49. Nor is there any room for questioning with respect to “the beginning,” seeing that when, during His earthly life, He was asked, “Who art Thou?” He answered: “The beginning, even as I tell you.” S. John viii. 25. St. Ambrose’s words: “Principium quod et loquor vobis.” This refers not only to the essential nature of the eternal Godhead, but also to the visible proofs of virtues, for hereby hath He proved Himself the eternal God, in that He is the beginning of all things, and the Author of each several virtue, in that He is the Head of the Church, as it is written: “Because He is the Head of the Body, of the Church; Col. i. 18. Who is the beginning, first-begotten from the dead.” Cf. Eph. iv. 15, 16.