The Explication of the Word ἄλς or Sal, by Bernhardus Gomesius

But before we undertake to expound such excellent places, it behoveth us to invoke the divine Being; that, that which cannot be fore-known by any Augury and Divination, we not erring, but being led by the Divine inspiration and instinct, may at length expound; seeing that in the treating of things so Divine and unspeakable (that being wanting) if we should erre, in might be unpardonable, but if we shall piously and happily prosecute the matter, universal thanks and praise may be given to God alone, and to Christ the great giver of Salt. First, therefore we are to shew what the Celestial Salt is, and by what means it may be distinguished from the Terrestrial Salt, of which Christ speaketh in the Gospel. And because the Evangelical Words of Christ will be of great force to us in the speaking of it: And seeing that Christ when he would grace the Apostles with a high Title, called them the Salt of the earth: we think it not improper to call him the pure and undefiled salt of Heaven. For there is scarce any thing of so many preparations of an inferiour nature which excels the (as it were) Divine strength and efficacy of Salt in this part: For Christ and his blessed Humanity is the only Salt that is placed upon the Table of the Blessed. In whom Salt is the fullness of his infinite, inexhausted, and neverending divinity; which abundantly filleth both Heaven and Earth and all things therein; and then again making himself palatable to us, he exhibits himself to be tasted most sweetly by all Men. For from that all things that are, and ever were and that shall be hereafter, have both received their being, and are made perfect, and without it could not be, for his Divine seasoning, or become palatable to the seasoner.

So this salt endeavours to express his, in whose name are both in Greek and Latin three Letters in one syllable; or rather to adumbrate this one and the same Divinity common to the three Persons. For tho’ the Divine mystery and sacred things are shut up in Letters chiefly with the Chaldees and Hebrews, because GOD spake by them: Yet they don’t always want the Elements of the tongues, especially the Greek, which was both derived from them, and words construed from these things are not imposed from their power but from their propriety, as Plato the greatest of the Greeks supposes; For that the divine infinity and Immensity is exprest and explicated in Greek letters, is shewn in the Apocalyps, Cap. 1. where John saw and heard our Lord Christ preaching of himself, I am α and ω, the Beginning and the End.

For as the sun, when it lightly touches with its perspicuous light, by that its image and splendour it is forthwith given: So the Heavenly and Infinite Divinity, with all Goodness, as it were His Brightness, does not only leave His imprest Image in the things themselves, but also in Letters, with which those things are enlightened and made perspicuous. The like we have found in Salt, design’d in Greek notes; for that which in Latin is called Sal, in Greek is called ἄλς, express’d by the same Letters, though chang’d in order, and extended in three Letters, but one Syllable; but the Greek word expresseth both more plainly.

For the first Letter of it is α, which by its infinite roundness, as with two Horns, seems to be brought into the following Letters; which note plac’d with the Holy and Divine Trinity, signifies the first Person of it, to wit the Immense Father: Who as άλΦα, is an infinite beginning in himself; so the same pours out and infinitely communicates his Nature to other two Divine Persons proceeding from himself: in one of which by Generation the Son; but in the other by inspiration he produces the Holy Ghost. And further, the α shews it self, its certain divine Operation follows that Eternal, Infinite and never ending Power of the same Mighty Father, which also he sometime pour’d out from his Almighty Infinity, to procreate the Universe. As also in two horns, I mean Benedictions one is found to be in Creatures by the Creation of things; and the other in their Preservation; both by the Wisdom of the Omnipotent Son, and by the Goodness of the Holy Spirit.

But the middle Letter λ, is a Note full of sweetness: which is expressed with a Face, round, and composed for Mirth; and its Figure is not unlike a Circle. For from the superior Angle two sides stretching backwards, seem to make a Triangle, yet without a base and without end, as the Letter it self expresses. Which note again relates to the same Trinity, and represents the second Person of it, to wit the Son, or Word proceeding out of the most sweet Mouth of the Father: In which, two eternal Relations, as they call ’em, as to Infinite sides, are found: the one whereby he relates to the Father, from whom he proceeds by his eternal Generation; the other whereby he is Related to the Holy Ghost, whom he breaths together with the Father by an eternal and infinite habitude, and without any intermission.

