1.  You may well imagine what pleasure the letter of your excellencies gave me, if only from its very contents.  What, indeed, could give greater gratification to one who prays ever to be in communication with them who fear the Lord, and to share their blessings, than a letter of this kind, wherein questions are asked about the knowledge of God?  For if, to me, “to live is Christ,” Phil. i. 21. truly my words ought to be about Christ, my every thought and deed ought to depend upon His commandments, and my soul to be fashioned after His.  I rejoice, therefore, at being asked about such things, and congratulate the askers.  By me, to speak shortly, the faith of the Fathers assembled at Nicæa is honoured before all later inventions.  In it the Son is confessed to be con-substantial with the Father and to be naturally of the same nature with Him who begat Him, for He was confessed to be Light of Light, God of God, and Good of Good, and the like.  Both by those holy men the same doctrine was declared, and by me now who pray that I may walk in their footsteps.