1. The evangelical precepts, beloved brethren, are nothing else than divine teachings,—foundations on which hope is to be built, supports to strengthen faith, nourishments for cheering the heart, rudders for guiding our way, guards for obtaining salvation,—which, while they instruct the docile minds of believers on the earth, lead them to heavenly kingdoms. God, moreover, willed many things to be said and to be heard by means of the prophets His servants; but how much greater are those which the Son speaks, which the Word of God who was in the prophets testifies with His own voice; not now bidding to prepare the way for His coming, but Himself coming and opening and showing to us the way, so that we who have before been wandering in the darkness of death, without forethought and blind, being enlightened by the light of grace, might keep the way of life, with the Lord for our ruler and guide!
I. EVANGELICA praecepta, fratres dilectissimi, nihil 0520B aliud sunt quam magisteria divina, fundamenta aedificandae spei , firmamenta corroborandae fidei, nutrimenta fovendi cordis, gubernacula dirigendi itineris, 0520C praesidia obtinendae salutis; quae, dum dociles credentium mentes in terris instruunt, ad coelestia regna perducunt. Multa et per Prophetas servos suos dici Deus voluit et audiri; sed quanto majora quae Filius loquitur, quae Dei sermo qui in Prophetis fuit propria voce testatur, non jam mandans ut paretur venienti via, sed ipse veniens, et viam nobis aperiens et ostendens; ut qui, in tenebris mortis errantes, improvidi et caeci prius fuimus, luce gratiae luminati, iter vitae duce et rectore Domino teneremus.