ng, and seem to teach just
as it seems best to them, not according to the tradition of the
fathers, but after their own understanding; for, as we have
heard, certain ingenious men of your parts draw many analogies of
the truth from the books they read. And there special care must
be taken that when the law of God is read, it be not read or
taught according to the individual's own mental ability and
intelligence. For there are many words in divine scripture which
can be drawn into that meaning which each one, of his own will,
may assume for himself; but this should not be so, for you ought
not to seek out a meaning that is external, foreign, and strange,
in order, by any means whatsoever, to establish your view from
the authority of scriptures; but you should derive from the
scriptures themselves the meaning of the truth. And therefore it
is fitting to gain knowledge of the scriptures from him who
guards it according to the truth handed down to him by the
fathers, and that he may be able correctly to impart that which
he rightly learned. For when each one has learned from divine
scriptures a sound and firm rule of truth, it will not be strange
if from the common culture and liberal studies, which perhaps he
touched upon in his youth, he should also bring something to the
support of true doctrine,--in such manner, however, that when he
learns the truth, he rejects the false and the feigned.

Likewise Isidorus in his book of Maxims:

=Why Christians should be forbidden read the productions of the
poets.=

Christians are forbidden to read the productions of the poets
because through the allurements of their fables the mind is too
much stimulated toward the incentives to unlawful desires.

For not only by the offering of incense is sacrifice made to
devils, but also by accepting too readily their sayings.

[Gratian draws the CONCLUSION.]

As therefore is evident from the authorities already quoted
ignorance ought to be odious to priests. Since, if in ignorance
of their own blindness they undertake to lead others, both fall
into the ditch. Wherefore in the Psalm it is said: "Let their
eyes be darkened that they may not see, and bow down their back
always." For when those who go ahead are darkened, they who
follow are easily inclin