But this note λ, I mean Christ the Son of GOD, and Mediator between GOD and Man, is never when time presents, wanting in his most beneficent Actions: that he who had taken the Human nature to the Divine, and was made the Corner stone, might (as he has done) connect the two Walls, to wit the Israelites and Gentiles as two sides, when he built in himself a strong and safe Sanctuary for them both, that flying to Him, they might escape the fearful sentence of everlasting damnation.

Lastly, the Letter ς, concludes this Monosyllable. This note is design’d with a certain sinuous and Circumflext line drawn from hence and thence, which going from the two extreams in the middle, designs as it were two distinct semi-circles; out of which is shewn that they are made and constituted. Which lineament compar’d with the Trinity it self, adumbrates the third Divine Person, to wit the Holy Ghost. For that spirit proceeding out of the Bosom of both the Father and of the Son, by one and the same Inspiration, so knits those two distinct Persons, to whom he is co-equal and co-eternal, by an Infinite tie of Love, that he remaining a distinct Person, might agree with them in their most simple, individual, and immense nature.

But as to the other Persons, so also his Communication is attributed to the Holy Ghost in time; which is wonderfully expressed by the shape of this Letter ς: Yet if we consider its lower extream, which seems as it were to arise of the former Letters of the Monosyllable, that is how it comes to be stretch’d chiefly towards the right hand: then from right to left, is wrested a little by ascending by a sinuous derivation: and thence at last, with the like following obliquity it ends again on the right hand. For the same Holy spirit proceeding from those two eternal and infinite Persons, as from an immense Fountain of Infinity, whilest from time to time he communicates his Gifts to the World, first those on his right hand, that is into the hearts of Men, he pours out to them that are illustrated and endued with the Divine Light of Nature: Then the same Light remaining, as it were bending from the right, ascending a little to the left, he brought forth the Mosaick Law written with the Finger of God, that is Dictated by him to the Israelites. Lastly, leaving the Mosaical Law on the left, he return’d to the right hand, and season’d the Evangelical Law deliver’d by Christ our Saviour, with his most Wise and Loving salt of Grace.

From all which, that which pertains to the business, appears from those three Letters of Sal, making one Syllable; and again, this unfolding it self in those three Letters, shews us, that there is in Sal a certain impress or image of the sacred and Individual Trinity, which we worship, Three in One, and One in Three. Which Trinity we should have had, as an infinite, eternal, and inexpressible thing, commonly unknown, and incomprehensible, and as a most remote Salt, never heretofore put into an humane or Angelick Saltseller, we should have left untouch’d; unless at length the Divine Person of this Trinity, the Word, in taking the Humanity to himself, as it were Salt into a Saltseller, had presented to our taste so much Divinity; for this very Saltseller, both in figure, is covered with the eternal splendour of the Father, as also pointed and illustrated with the embroidered Notes of His Passion and likewise adorned with the Unction of the Holy Spirit is alwaies placed upon the Heavenly Table of the Blessed, to season their Food and solemn Banquets, after an eternal and ineffable manner; for in him all divine, and most sweet relishes and excellent tastes of His eternal Wisdom are season’d anew; for Christ Himself is not only the Heavenly and most Wise seasoner of the most opulent Feast, but also the very seasoning, and thing seasoned, and the Food which is so placed; for by Him his Heavenly Father, the King of kings, and magnificent Lord of lords, who out of His Goodness, and as He loves His good things, gives most liberally to all People a very large measure of Salt, that is, the help of His Grace to seek Him, and ask of Him Heavenly things.

