This also representeth Christ, 'Whose youth is renewed like the eagle's': [Footnote 272] because, rising from the dead, He ascendeth into heaven. Here, however, it is not portrayed as by the side, but as above, since it denoteth the ascension, and the word pronounced of God. But how, since each of the living creatures hath four faces and four wings, they can be depicted, shall be said hereafter. [Footnote 273] [Footnote 272: Psalm ciii (_Benedic, anima mea_), 5.] [Footnote 273: Durandus, book vii, 44, 'S. Matthew is signified by a man, because his Gospel is principally occupied concerning the humanity of Christ: whence his history beginneth from his human pedigree. S. Mark by a lion, which roareth in the desert: for he chiefly describeth the Resurrection: whence his Gospel is read on Easter day. But the lion is said to rouse his whelps on the third day after their birth. His Gospel beginneth, 'The voice of one crying in the wilderness.' S. Luke by the ox, an animal fit for sacrifice: because he dwelleth on the Passion of Christ. S. John by the eagle, because he soareth to the Divinity of Christ, while the others walk with their Lord on earth. The Evangelists be likewise set forth by the four rivers of Paradise: John by Pison; Matthew by Gihon; Luke by Euphrates; Mark by Tigris:--as is clearly proved by Innocent III, in a certain sermon on the Evangelists.'--We may add, that the finest representation of the evangelistic symbols with which we are acquainted in this country', occurs in the chancel of Oxted church, Surrey.] 10. Sometimes there are painted around, or rather beneath, the Apostles; who were His witnesses by deed and word to the ends of the earth: and they are portrayed with long hair, as Nazarenes, that is, holy persons. For the law of the Nazarenes was this: from the time of their separation from the ordinary life of man, no razor passed upon their heads. They are also sometimes painted under the form of twelve sheep: because they were slain like sheep for the Lord's sake: and sometimes the twelve tribes of Israel are so represented. When, however, more or less sheep than twelve are painted, then another thing is signified, according to that saying of Matthew, 'When the Son of Man shall come in His glory--then shall He sit on the throne of His glory: and before Him shall be gathered all nations, and He shall separate them one from the other, as a {51} shepherd divideth the sheep from the goats.' [Footnote 274] How the Apostles Bartholomew and Andrew are to be painted, shall be said hereafter. [Footnote 275] [Footnote 274: S. Matthew xxv, 1.] [Footnote 275: S. Bartholomew is represented with black and grizzled hair, fair complexion, large eyes, straight nose, long beard, few grey hairs, moderate height, with a high white neck, clothed in purple, with a white pall, having purple gems at each angle. Durand. vii, 25, 2.