Doubtless this intruding of a seventh gift which is but a doublet of the sixth was influenced by the sacred number. Old writers derived infinite pleasure from the reflection that there were also seven branches on the lamp-stand of Moses, seven Churches of Asia, seven mystic seals, seven stars, and seven trumpets, seven heads to the dragon, seven original deacons, seven joys of Mary and seven sorrows, seven deadly sins (with exactly seven penitential psalms to fit them, and seven contrary virtues), seven sacraments, seven planets, and seven days of the week—which last, at all events, no one can deny. How delighted they would have been to know that the psychologists of the Twentieth Century would one day discover that there are also seven simple Instincts with their seven Primary Emotions.
They associated the number especially with the Holy Ghost, because of the Book of Revelation, where are mentioned the 'seven spirits which are before his throne',[1] the 'seven blazing lamps burning in front of the throne',[2] and, especially, the 'seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth'.[3] There is, indeed, a little later in this vision of the Lamb, a sevenfold ascription, which seems to be based upon the passage in Isaiah: 'Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and might, and honour, and glory, and blessing.'[4] Here wisdom and might are