True, that they who are called to the Heavenly Banquet may prepare themselves to come in this measure, and most happily sit down in it; but if (like fools) they refuse to come, the Measure being taken from them, they will be plung’d into eternal punishment. In which respect they may be likened to Flesh and Bones put into a Pot together, and water and salt put to them, hung over the fire to boil, and afterwards brought to the Table: Of which the Bones, which will be neither seasoned by salt, nor softened by water, are thrown under the Table, to be broken by Doggs; but the Flesh, because it is made tender by heat and water, and takes the seasoning, is again sprinkled with a purer salt on the Table, and eaten with the greatest pleasure: For as Bones are to Flesh, so are Evil men mingled with Good: Of which these, when they will neither relish the Salt of Divine Grace, nor be washed nor softened by pure Water, nor warmed by the heat of the Heavenly Word to be willing to divine things, will by the severe Judgment of the great Taster Christ, at his magnificent Table, be reserved to the most exquisite punishments: Which obstinate and unseason’d Fools, He, for their hardness, finding unworthy his heavenly Table, plucks out from among the Righteous, and throws ’em down into Hell, there to be torn in pieces and devoured by those infernal Dogs, to all Eternity.

But the Good, who have been seasoned not only with the former, but also the later Salt, I mean with antecedent (as we say) and consequent Grace, and are not only adorned with Virtue, but have suffer’d all crosses and afflictions of this Life for Christ: These, as Flesh worthy His Table, the divine Taster offering to God the Father, He seasons with the new Salt of Glory; and though Aliens and Strangers, places them among the Angels and Citizens of Heaven, and with these Commands an equal Mansion of Blessedness to be given to them, though nevertheless they both come to the same felicity, by a different way of meriting it. For from what those above Angelical Citizens, from the very beginning of things, and since first a full desire seiz’d them, they have preferred the Heavenly Suppers of Christ to the mid-day Dinners of the most insolent Lucifer; they have deserved to follow those Oppipary, and (as they call ’em) Princely Banquets seasoned with the most sweet Salt of Grace, and made resplendent with the shining light of glory.

But the Inhabitants of the Earth, and Men, strangers of Heaven, opprest by the great weight of a Body, and involved in the thick darkness, have made so long a Journey to the Country, by a far more tedious way of travelling; for the Universal occasion of desert is not to be snatch’d by those in the Journey of Life it self, and those under the terminative moment following the Creation; but they ought rather studiously and laboriously to take this by a continual and daily period of life, even to their death: Besides that, the Journey to the Country is so hard and wearisome, and exposed to so many dangers, brings so many anxieties upon strangers every where, leads them into so much anguish of mind and troublesome solicitudes, that it is plain, that not humane ability, but divine grace must cause, that strangers are not deficient in the way, or that they do not wander from the true scope or end of their Journey: Which would be the fortune of every one in the World, unless Christ, by divine Counsel constituted the Parochian of the whole World, who giveth to his strangers every where Salt and Wood, doth recreate and refresh them, and also lead them into the way that directs to the same Heavenly Country.

This may suffice to be spoken of the signature of Salts, Metals, and Planets, at this time. He that diligently weighs it, will search Nature deeply enough: If God grant me life, I shall publish a Tract of the Signatures of Vegetables, Animals, and Minerals; also in which I shall deliver many things good and profitable for all sorts of Men.

O Eternal, Almighty, Bountiful, and Merciful GOD and Father, the Heat, Light, and Sun of Justice, enlighten and warm the hearts of all men, overwhelmed with a sleepy numbness, shadowed with thick darkness, and made rigid by an horrid coldness, that they may see, know, love, and fear thee, and give thee due Thanks and Praises for all thy Benefits, and at last awakened, they may receive that sight they had before lost.

O Eternal Word of God, most sweet, wholsom, and palatable Salt, Jesus Christ, recreate and refresh our sick and miserable souls, by thy Divine Virtue and Efficacy, that we being corroborated, neither Death nor the Devil may hurt us.

O Holy Ghost, the only Leader to Truth, who proceedest from the Eternal Fire and Heavenly Salt, comfort all the sudden and desarted Sheep, wandering this poison’d Marsh and Valley of Miseries, among devouring Wolves, and corroborate them, that they may patiently endure their Cross; and hereafter separate them from the stinking Goats, and bring all the Elect into the green and heavenly Pastures, that there they may continually behold the eternal Light, taste the heavenly Salt, and enjoy the fulness of Joy, Peace, Grace, and Mercy for ever. Amen.