[Wherein] every doubt concerning the rule of the
friars Minor [is] defined, and others already defined by his
predecessors are set forth
more seriously and clearly. (Folio 184; year II, number 156;
Potthast 21628)
Nicholas
Bishop servant of the servants of God.
For an everlasting memorial.
Soriano, Italy: August 14, 1279 A.D.
He who sows went forth from the bosom of the Father into the world to sow His own seed, clothed with the garment of humanity, namely, the Son of God Jesus Christ, to sow the evangelical word among the approved and reprobate, the foolish and the learned, the studious and the slothful, and according to the prophets to be the farmer on earth who would disperse His own seed, the evangelical doctrine, without destruction, among all [men], who drawing all things to Himself had come to save each [of them], who afterwards for the salvation of all [men] immolated His very self to God the Father as the price of human redemption. However He allowed this seed to fall among individuals by the communicative charity of God, not so other [seed which He let fall] dispersed upon in the road namely upon hearts accessible to the suggestions of the demons, [and still] other [seed which He let fall] among thorns namely upon hearts lacerated by the solicitude for riches, and therefore one was trampled by depraved affections, the other by aridity, since it was lacking in the humor of grace, the rest, suffocated by inordinate solicitudes, was overgrown, but good ground received the other [seed] meek and docile in heart.