10. In the Roman Church, and in certain others, the sub-deacon ascendeth the rood loft one way, [Footnote 634] and the deacon another: because the one proceedeth to an increase of knowledge by teaching, the other by learning: and because the minister by the merit of his works, and the preacher by the merit of his words, proceedeth to an increase of righteousness. Whence the Psalmist: 'Thy righteousness standeth like the mountains of God': [Footnote 635] but they both return to the bishop by the same way, because by final perseverance they attain their reward, {185} as the Lord testifieth, saying: 'He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.' [Footnote 636] And that preaching sufficeth not without good deeds. For 'Jesus began both to do and to teach.' [Footnote 637] Therefore the preacher returneth by the same way by the which the minister had gone up. Moreover, he that is about to read the gospel goeth and ascendeth by one way, and returneth by another, according to that saying, 'They returned into their own country another way': [Footnote 638] because the apostles did first preach to the Jews and then to the Gentiles: as it is written, 'Since ye have cast from you the Word of God,' [Footnote 639] and the rest. [Footnote 634: _Per dextram partem._ We are to imagine, in the whole of this description, the spectators supposed to face the altar. So in the fifteenth chapter of this book, the epistle is said to be read _in dextera parte_.] [Footnote 635: Psalm xxxvi (_dixit injustus_), 6. ] [Footnote 636: S. Matthew x, 22.] [Footnote 637: Acts i, 1] [Footnote 638: S. Matthew ii, 12.] [Footnote 639: Acts xiii, 46.] 11. The sub-deacon precedeth the deacon (because John and his preaching preceded Christ and His preaching), carrying in some churches a cushion; which he may place under the book. By the cushion, on which the book resteth, be set forth the temporal things of life, as it is written: 'If we have sown spiritual things, is it a great matter if we reap your temporal things?' [Footnote 640] For according to the Apostle, 'They which serve the altar, eat of the altar.' [Footnote 641] For 'the labourer is worthy of his hire.' [Footnote 642] And the Lord taught us the law, 'Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when it treadeth out the corn.' [Footnote 643] Again, a cushion is placed under the book to denote that which the Lord saith, 'My yoke is easy, and My burden light.' [Footnote 644] Austin saith, 'To this yoke whosoever is subject, hath all things subject to him.' [Footnote 640: I Corinth, ix, 11.] [Footnote 641: I Corinth, ix, 13. ] [Footnote 642: S. Luke x, 7.] [Footnote 643: Deuteron. xxv, 4.] [Footnote 644: S. Matthew xi, 30.] The cushion therefore denoteth the sweetness and pleasure that ariseth from the commands of God. Whence the Prophet, 'Thou, O God, hast of Thy goodness prepared for the poor.' [Footnote 645] [Footnote 645: Psalm lxviii (_Exurgat Deus_), 10.] {186}