ing friend as from an enemy, and being aware of some noise, has become very much alarmed; but when the day has come, nothing of this sort could happen, but all appears just as it really is; which thing also occurs in the case of our soul. For when grace has come, and driven away the darkness of the understanding, we learn the exact nature of things, and what was before dreadful to us becomes contemptible. For we no longer fear death, after learning exactly, from this sacred initiation, that death is not death, but a sleep and a seasonable slumber; nor poverty nor disease, nor any other such thing, knowing that we are on our way to a better life, undefiled and incorruptible, and free from all such vicissitudes. 2. Let us not therefore remain craving after the things of this life, neither after the luxury of the table, or costliness of raiment. For thou hast the most excellent of raiment, thou hast a spiritual table thou hast the glory from on high, and Christ is become to thee all things, thy table, thy raiment, thy home, thy head, thy stem. “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ, did put on Christ.”525 See how he has become raiment for thee. Dost thou wish to learn how he becomes a table for thee? “He who eateth me,” says He, “as I live because of the Father, he also shall live because of me;”526 and that he becometh a home for thee, “he that eateth my flesh abideth in me, and I in him;”527 and that He is stem He says again, “I am the vine, ye the branches,”528 and that he is brother, and friend, and bride-groom, “I no longer call you servants: for ye are my friends;”529 and Paul again, “I espoused you to one husband, that I might present you as a pure virgin to Christ;”530 and again, “That he might be the first-born among many brethren;”531 and we become not his brethren only, but also his children, “For behold,” he says, “I and the children which God has given me”532 and not this only, but His members, and His body. For as if what has been said were not enough to show forth the love and the good will which He has shown forth towards us, He has added another thing greater and nearer still, calling himself besides, our head. Knowing all these matters, beloved, requite thy benefactor by the best conversation, and considering the greatness of the sacrifice, adorn the members of thy body; consider what thou receivest in thine hand, and never suffer it to strike any one, nor shame what has been honored with so great a gift by the sin of a blow. Consider what thou receivest in thine hand, and keep it clean from all covetousness and extortion; think that thou dost not receive this in thy hand, 525 Gal. iii. 27. 526 John vi. 57. The quotation is not exact. 527 John vi. 56. 528 John xv. 5. 529 John xv. 15. 530 2 Cor. xi. 2. 531 Rom. viii. 29. 532 Is. viii. 18. 230 Second Instruction.