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"When they believed not, last of all He sent His Son, He sent our Lord Jesus Christ, whom when the wicked husbandmen had slain, they cast Him out of the vineyard. Wherefore did the Lord deliver it, now no longer fenced round, but opened to the whole world, to other husbandmen, who give in the fruits in their seasons; the tower of election being exalted everywhere, and beautiful to look on. For everywhere is the Church distinctly visible, and everywhere is the winepress dug; for everywhere are those who receive the spirit."

Adv. Hæres. 1. iv. c. 36, n. 2, p. 278.
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"All these (heretics) are very much later than the bishops, to whom the Apostles delivered the churches, and this we have proved, with the greatest care, in the third book. Wherefore, the aforesaid heretics, because they are blind to the truth, are under the necessity of wandering irregularly, first in one, and then in another path, and on this account the traces of their doctrines are scattered without any uniformity or connection. But the pathway of those who are in the Church, circles the whole universe, for it has a firm tradition from the Apostles, and gives us to see that the faith of all is one and the same. . . . And, indeed, the public teaching of the Church, in which one and the same way of salvation is shown throughout the whole world, is true and firm. For to this was entrusted the light of God, and on this account is the wisdom of God, through which He saves all men, proclaimed in the gates (outlets); In the streets she behaves confidently; on the tops of the walls she is announced; and in the gates of the city she speaketh unceasingly. For everywhere the Church preaches the truth, and this is the lamp with seven branches, bearing the light of Christ.

2. "They, therefore, who abandon the teaching of the Church, condemn the holy presbyters of ignorance; not considering how much preferable is a religious but untutored man, to a blasphemous and impudent sophist. But such are all heretics, and they who think that they find something more beyond the truth . . . not having at all times the same opinions regarding the same matters; like blind men they are led by the blind, justly will they fall into the pit of error which lies hidden beneath; always seeking and never finding the truth. We ought, therefore, to fly from the opinions of these men, and to watch, with redoubled attention, that we be not, in some way, perplexed by them; but (we ought) to fly unto the Church, and in her bosom to be brought up, and to be fed with the Scriptures of the Lord. For the Church has been planted as a Paradise in this world. Of every tree of Paradise ye shall eat the fruits, says the Spirit of God; that is, eat of every dominical Scripture; but upon an arrogant interpretation (sense) feed not, neither touch ye, any part of the whole heretical dissension."

Adv. Hæres. l. v. c. 20, n. 1, 2, p. 317.
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"He says, by Ezechiel, addressing himself to the priests, and laying before them a saving description of a just care: "I will bind up that which was lame; and I will heal that which was sick and I will bring back that which had wandered; and I will feed them, upon my holy mountain." (Ezechiel 34) These are the promises of a good shepherd. Feed us, Thy children, as sheep. Yea, Lord, fill us with Thy pasture of righteousness; yea, Pedagogue, feed us on Thy holy mountain, in the Church, which is on high, above the clouds, touching the heavens."

Paedag. l. i. c. 9, p. 148.
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"But if we read with Aquila, "In my mountain", the mountain of Christ is to be understood as His Church, which is lofty and raised on high. To this mountain has been given by the Father, according to His good pleasure, an unshaken empire; for the Church rules as a queen over those who are left on earth, and shares the empire with Christ."

T. ii. Select, in Ps. xxix. p. 642.
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"We are not to give heed to those who say, "Behold, here is Christ", but show Him not in the Church, which is filled with brightness from the East even unto the West; which is filled with true light; is the pillar and ground of truth; in which, as a whole, is the whole advent of the Son of Man, who saith to all men throughout the universe, "Behold, I am with you all the days of life even unto the consummation of the world"

T. iii. Comm. in Matt. (Tr. 30) n. 46, p. 865.
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"By the woman clothed with the Sun, he very plainly signified the Church clothed with the Paternal word, more brilliant than the sun; and by the moon under her feet, he pointed out the Church adorned with heavenly brightness like as the moon; whilst the words, and on her head a crown of twelve stars, designate the twelve Apostles, by whom the Church was founded. And being with child, she cried, travailing in birth, and was in pain to be delivered, because the Church will not cease giving birth out of her heart to the Word that is persecuted in the world by unbelievers. And she brought forth a male child, who was to rule all nations because the Church, as she always brings forth Christ, — the perfect Son of God, and proclaimed to God and Man, — teaches all nations."

Demon, de Christo et Antich.. Galland. t. ii. n. 61, p. 439.
(Fab. t. 1, n. 61, p. 50.)
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Thus the Church, flooded with the light of the Lord, puts forth her rays through the whole world; yet the light is one, which is spread over every place, while its unity of body is preserved. In the luxuriance of her plenty, she stretches her branches over the universal earth, and spreads out far and wide her bountiful and onward streams. Yet is there one head and one source, and one mother abundant in the results of her fruitfulness. It is of her that we are born; with her milk are we nourished; her breath is our life. The spouse of Christ cannot become adulterate, she is undefiled and chaste. She owns but one home; with spotless purity she guards the sanctity of one chamber. She keeps us for God; she appoints unto a kingdom the sons that she has borne.

