Chapter VI.—The Name Children Does Not Imply Instruction in Elementary Principles.

We have ample means of encountering those who are given to carping. For we are not termed children and infants with reference to the childish and contemptible character of our education, as those who are inflated on account of knowledge have calumniously alleged. Straightway, on our regeneration, we attained that perfection after which we aspired. For we were illuminated, which is to know God. He is not then imperfect who knows what is perfect. And do not reprehend me when I profess to know God; for so it was deemed right to speak to the Word, and He is free.49    In allusion apparently to John viii. 35, 36. For at the moment of the Lord’s baptism there sounded a voice from heaven, as a testimony to the Beloved, “Thou art My beloved Son, to-day have I begotten Thee.” Let us then ask the wise, Is Christ, begotten to-day, already perfect, or—what were most monstrous—imperfect? If the latter, there is some addition He requires yet to make. But for Him to make any addition to His knowledge is absurd, since He is God. For none can be superior to the Word, or the teacher of the only Teacher. Will they not then own, though reluctant, that the perfect Word born of the perfect Father was begotten in perfection, according to œconomic fore-ordination? And if He was perfect, why was He, the perfect one, baptized? It was necessary, they say, to fulfil the profession that pertained to humanity. Most excellent. Well, I assert, simultaneously with His baptism by John, He becomes perfect? Manifestly. He did not then learn anything more from him? Certainly not. But He is perfected by the washing—of baptism—alone, and is sanctified by the descent of the Spirit? Such is the case. The same also takes place in our case, whose exemplar Christ became. Being baptized, we are illuminated; illuminated, we become sons; being made sons, we are made perfect; being made perfect, we are made immortal. “I,” says He, “have said that ye are gods, and all sons of the Highest.”50    Ps. lxxxii. 6. This work is variously called grace,51    χάρισμα and illumination, and perfection, and washing: washing, by which we cleanse away our sins; grace, by which the penalties accruing to transgressions are remitted; and illumination, by which that holy light of salvation is beheld, that is, by which we see God clearly. Now we call that perfect which wants nothing. For what is yet wanting to him who knows God? For it were truly monstrous that that which is not complete should be called a gift (or act) of God’s grace. Being perfect, He consequently bestows perfect gifts. As at His command all things were made, so on His bare wishing to bestow grace, ensues the perfecting of His grace. For the future of time is anticipated by the power of His volition.

Further release from evils is the beginning of salvation. We then alone, who first have touched the confines of life, are already perfect; and we already live who are separated from death. Salvation, accordingly, is the following of Christ: “For that which is in Him is life.52    John i. 4. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My words, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath eternal life, and cometh not into condemnation, but hath passed from death to life.”53    John v. 24. Thus believing alone, and regeneration, is perfection in life; for God is never weak. For as His will is work, and this54    viz., the result of His will. is named the world; so also His counsel is the salvation of men, and this has been called the church. He knows, therefore, whom He has called, and whom He has saved; and at one and the same time He called and saved them. “For ye are,” says the apostle, “taught of God.”55    1 Thess. iv. 9. It is not then allowable to think of what is taught by Him as imperfect; and what is learned from Him is the eternal salvation of the eternal Saviour, to whom be thanks for ever and ever. Amen. And he who is only regenerated—as the name necessarily indicates—and is enlightened, is delivered forthwith from darkness, and on the instant receives the light.

