The Church's Union with Christ and the Consequences of Disobedience

He is consumed by labors, bringing all things to the man more strongly than a master, awaiting the commands issued from him, while the man himself is exhausted by cares, being constantly occupied with toil and sweat throughout his life. For he is not a partaker of those who grieve the woman, but he himself is gripped by peculiar pains throughout his living, laboring and wearing out both body and soul on various things; for his household matters are not the most foolish, such as the upbringing of children, and the many pains of these, whether pressed by diseases or preempted by death, from all of which a surpassing remedy and sufficient labor are needed, and many things could be said which are most manifest to all.

Let us see also each of the things said. To the one it has been said, 'Cursed are you,' but to Adam not so, but 'Cursed is the ground because of your works' (Gen 3:17), and rightly so; for he, not having been defeated by sin, did not surpass it, but followed the woman according to that which was given to us beforehand, 'The woman whom you gave to me' (Gen 2:24), when we were presented with the apostolic saying: 'Adam was not deceived, but the woman, having been deceived, came into transgression' (1 Tim 2:14). But even to the woman directly, threats are given: 'I will greatly multiply your sorrows' (Gen 3:16). And the saying 'You are dust and to dust you shall return' (Gen 3:19) also brings forth the characteristic of the bodily substance; for the soul does not have its beginning from the earth, so that it might also be dissolved into it, according to those who falsely claim it is corruptible.

Since, as we have seen before, Paradise was taken by us allegorically to be a divine place of enjoyment for the blessed powers, so too the things concerning the man and the woman must be interpreted. We have, therefore, from the blessed Paul, principles leading toward the upward ascent, him saying, 'This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church' (Eph 5:32). The church, therefore, brings forth children in sorrows, for the labor of virtue precedes and works out unremitting repentance toward salvation; and it brings them forth through the bath of regeneration. For labor follows virtue, while pleasure follows ease. The Savior teaches this, saying, 'Narrow is the gate and compressed is the road leading to life' (Matt 7:14), but 'wide' and 'broad is the road...'

The one leading to destruction, and many are those entering into it. And the sighing has praise through virtue being produced: of those groaning. But it also has a turning toward the man Christ, being ruled by him, so that according to his pledges, the offspring of virtue being obtained from her might have its perfection through him.

For 'I betrothed to you one man a pure virgin to Christ,' says Paul (2 Cor 11:2). For blessed is the church, when it is surrounded by Christ, and each woman is blessed who is under a perfect and diligent one and a savior of the duty of ruling. For let no one, taking the strayed lifestyles, attempt to counterfeit; let him test the word, for they were not provided for in the divine word concerning such things, and Paul, teaching this, exhorts, saying, 'just as also the Christ did to the church,' which is self-evident.

And regarding the commandment containing the rule, as it is not necessary to merely say that the one forbidden to eat in these things was sufficient once having been made clear now, this alone we should pass over, while noting this: that because Adam, having heard the voice of the woman, did not previously sin, but followed her, through which the things said stand; for 'Cursed is the earth in your labors' (Gen 3:17), he says, 'Thorns and thistles it shall bring forth to you' (Gen 3:18). For what from the following of the body is not painful, pleasures and cares being attached to it from it?

For these thorns the Savior interpreted, which entangle the seed being cast by Jesus, if the receiver does not receive into this depth; but also the one called Earth, who receives much rain upon her and brings forth good vegetation for those whom she also cultivates, receives blessing from God; but bearing thorns and thistles, she is unproven and near to a curse, the end of which is into burning. If therefore anyone, through study, should cause these to sprout but does not forgive, he will have a pasture, which is some food; for first the growing thing will be grass-like, as also the Savior says, 'whether an ear of grain' (John 12:24). This, therefore, the spiritual, the diligent one will not find without study nor without toil.