verendus.
He alone will be the teacher from Christ both to be named and to be revered.
Non enim ab se loquitur, sed quae mandantur a Christo.
For He does not speak from Himself, but what is commanded by Christ.
Hic solus antecessor, quia solus post Christum.
He alone is the predecessor, because He is the only one after Christ.
Hunc qui receperunt, veritatem consuetudini anteponunt.
Those who have received Him prefer truth to custom.
Hunc qui audierunt usque, non olim, prophetantem, virgines contegunt.
Those who have listened to Him prophesying continuously, and not just in the past, cover their virgins.