14. For peace and tranquillity of the soul is above all glory of any house; for _peace passeth all understanding_. This is that peace above all peace which shall be granted after the third shaking of the heaven, the sea, the earth and the dry land, when He shall destroy all Principalities and Powers. For _heaven and earth shall pass away_, and all the fashion of this world; and every man shall rise up against his brother with the sword, that is, with the word _piercing the marrow of the soul_, that whatever opposes itself, the _chariot from Ephraim_ and _the horse from Jerusalem may be cut off_, as Zechariah says. And thus there will be peace over all, the passions of the body offering no resistance, and the unbelieving mind no obstacle, that _Christ may be all in all_, offering in subjection to the Father the hearts of all men. Sidenote: Hagg. ii. 23. Sidenote: Cant. vi. 13. Sidenote: 1 Cor. xv. 48. Sidenote: Ib. 49. 15. Wherefore to Him alone is it mystically said, _I will take thee, O Zerubbabel, and will make thee as a signet, for I have chosen thee_. When our mind shall have become peaceful so that it may be said to her, _Return, return, o Shulamite_, which signifies ‘peaceful,’ or, to use your own name, Irenice, then shall she receive Christ like a signet on herself, that is, the Image of God, that she may be according to that Image, for _as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly_. And it behoves us _to bear the image of the heavenly_, that is, peace. Sidenote: Cant. viii. 6. 16. And that we may know the truth of this, it is said in the Canticles to the soul now fully perfect, that which may the Lord Jesus say to you also, _Set me as a seal upon thine arm_; that peace may shine in your heart and Christ in your works, and that wisdom and righteousness and redemption may be formed in you. Farewell, my son: love me for I love you. LETTER XXXI. IRENÆUS had asked S. Ambrose whether God had greater love for those who had believed from their early years than for those who had been converted later in life. In answering this question, S. Ambrose enters into the history of the Jewish and Christian Churches, which he considers as set forth under the figures of David’s two wives. AMBROSE TO IRENÆUS, GREETING. Sidenote: Joel i. 8. Sidenote: Hosea ii. 19.