reason ; ^ but having been a disciple of the
Apostles, I am become a teacher of the Gen-
tiles, I minister the things delivered to me to
those that are disciples worthy of the truth.
For who that is rightly taught and begotten by
the loving •• Word, would not seek to learn accu-
rately the things which have been clearly shown
by the Word to His disciples, to whom the
Word being manifested has revealed them,
speaking plainly [to them], not understood in-
deed by the unbelieving, but conversing with the
disciples, who, being esteemed faithful by Him,
acquired a knowledge of the mysteries of the
Father? For which 5 reason He sent the Word,
that He might be manifested to the world ; and
He, being despised by the people [of the Jews],
was, when preached by the Apostles, believed on
by the Gentiles.^ This is He who was from the
beginning, who appeared as if new, and was
found old, and yet who is ever bom afresh in
the hearts of the saints. This is He who, being
from everlasting, is to-day called ^ the Son ;
through whom the Church is enriched, and
grace, widely spread, increases in the saints,
furnishing understanding, revealing mysteries,
announcing times, rejoicing over the faithful,
giving** to those that seek, by whom the limits
of faith are not broken through, nor the boun-
daries set by the fathers passed over. Then the
fear of the law is chanted, and the grace of the
prophets is known, and the faith of the gospels
is established, and the tradition of the Aposdes
is preserved, and the grace of the Church exults ;
which grace if you grieve not, you shall know
those things which the Word teaches, by whom
He wills, and when He pleases. For whatever
things we are moved to utter by the will of the
Word commanding us, we communicate to you
with pains, and from a love of the things that
have been revealed to us,