As, then, those who have shaken off sleep forthwith become all awake within; or rather, as those who try to remove a film that is over the eyes, do not supply to them from without the light which they do not possess, but removing the obstacle from the eyes, leave the pupil free; thus also we who are baptized, having wiped off the sins which obscure the light of the Divine Spirit, have the eye of the spirit free, unimpeded, and full of light, by which alone we contemplate the Divine, the Holy Spirit flowing down to us from above. This is the eternal adjustment of the vision, which is able to see the eternal light, since like loves like; and that which is holy, loves that from which holiness proceeds, which has appropriately been termed light. “Once ye were darkness, now are ye light in the Lord.”56    Eph. v. 8. Hence I am of opinion man was called by the ancients φώς.57    φως, light; φώς, a man. But he has not yet received, say they, the perfect gift. I also assent to this; but he is in the light, and the darkness comprehendeth him not. There is nothing intermediate between light and darkness. But the end is reserved till the resurrection of those who believe; and it is not the reception of some other thing, but the obtaining of the promise previously made. For we do not say that both take place together at the same time—both the arrival at the end, and the anticipation of that arrival. For eternity and time are not the same, neither is the attempt and the final result; but both have reference to the same thing, and one and the same person is concerned in both. Faith, so to speak, is the attempt generated in time; the final result is the attainment of the promise, secured for eternity. Now the Lord Himself has most clearly revealed the equality of salvation, when He said: “For this is the will of my Father, that every one that seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, should have everlasting life; and I will raise him up in the last day.”58    John vi. 40. As far as possible in this world, which is what he means by the last day, and which is preserved till the time that it shall end, we believe that we are made perfect. Wherefore He says, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.”59    John iii. 36. If, then, those who have believed have life, what remains beyond the possession of eternal life? Nothing is wanting to faith, as it is perfect and complete in itself. If aught is wanting to it, it is not wholly perfect. But faith is not lame in any respect; nor after our departure from this world does it make us who have believed, and received without distinction the earnest of future good, wait; but having in anticipation grasped by faith that which is future, after the resurrection we receive it as present, in order that that may be fulfilled which was spoken, “Be it according to thy faith.”60    Matt. ix. 29. And where faith is, there is the promise; and the consummation of the promise is rest. So that in illumination what we receive is knowledge, and the end of knowledge is rest—the last thing conceived as the object of aspiration. As, then, inexperience comes to an end by experience, and perplexity by finding a clear outlet, so by illumination must darkness disappear. The darkness is ignorance, through which we fall into sins, purblind as to the truth. Knowledge, then, is the illumination we receive, which makes ignorance disappear, and endows us with clear vision. Further, the abandonment of what is bad is the adopting61    Migne’s text has ἀποκάλυψις. The emendation ἀπόληψις is preferable. of what is better. For what ignorance has bound ill, is by knowledge loosed well; those bonds are with all speed slackened by human faith and divine grace, our transgressions being taken away by one Pœonian62    [Iliad, v. 401.] medicine, the baptism of the Word. We are washed from all our sins, and are no longer entangled in evil. This is the one grace of illumination, that our characters are not the same as before our washing. And since knowledge springs up with illumination, shedding its beams around the mind, the moment we hear, we who were untaught become disciples. Does this, I ask, take place on the advent of this instruction? You cannot tell the time. For instruction leads to faith, and faith with baptism is trained by the Holy Spirit. For that faith is the one universal salvation of humanity, and that there is the same equality before the righteous and loving God, and the same fellowship between Him and all, the apostle most clearly showed, speaking to the following effect: “Before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed, so that the law became our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith; but after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.”63    Gal. iii. 23–25. [Here the schoolmaster should be the child-guide; for the law leads us to the Master, says Clement, and we are no longer under the disciplinary guide, but “under the Word, the master of our free choice.” The schoolmaster then is the Word, and the law merely led us to his school.] Do you not hear that we are no longer under that law which was accompanied with fear, but under the Word, the master of free choice? Then he subjoined the utterance, clear of all partiality: “For ye are all the children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”64    Gal. iii. 26–28. There are not, then, in the same Word some “illuminated (gnostics); and some animal (or natural) men;” but all who have abandoned the desires of the flesh are equal and spiritual before the Lord. And again he writes in another place: “For by one spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free, and we have all drunk of one cup.”65    1 Cor. xii. 13. Nor were it absurd to employ the expressions of those who call the reminiscence of better things the filtration of the spirit, understanding by filtration the