File:Devon notes and queries (1907) (14581848028).jpg

Identifier: devonnotesquerie04amer (find matches)
Title: Devon notes and queries
Year: 1907 (1900s)
Authors: Amery, Peter Fabyan Sparke, d. 1907 Amery, John S Rowe, Joshua Brooking, 1837-1908
Subjects:
Publisher: Exeter, England : J. G. Commin
Contributing Library: Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center
Digitizing Sponsor: Internet Archive

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itual things;four, the number of the elements, is the symbol of materialthings; of the body, of the world which resulted from thecombination of the four elements. Seven, therefore, is emi-nently the human number; it expresses the union of the souland body. All that refers to man is ordered by series ofseven. I believe it will be found that when the number sevenwas sub-divided it was invariably into three and four. (Cf.Trivium and Quadrivium of Dante and other writers). It appears that the design on the font of St. Mary Churchconsists of three panels of a spiritual, and four of a materialnature. The idea suggested is a hunting scene. This was avery usual subject on fonts. The chase is referred to as awell understood and commonly accepted symbol by St.Augustine, St. Jerome, and other early writers ; its signifi-cance was explained in the Hortus Deliciarum, a manuscript ofthe twelfth century, which was in the Strasburg Library, butwhich unfortunately was destroyed in the siege of 1870. *
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Font, St. Mary Church. Devon Notes and Queries. 133 However, a translation of the passage referred to is quoted inAndersons Scotland in Early Christian Times, as follows :— We offer to God the spoils of our chase,when by example and precept we convertthe wild beasts, that is to say, the wickedmen. The chase of the Christian is the con-version of sinners. These are representedby hares, by goats, by wild boars, or bystags. The hares signify the incontinent;the goats the proud; the wild boars therich; the stags the worldly wise. Thesefour beasts we smite with four darts by anexample of our continence, humility, volun-tary poverty and perfect charity; we pursuethem with dogs when we arouse their fearsby the preaching of the Word. It goes on to say that by the effect ofpreaching, sinners are driven to take shelterunder the arm of the Holy Church. As arule a female figure is the symbol of theChurch, in whose bosom the hunted animalseeks refuge, but in the present case itseems that the dov

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