Wisdom 18:1

For the saints of God there was the greatest light, when they were illuminated both outwardly by bodily light and inwardly by spiritual radiance; for the faith of God and the purity of conscience enlightened them within, whose voices the enemies heard, but whose appearance they did not see, because darkness blinded their eyes, and because, by the temptation of the plagues which came upon the Egyptians, these were not struck, but were led by heavenly guidance through the pillar of fire at night and the pillar of cloud by day, and gave worthy thanks to their Creator. Therefore, since those holy fathers who lived under the Old Testament bore the type of the saints who serve Christ under the New Testament; those in historical Egypt labored afflicted under Pharaoh, while the persecution of the Devil in the world burdens these with tribulations; for the greatest light shines for those who diligently carry the true light, which enlightens every man coming into this world, in the dwelling of their heart. Indeed, the enemies hear the voice of their preaching, but do not recognize the form of the truth that is in them, and therefore do not believe them. Both the pillar of fire at night and the pillar of cloud by day lead them, because the incarnation of Christ always protects them with the shield of His protection in adversity and prosperity.

With the Egyptians was the densest darkness, but with Your saints was the greatest light. All those who properly followed the Law of Nature, the patriarchs, the prophets, and the philosophers, were the sons of light.

But to your holy ones etc. Thus the Egyptians were in darkness; but, in the sense of however; to your holy ones: namely the Israelites, according to that passage of Leviticus 11: "Be holy"; there was the greatest light, because there was exterior bodily light; whence Exodus 10: "Wherever the children of Israel dwelt, there was light"; likewise interior spiritual light; whence the Gloss: "To your holy ones, that is the Israelites, whom faith and purity of conscience illumined"; 1 Thessalonians 5: "You are all children of light"; likewise superior heavenly light; John 1: "There was the true light, which enlightens every man" etc.; likewise Malachi 4: "To you who fear my name, the sun of justice shall arise." And indeed of these, namely the holy ones, the enemies heard the voice, whether of human conversation or of divine praise, namely the Egyptians; but they did not see their form, namely on account of the hindering darkness.

But to the contrary: Because one who is in darkness can see him who is in the light, and not conversely.

It must be said that this is true, unless there be an impediment in his eye, or in the medium itself. But there the impediment was in the eye of those seeing, because they had been struck with a kind of blindness, and in the medium, because the darkness there was dense and palpable.

And because not also, that is even, they themselves, namely the holy ones, had suffered through the same things, "that is, the same plagues," according to the Gloss, they magnified you, namely by praising; Luke 1: "My soul magnifies the Lord"; Ecclesiasticus 43: "Who shall magnify him, as he is from the beginning"?