Prophetic outpouring and the metaphor of children

They do not merely say, 'God is with us,' but also, treating the chosen one priestally and sincerely, they carry the staffs of the approaching double excellence, sitting in the squares of the nearby city, each holding his own rod, which serves as a staff and a corrective word.

For regarding those who rebuke children, it is written by Paul: 'What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod or with love?' (1 Cor 4:21). According to this, the divine writing of Proverbs also argues, where: 'He who offers wisdom from lips, strikes a man without heart with a rod' (Prov 26:3); and where: 'He who spares the rod hates his own son, but he who loves disciplines him carefully' (Prov 13:24).

They participate in the honor and dignity of the elders through faith and practical virtue, having acquired seniority. Regarding such a way of life, Paul, the one speaking in Christ, says to Timothy, marking him: 'Honor widows who are truly widows' (1 Tim 5:5), meaning those who are deprived of all human things, having deeds bringing praise, having raised children as is necessary, generously hosting guests, having surpassed in service to God's servants, having nourished the poor, and adorning themselves with works of virtue toward all those nearby.

The apostolic teaching has, regarding these, the same syllables from which it begins: 'Let a widow be counted, not having become less than sixty years of age, a wife of one man, being testified by good works, if she has cared for children, if she has welcomed strangers, if she has washed the feet of saints, if she has helped those being afflicted, if she has followed in every good work' (1 Tim 5:5).

For the confirmation of the mentioned virtues requires the accompaniment of perfect age to the possessors of virtues, having reached a perfect number of years, not diminished to sixty years of age. Such was Anna the prophetess according to history (Luke 2:36-38), having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity, remaining a widow for a long time until eighty-four years of age. This number is also appropriate for the purity in widowhood, about which it has been said in others.

One is to see this same disposition also in the Old Testament. Such was the most courageous Judith, having famously possessed the title; for Judith is interpreted as 'praise.' And it is not unlikely to find many others adorned with seniority and honor, and especially those concerning...

Of these, it is said in the prophet from the face of God: 'I will pour out from my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy' (Joel 2:28), and the following until: 'And also upon my servants and my handmaidens I will pour out from my Spirit and they shall prophesy.'

Having understood for yourself, examine whether it is said concerning the elders alone to hold staves in their hands, or also concerning the elderly women. It is possible that it is written concerning both groups, but it seems more likely concerning men alone.

In the clarified streets in which those having been made wise by prudence and having grown old by an unblemished life stand, and little boys and girls are playing a praiseworthy play, through which the man David, according to the heart of God, performing all the wills of the one who chose him, spoke more boldly: 'Before the Lord I will dance and play' (Psalm 36:4).

It is possible to take little boys, wandering in the streets of the immortal city of God, who have endowed themselves with prudence through soft nails, so as to have incorruption with the most sharp dignity and an unsearchable healthy word.

Such were the children of the apostles, 'having been born again not of corrupt seed, but of incorruptible, through the living and abiding word of God' (1 Peter 1:23), 'as newborn infants having longed for the spiritual milk without guile' (1 Peter 2:2).

And it will also be useful in season what is said in Proverbs: 'That I may give cunning to the guileless, and perception and understanding to the young child' (Proverbs 1:5). And still in the same book the God-inspired one said: 'Hear, children, the instruction of a father, and pay attention to know understanding' (Proverbs 1:8).

Not altogether are these things said concerning males according to the body; for there are also souls that are male in prudence while they have a female body.

Consequently, regarding the attributed little boys, girls should also be included playing. And see if concerning these in the forty-fourth Psalm the song sung about the bride and the bridegroom praises them thus: 'Virgins shall be brought to the king behind her' (Psalm 45:14), making manifest the bride and the queen, the one standing at the right hand of the one dwelling with him, 'those near her shall be brought to you; they shall be brought in gladness and shall rejoice' (Psalm 45:15). Virgins being brought behind the bride who was led away to one man, the Christ.