he who is vigorous in work prays that he may not fail; he who is intent upon prayers, lest in praying he offend, meditates on what is to be prayed; and he who at some time has less confidence in his own counsel consults reading. And so it comes to pass that, although it is always our will to ascend, yet necessity sometimes compels us to descend — yet in such a way that our purpose stands in will, not in necessity. That we ascend is purpose; that we descend is for the sake of the purpose. Not this, therefore, but that ought to be the principal thing. Concerning the three kinds of readers. It has been demonstrated clearly enough, I think, to the advanced, and to those who promise something more of themselves, that they do not have the same purpose as beginners.
But just as something is lawfully granted to the former which these latter cannot do without fault, so also something is required of these latter to which those are not yet bound. Now therefore I return to fulfilling my promises, namely to show how sacred Scripture is to be read by those who as yet seek in it knowledge alone. There are some who desire knowledge of sacred Scripture in order either to amass riches, or to obtain honours, or to acquire fame — whose intention is as perverse as it is pitiable. There are again others who delight to hear the words of God and to learn His works, not because they are salutary, but because they are marvellous. They wish to scrutinize secrets and to know things unheard of, to know much and to do nothing.
In vain do they marvel at power who do not love mercy. What else, then, shall I say that these do, than that they change divine proclamations into fables? Thus we are wont to attend to theatrical plays, thus to the songs of the stage, that we may feed the ear, not the mind. Yet I judge that such men ought not so much to be confounded as to be helped, whose will is not indeed malicious, but improvident.
But others read sacred Scripture for this reason: that, according to the apostle's precept, they may be ready to render to everyone who asks a reason for the faith in which they are placed; namely, that they may strongly overthrow the enemies of truth, may teach the less learned, may themselves more perfectly recognize the way of truth, and, understanding the secrets of God more deeply, may love them more closely. Their devotion, assuredly, is to be praised and worthy of imitation. There are, therefore, three kinds of men who read sacred Scripture, of whom the first indeed are to be pitied, the second to be helped, the third to be praised. But we, since we intend to take counsel for all, desire that what is good be increased in all, and what is perverse be changed. We wish all to understand what we say, all to do what we exhort.