separation of what is baser, that results from the reminiscence of what is better. There follows of necessity, in him who has come to the recollection of what is better, repentance for what is worse. Accordingly, they confess that the spirit in repentance retraces its steps. In the same way, therefore, we also, repenting of our sins, renouncing our iniquities, purified by baptism, speed back to the eternal light, children to the Father. Jesus therefore, rejoicing in the spirit, said: “I thank Thee, O Father, God of heaven and earth, that Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them to babes;”66    Luke x. 21. the Master and Teacher applying the name babes to us, who are readier to embrace salvation than the wise in the world, who, thinking themselves wise, are inflated with pride. And He exclaims in exultation and exceeding joy, as if lisping with the children, “Even so, Father; for so it seemed good in Thy sight.”67    Luke x. 21. Wherefore those things which have been concealed from the wise and prudent of this present world have been revealed to babes. Truly, then, are we the children of God, who have put aside the old man, and stripped off the garment of wickedness, and put on the immortality of Christ; that we may become a new, holy people by regeneration, and may keep the man undefiled. And a babe, as God’s little one,68    [Clement here considers all believers as babes, in the sense he explains; but the tenderness towards children of the allusions running through this chapter are not the less striking.] is cleansed from fornication and wickedness. With the greatest clearness the blessed Paul has solved for us this question in his First Epistle to the Corinthians, writing thus: “Brethren, be not children in understanding; howbeit in malice be children, but in understanding be men.”69    1 Cor. xiv. 20. And the expression, “When I was a child, I thought as a child, I spake as a child,”70    1 Cor. xiii. 11. [A text much misused by the heretical gnostics whom Clement confutes.] points out his mode of life according to the law, according to which, thinking childish things, he persecuted, and speaking childish things he blasphemed the Word, not as having yet attained to the simplicity of childhood, but as being in its folly; for the word νήπιον has two meanings.71    viz., simple or innocent as a child, and foolish as a child. “When I became a man,” again Paul says, “I put away childish things.”72    1 Cor. xiii. 11. It is not incomplete size of stature, nor a definite measure of time, nor additional secret teachings in things that are manly and more perfect, that the apostle, who himself professes to be a preacher of childishness, alludes to when he sends it, as it were, into banishment; but he applies the name “children” to those who are under the law, who are terrified by fear as children are by bugbears; and “men” to us who are obedient to the Word and masters of ourselves, who have believed, and are saved by voluntary choice, and are rationally, not irrationally, frightened by terror. Of this the apostle himself shall testify, calling as he does the Jews heirs according to the first covenant, and us heirs according to promise: “Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; but is under tutors and governors, till the time appointed by the father. So also we, when we were children, were in bondage under the rudiments of the world: but when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons”73    Gal. iv. 1–5. by Him. See how He has admitted those to be children who are under fear and sins; but has conferred manhood on those who are under faith, by calling them sons, in contradistinction from the children that are under the law: “For thou art no more a servant,” he says, “but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.”74    Gal. iv. 7. What, then, is lacking to the son after inheritance? Wherefore the expression, “When I was a child,” may be elegantly expounded thus: that is, when I was a Jew (for he was a Hebrew by extraction) I thought as a child, when I followed the law; but after becoming a man, I no longer entertain the sentiments of a child, that is, of the law, but of a man, that is, of Christ, whom alone the Scripture calls man, as we have said before. “I put away childish things.” But the childhood which is in Christ is maturity, as compared with the law. Having reached this point, we must defend our childhood. And we have still to explain what is said by the apostle: “I have fed you with milk (as children in Christ), not with meat; for ye were not able, neither yet are ye now able.”75    1 Cor. iii. 2. For it does not appear to me that the expression is to be taken in a Jewish sense; for I shall oppose to it also that Scripture, “I will bring you into that good land which flows with milk and honey.”76    Ex. iii. 8. A very great difficulty arises in reference to the comparison of these Scriptures, when we consider. For if the infancy which is characterized by the milk is the beginning of faith in Christ, then it is disparaged as childish and imperfect. How is the rest that comes after the meat, the rest of the man who is perfect and endowed with knowledge, again distinguished by infant milk? Does not this, as explaining a parable, mean something like this, and is not the expression to be read somewhat to the following effect: “I have fed you with milk in Christ;” and after a slight stop, let us add, “as children,” that by separating the words in reading we may make out some such sense as this: I have instructed you in Christ with simple, true, and natural nourishment,—namely, that which is spiritual: for such is the nourishing substance of milk swelling out from breasts of love. So that the whole matter may be conceived thus: As nurses nourish new-born children on milk, so do I also by the Word, the milk of Christ, instilling into you spiritual nutriment.

