The Allegory of the Land and the Body

Providence casts out those who are handed over to nations such as these because, while remaining within the divine laws, inwardly understanding and keeping them, they were not cast out; but after experiencing this, they began to seek and practice the causes of being cast out and handed over.

This is what the Apostle interpreted in many ways, writing once: 'Who, pretending to be wise, became fools (Romans 1:22), and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for a likeness of corruptible man and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things (Romans 1:23); therefore God gave them up to the lusts of their own hearts to uncleanness (Romans 1:24).' And again: 'Who exchanged the truth of God in a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator (Romans 1:25); therefore He gave them up to passions of dishonor, the dishonoring of their own bodies among themselves, as men behaving shamefully and unchastely toward one another, men committing shame upon men; likewise also their women exchanged the natural use of womanhood for that which is against nature (Romans 1:26).'

A third delivery they received: 'those having been handed over to a reprobate mind because they did not approve of having the knowledge of God (Romans 1:28),' as it follows that they would be 'filled with all unrighteousness (Romans 1:32)' and its various kinds, which the Apostle who wrote the epistle listed hereafter.

By these same deliveries, those cast out into the nations fell, because of the great wrath having come upon them from the Lord of all. And they were handed over to strange nations which they had never known through experience.

Having been cast out, upon whom the great wrath had become, into all nations they did not know, their land vanished from before them, they being relocated from it, so that no man was able to pass through or return. And since man was no longer upon it, and from every vegetation it vanished, no longer bearing green herb, no longer being of woody vegetation, which followed him...

And no longer are herds of animals upon it. But wickedness increases, because it was turned into a wasteland, though it was once an elect land by virtue of 'flowing milk and honey' (Exodus 3:8).

Regarding the history, allegorically, the good heart and beautiful land vanished, falling from bearing good offspring to bearing thorns, briars, and weeds, so that there is no longer a correct thought passing through it, nor turning back to it, especially since it was turned to destruction, although it was previously elect, having inhabitants, farmers, and shepherds.

These things can also be said regarding tropology: our body becomes an elect land, possessing temperance and purity, so as to allow passing through and turning back to it temperate and orderly ways, in order to bear the offspring and edible fruits of purity which the trees of virtue bring forth.

It sometimes happens from increased wickedness that the elect land, which through purity was inhabited, is turned to destruction and becomes desolate; which thing happened to all who repeat perfect chastity in order to please God, having guarded his own elect land, which is the flesh having been praiseworthily put to death, 'bearing the death of Jesus' (Galatians 2:20).

According to the twofold lifting up, the tropological and the allegorical, the land of election flows milk and honey, from which nourishment and spiritual enjoyment are composed, the honey being produced from the bee which preferred the wisdom of God, according to the proverbial saying protecting the industrious one here: 'Go to the ant and consider how she is a worker; having valued wisdom, she went forward, the labors of which both kings and commoners offer up for health; and she is both desirable and prosperous' (Proverbs 6:6). Along with this sweetness, the holy land flows milk, which the Apostle quenches for the little ones in Christ.

Both these things the holy bride of God's Word carries under her own tongue, as is said in praise of her: 'Milk and honey under the tongue...'