the people those things that it behoveth them to knowe. The channcelle to serve only for the priests and clerks; the rest of the temporalle multitude to be in the bodye of the churche, seperate notwithstanding, the men on the righte side, and the women on the left. ---------- {1} _Here beginneth the First Book of_ GULIELMUS DURANDUS _his_ RATIONALE _of the_ DIVINE OFFICES. THE PROEME Importance and Difficulty of the Study of Symbolism--Necessity of its Cultivation by Priests--Consideration of Unlearned Priests--Mystical and Moral Meaning of the Law--Four-fold Sense of Scripture: the Historical, the Allegoric, the Tropologic, the Anagogic--Different Ceremonies used by Different Churches--Name of Rationale, whence derived--Division of the Work. 1. All things, as many as pertain to offices and matters ecclesiastical, be full of divine significations and mysteries, and overflow with a celestial sweetness; if so be that a man be diligent in his study of them, and know how to draw 'honey from the rock, and oil from the hardest stone.' [Footnote 79] But who 'knoweth the ordinances of heaven, or can fix the reasons thereof upon the earth?' [Footnote 80] For he that prieth into their majesty, is overwhelmed by the glory of them. Of a truth 'the well is deep, and I have nothing to draw with': [Footnote 81] unless He giveth it unto me Who 'giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not': [Footnote 82] so that 'while I journey through the mountains' [Footnote 83] I may 'draw water with joy out of the wells of salvation.' [Footnote 84] {2} Wherefore, albeit of the things handed down from our forefathers, capable we are not to explain all, yet if among them there be anything which is done without reason, it should forthwith be put away. 'Wherefore I, William, by the alone tender mercy of God, Bishop of the Holy Church which is in Mende,' [Footnote 85] will knock diligently at the door, if so be that 'the key of David' [Footnote 86] will open unto me: that the King may 'bring me in to His treasury,' [Footnote 87] and show unto me the heavenly pattern which was showed unto Moses in the Mount: so that I may learn those things which pertain to rites ecclesiastical, whereof they teach and what they signify: and that I may be able plainly to reveal and make manifest the reasons of them, by His help, 'Who hath ordained strength out of the mouth of babes and sucklings': [Footnote 88] 'Whose spirit bloweth where it listeth,' [Footnote 89 ] dividing to 'each severally as it will' [Footnote 90] to the praise and glory of the Trinity. [Footnote 79: Deut. xxxii, 13.] [Footnote 80: Job xxxviii, 33] [Footnote 81: S. John iv, 11.] [Footnote 82: S. James i, 5.] [Footnote 83: Psalm ciii. Vulgate.] [Footnote 84: Isaiah xii, 3. ]