Thus, then, the milk which is perfect is perfect nourishment, and brings to that consummation which cannot cease. Wherefore also the same milk and honey were promised in the rest. Rightly, therefore, the Lord again promises milk to the righteous, that the Word may be clearly shown to be both, “the Alpha and Omega, beginning and end;”77    Rev. i. 8. the Word being figuratively represented as milk. Something like this Homer oracularly declares against his will, when he calls righteous men milk-fed (γαλακτοφάγοι).78    [Iliad, xiii. 6. S.] So also may we take the Scripture: “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ;”79    1 Cor. iii. 1. so that the carnal may be understood as those recently instructed, and still babes in Christ. For he called those who had already believed on the Holy Spirit spiritual, and those newly instructed and not yet purified carnal; whom with justice he calls still carnal, as minding equally with the heathen the things of the flesh: “For whereas there is among you envy and strife, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?”80    1 Cor. iii. 3. “Wherefore also I have given you milk to drink,” he says; meaning, I have instilled into you the knowledge which, from instruction, nourishes up to life eternal. But the expression, “I have given you to drink” (ἐπότισα), is the symbol of perfect appropriation. For those who are full-grown are said to drink, babes to suck. “For my blood,” says the Lord, “is true drink.”81    John vi. 55. In saying, therefore, “I have given you milk to drink,” has he not indicated the knowledge of the truth, the perfect gladness in the Word, who is the milk? And what follows next, “not meat, for ye were not able,” may indicate the clear revelation in the future world, like food, face to face. “For now we see as through a glass,” the same apostle says, “but then face to face.”82    1 Cor. xiii. 12. Wherefore also he has added, “neither yet are ye now able, for ye are still carnal,” minding the things of the flesh,—desiring, loving, feeling jealousy, wrath, envy. “For we are no more in the flesh,”83    Rom. viii. 9. as some suppose. For with it [they say], having the face which is like an angel’s, we shall see the promise face to face. How then, if that is truly the promise after our departure hence, say they that they know “what eye hath not known, nor hath entered into the mind of man,” who have not perceived by the Spirit, but received from instruction “what ear hath not heard,”84    1 Cor. ii. 9. or that ear alone which “was rapt up into the third heaven?”85    2 Cor. xii. 2–4. But it even then was commanded to preserve it unspoken.

