The Bronze Mountains and the Measure in Babylon

Following the vision of a man riding a red horse, those satisfied with such things do not consider the things now spoken regarding the things mentioned. It is said there are two bronze mountains from the midst of which the chariots went forth. And see if the phrase 'surpassing the bronze' is shown to have much pouring out. The sophists and heretical teachers use this, becoming 'a resounding bronze and a sounding cymbal' (1 Corinthians 13:1), because the divine love toward the lawlessness mentioned at 1.398, says to the angel speaking in it: 'Where do these carry the measure?'

And the angel answering says: 'To build him a house in the land of Babylon, and they shall set him there upon his preparation.' For what other fitting place is there for the one having lawlessness by measure, except the confusion, so that he may be found ready for those approaching him? Therefore, one must turn away and flee from Babylon because the measure is placed there to be found ready for those willing. Thus the divine word cries like a herald to one wanting to be diligent: 'Come out from Babylon, fleeing from the land of the Chaldeans' (Isaiah 48:20).

Having understood the vision of the prophet to be such a thing, let us hate having wings once, having been flown by the Holy Spirit; for thus it is most easy to cross into the heavenly things. And I turned and lifted my eyes and saw; and behold, four chariots going forth from the midst of two mountains, and the mountains were mountains of bronze (Zechariah 6:1). In the first chariot red horses, and in the second chariot black horses, and in the third chariot white horses, and in the fourth chariot variegated horses (Zechariah 6:2). And I answered and said to the angel speaking in me: 'What are these, Lord?' And the angel speaking in me answered and said: 'These are the four winds of heaven, going forth to stand by the Lord of all the earth' (Zechariah 6:5).

in which were the black horses, they went forth to the land of the north, and the white went forth after them, and the variegated went forth to the land of the south, and the speckled went forth and looked to go and go around the earth. And they went around the earth. And he cried out and spoke to me saying: Behold those going forth to the land of the north have rested my wrath in the land of the north (Zechariah 6:6-8). The prophet, turning to receive also another revelation, saw four chariots from the midst of two bronze mountains. The first chariot had red horses yoked, the second black, the third white, the fourth variegated speckled. Having beheld the four chariots, wishing to learn concerning them, he asks the angel speaking in him what the things seen are. And he answers saying they are the four winds of heaven, that is, the four climates of the inhabited world. And the black were seen going forth from the land of the north, the white going forth behind them; and from the south came the speckled and variegated. It was said concerning all the horses as was possible to me when they were seen in the first vision following the man mounted on a red horse; therefore, being satisfied with those, the things concerning the things said now not brought in the first contemplation must be contemplated. Two bronze mountains were said from which the chariots went forth from the midst. And see if by the bronze is signified the conspicuous phrase having much resounding. And the sophistical and heretical teachers use this, becoming 'a resounding bronze and a clanging cymbal,' because of being deprived of the divine love toward God. Which the divine Apostle suspecting writes: 'If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become a resounding bronze or a clanging cymbal' (1 Corinthians 13:1). And this matter signifies also shamelessness, as also the unsubmissive and unbending […]