14. Furthermore, the white cloths wherewith the altar is covered signify the flesh of the Saviour, that is, His humanity: because it was made white with many toils, as also the flesh of Christ born of earth, that is, of Mary, {40} which attained through many tribulations to the glory of the Resurrection, and the purity and joy of immortality. [Concerning which the Son exulteth, saying to the Father, 'Thou hast girded me with gladness, and exalted Me on every side.' [Footnote 227] When, therefore, the altar is covered, it signifieth the joining of the soul to an immortal and incorruptible body.] [Footnote 228] Again, the altar is covered with white and clean cloths, because the pure heart is adorned with good works. Whence the Apocalypse: 'And put on white garments, that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear.' [Footnote 229] And Solomon: 'Let thy garments be always white,' [Footnote 230] that is, let thy works be clean. [But it little profiteth him that approacheth to the altar to have high dignity, and a life sunk low in sins. Whence Benedict: It is a monstrous thing, exalted faith, and abandoned life. The highest step and the lowest state, is mighty authority joined with instability of soul. [Footnote 231]] The silken coverings placed over the altar are the ornaments of divers virtues wherewith the soul is adorned. The hanging wherewith the altar is beautified setteth forth the saints, as below shall be said. [The beginning and the end of the Mass take place at the right side of the altar: the middle portion at the left: as shall be said when we treat of the changes of the priest. The ancients made their altars concave; as it is written in Ezekiel, that in the altar of God was a trench. And this, according to Gregory, lest the wind should scatter the sacrifices laid upon it. Also he saith in Ezekiel that the inner part of the altar was bent downwards in all its circumference. [Footnote 232] [Footnote 227: Psalm lxxi (_Juste, Domine_), 21. ] [Footnote 228: This passage does not appear in the edition of Durandus published at Venice, in 1609.] [Footnote 229: Apocalypse iii, 18.] [Footnote 230: Ecclesiastes ix, 8.] [Footnote 231: This passage also is not found in the Venetian edition.] [Footnote 232: This passage also is not found in the Venetian edition.] {41}