De Unitate. p. 142, et seqq.
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Explaining Zacharias 14:4, he says:

"Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain that is called Olivet, which is over against Jerusalem." (Acts 1:12) The mount of Olives spoken of is, indeed, according to the words read, over against Jerusalem, and to the east of it (Zechariah 14:4); but, besides this, according to the sense, it is the holy Church of Christ and the mountain upon which it has been based, of which the Saviour teaches, saying, "A city seated on a mountain cannot be hid." (Matthew 5) — being instead of that Jerusalem which has fallen and never risen — raised up, and found worthy of the feet of Christ: and this is not only over against Jerusalem, but is also to the east of it, having received the rays of that light by which we worship God, and being much before Jerusalem, and nearer to the sun of justice, of whom it has been said: "Unto those that fear me the Sun of justice shall arise." (Malachi 4:2)

Dem. Evang. l. vi. c. 18, p. 289, Colon. 1688.
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"The Lord shall rejoice over thee, even as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride. (Isaiah 62:5) For the only-begotten Word of God came down from Heaven that He might show forth, as bearing fruit, that Church which He united to Himself, a chaste virgin, not having spot or wrinkle, but rather holy and without blemish. Having therefore from Him received the seeds of the evangelical institution, He has exhibited the spouse resplendent with spiritual sacrifices, and with holy works."

Comment, in Hesai. c. lxii. t. ii. Nov. Collect. Patr. Graec. (Montfaucon).
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Explaining St. Matthew 5:15:

"A city built upon a mountain cannot be hid." The light, or lamp of Christ, is not now to be hidden under a bushel, nor to be concealed by any covering of the synagogue, but, hung on the wood of the Passion, it will give an everlasting light to those that dwell in the Church. He also admonishes the Apostles to shine with a like splendor, that by the admiration of their deeds, praise may be given to God."

Comment, in Matthew c. v. n. 13, t. i. p. 683.
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Explaining Psalm 88:38:

"And His throne as the sun before me." Understand, by the throne of Christ, the Church; for in it He rests. The Church of Christ, then, he says, shall be refulgent and enlighten all under Heaven, and be abiding as the sun and the moon. For this passage says so: "His throne as the sun before me, and as the moon perfect forever, and a faithful witness in Heaven."

Expos, in Ps. t. i. p. 922.
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"It is written in Isaiah the prophet, "The law shall come forth from Sion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. (Isaiah 2:3) Not therefore on that Mount Sion does Isaiah look down upon the valley, but on that holy mountain which is the Church, that mountain which lifts its head over the whole Roman world under Heaven. In which mountain the Son of God rejoices that He has been by God appointed king, saying in the first Psalm, "For He has appointed me king over Sion, His holy mountain", to wit, the Church, of which He is king and bridegroom and head. . . . The spiritual Sion is therefore the Church in which Christ has been appointed king by God the Father, a Church which is throughout the world, wherein there is one Catholic Church."

De Schis. Donat. l. iii. n. 2.
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"And in the last days the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be prepared on the top of mountains." (Isaiah 2:2) The house of the Lord, prepared on the top of mountains, is the Church, according to that declaration of the Apostle, "Know", he says, "how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the Church of the living God." (1 Timothy 3:15) Whose foundations are on the holy mountains, for it is built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets. One also of these mountains was Peter, upon which rock the Lord promised to build His Church."

T. i. Par. 2, Comm. in Esai. c. 2, n. 66, p. 604.
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"It is an easier thing for the sun to be quenched, than for the Church to be made invisible."

T. vi. Hom, iv. In illud, vidi Dom. n. 2, p. 141.
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"A city seated on a hill cannot be hid." (Matthew 5:14) By this city is here meant the Church, concerning which the divine Scriptures in many places give testimony, and of which David especially speaks, saying, "Glorious things are said of thee, city of God." (Psalm 86): and again, "The stream of the river maketh the city of God joyful." (Ps. 45); and again, "As we have heard, so have we seen, in the city of the Lord of Hosts, in the city of our God. God hath founded it forever." (Psalm 47) ... As "a city, therefore, placed upon a hill", he points out the Church, upon the faith of our Lord and Saviour placed in heavenly glory, — a Church which . . . visible to the whole world, has been made glorious;. . . and he subjoins, "Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but upon a candlestick, that it may shine to all that are in the house." (St. Matthew 5) . . . Wherefore this light of the law and of faith is not to be hidden from us, but is to be always placed in the Church, as it were in a candlestick, for the salvation of many, that both we may enjoy the light of its truth, and all believers may be enlightened. The Holy Ghost exhorts, by Isaiah also, unto the contemplation of this light, saying, "Come ye, let us walk in the light of the Lord." (Isaiah 2:5) Of which light blessed Peter also testifies in his epistle, saying, "Who hath snatched us out of darkness, and called us unto marvelous light." (1 Peter 2) Whence also the prophet Zechariah, that he might make known the mysteries of this spiritual light, and of the heavenly candlestick which was pointed out as a figure of the Church, amongst other things which were shown, witnesses that he saw a golden candlestick with its lamps. For even in the tabernacle of the testimony, after the fashion of the truth to come, a candlestick with its lamps gave light to the people with a flame that never wearied. The reason of this has been, even as all the sacraments of the law, a thing hidden from the Jews, but is to us now manifest. For we know that there was exhibited, in that candlestick, a type of the true and eternal light, that is, of the Holy Spirit, who, by means of His multiform grace, always gives light to the whole body of the Church."

Tract, iv. in Matthew p. 339, t. viii. Galland.
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"He, therefore, that has no wish to sit in the council of vanity",(Psalm 25:4), let him not be borne away by the whirlwind of pride, seeking for conventicles of the just, conventicles which he cannot find separated from the unity of the whole world. But there are just men through out the whole of that city which cannot be hid, because it is placed upon a mountain: that mountain, I mean, of Daniel, where that "stone, cut without hands, increased, and filled the whole earth". (Daniel 2) Throughout, therefore, the whole of this city, which is spread over the whole world, the just groan and mourn on account of the iniquities which are committed in the midst of them. Therefore, let no one seek for the just in a state of separation, but rather let him mourn together with them over the commixture of evil men which is found in this life. . . . There is, therefore, no safeguard of unity, save from the Church made known by the promises of Christ, — a Church which, being seated on a hill, as has been said, cannot be hid; and for this cause it must needs be known to all parts of the earth. Let us, then, hold it as a thing immovable and firm, that no good men can separate themselves from her; that is, that no good men — wherever those men may dwell, even though they may have to bear with evil men well known to them — will, on account of those evil men, separate themselves, by the fool-hardy sacrilege of schism, from the good that are at a distance from and unknown to them."

T. ix. l. iii. Contr. Ep. Parmeniani, n. 27, 28, col. 146, 147.
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"You know, and indeed you remark, that the Holy Ghost came down in this manner, in order that they whom He then filled might speak in every tongue. What meant that sign and prodigy? Why is the Holy Ghost given so that an obscure individual, to whom He is given, is able to speak in every tongue; but that the miracle then performed portended that all nations would believe, and so the Gospel be in every tongue? This had been also foretold in the psalm long before: "There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard." (Psalm 18) This was said in regard of those who, after having received the Holy Ghost, were to speak in every tongue. But because that same miracle signified that, in all nations and tongues, the Gospel would be, and Christ's body speak aloud in every tongue, throughout the whole world, there is added, "Their sound has gone forth into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the earth." Hence is it that the true Church is hidden from no one. For this cause is that which Himself says in the Gospel, "A city seated on a hill cannot be hid." For this, too, there is appended, in the above psalm, "He hath set His tabernacle in the sun", that is, in open view, as we find said in the Books of Kings, "What thou hast done secretly, thou shalt suffer in the sight of the sun." (2 Kings 12:12)

T. ix. l. iii. Contr. Lit. Petil. n. 74, col. 390.
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"May God withdraw thee from the party of Donatus, and recall thee to the Catholic Church, whence they snatched thee when a catechumen, and bound thee with the chain of a deadly honor. Then shall the "dew of Hermon" upon the mountains of Sion be partaken in by thee; ye are not in the mountains of Sion, because you are not in "the city seated on a hill", which has this sure mark, that "it cannot be hidden". It is, therefore, known to all nations: now the party of Donatus is unknown to many nations: it is not, therefore, that city."

T. ix. l. c. n. 239 (al. 104), col. 466.
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Explaining Isaiah 2:2:

"Of the Church the prophet says, that "in the latter days the mountain of the Lord shall be conspicuous, and the house of the God of Jacob upon the tops of the mountains", and we indeed read that the Sion of the Jews was placed and built upon a mountain. But we may here understand, not in a visible but in a spiritual manner, the Church, which also is compared to a mountain. For the Church is in truth lofty and conspicuous, and well known to all men in every place. It is also lofty in another sense; for her thoughts have nothing earthly, but she is above all that is earthly, and with the eyes of the understanding, looks upon, as far as it is possible, the glory of God, and glories in doctrines truly exalted, concerning God. Wherefore, with justice may the house of God be called a mountain (known) by the understanding, and it is perfectly visible, as being raised upon the hills; and one may say of it, and with great cause, what as a notable illustration was uttered by the mouth of the Saviour: "A city placed upon a hill can not be hidden."

T. ii. Comm. in Esai. l. 1, or. 2, pp. 35, 36.
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