But if human wisdom, as it remains to understand, is the glorying in knowledge, hear the law of Scripture: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, and let not the mighty man glory in his might; but let him that glorieth glory in the Lord.”86    Jer. ix. 23; 1 Cor. i. 31; 2 Cor. x. 17. But we are God-taught, and glory in the name of Christ. How then are we not to regard the apostle as attaching this sense to the milk of the babes? And if we who preside over the Churches are shepherds after the image of the good Shepherd, and you the sheep, are we not to regard the Lord as preserving consistency in the use of figurative speech, when He speaks also of the milk of the flock? And to this meaning we may secondly accommodate the expression, “I have given you milk to drink, and not given you food, for ye are not yet able,” regarding the meat not as something different from the milk, but the same in substance. For the very same Word is fluid and mild as milk, or solid and compact as meat. And entertaining this view, we may regard the proclamation of the Gospel, which is universally diffused, as milk; and as meat, faith, which from instruction is compacted into a foundation, which, being more substantial than hearing, is likened to meat, and assimilates to the soul itself nourishment of this kind. Elsewhere the Lord, in the Gospel according to John, brought this out by symbols, when He said: “Eat ye my flesh, and drink my blood;”87    John vi. 34. describing distinctly by metaphor the drinkable properties of faith and the promise, by means of which the Church, like a human being consisting of many members, is refreshed and grows, is welded together and compacted of both,—of faith, which is the body, and of hope, which is the soul; as also the Lord of flesh and blood. For in reality the blood of faith is hope, in which faith is held as by a vital principle. And when hope expires, it is as if blood flowed forth; and the vitality of faith is destroyed. If, then, some would oppose, saying that by milk is meant the first lessons—as it were, the first food—and that by meat is meant those spiritual cognitions to which they attain by raising themselves to knowledge, let them understand that, in saying that meat is solid food, and the flesh and blood of Jesus, they are brought by their own vainglorious wisdom to the true simplicity. For the blood is found to be an original product in man, and some have consequently ventured to call it the substance of the soul. And this blood, transmuted by a natural process of assimilation in the pregnancy of the mother, through the sympathy of parental affection, effloresces and grows old, in order that there may be no fear for the child. Blood, too, is the moister part of flesh, being a kind of liquid flesh; and milk is the sweeter and finer part of blood. For whether it be the blood supplied to the fœtus, and sent through the navel of the mother, or whether it be the menses themselves shut out from their proper passage, and by a natural diffusion, bidden by the all-nourishing and creating God, proceed to the already swelling breasts, and by the heat of the spirits transmuted, [whether it be the one or the other] that is formed into food desirable for the babe, that which is changed is the blood. For of all the members, the breasts have the most sympathy with the womb. When there is parturition, the vessel by which blood was conveyed to the fœtus is cut off: there is an obstruction of the flow, and the blood receives an impulse towards the breasts; and on a considerable rush taking place, they are distended, and change the blood to milk in a manner analogous to the change of blood into pus in ulceration. Or if, on the other hand, the blood from the veins in the vicinity of the breasts, which have been opened in pregnancy, is poured into the natural hollows of the breasts; and the spirit discharged from the neighbouring arteries being mixed with it, the substance of the blood, still remaining pure, it becomes white by being agitated like a wave; and by an interruption such as this is changed by frothing it, like what takes place with the sea, which at the assaults of the winds, the poets say, “spits forth briny foam.” Yet still the essence is supplied by the blood.

In this way also the rivers, borne on with rushing motion, and fretted by contact with the surrounding air, murmur forth foam. The moisture in our mouth, too, is whitened by the breath. What an absurdity88    The emendation ἀπολήρησις is adopted instead of the reading in the text. is it, then, not to acknowledge that the blood is converted into that very bright and white substance by the breath! The change it suffers is in quality, not in essence. You will certainly find nothing else more nourishing, or sweeter, or whiter than milk. In every respect, accordingly, it is like spiritual nourishment, which is sweet through grace, nourishing as life, bright as the day of Christ.

The blood of the Word has been also exhibited as milk. Milk being thus provided in parturition, is supplied to the infant; and the breasts, which till then looked straight towards the husband, now bend down towards the child, being taught to furnish the substance elaborated by nature in a way easily received for salutary nourishment. For the breasts are not like fountains full of milk, flowing in ready prepared; but, by effecting a change in the nutriment, form the milk in themselves, and discharge it. And the nutriment suitable and wholesome for the new-formed and new-born babe is elaborated by God, the nourisher and the Father of all that are generated and regenerated,—as manna, the celestial food of angels, flowed down from heaven on the ancient Hebrews. Even now, in fact, nurses call the first-poured drink of milk by the same name as that food—manna. Further, pregnant women, on becoming mothers, discharge milk. But the Lord Christ, the fruit of the Virgin, did not pronounce the breasts of women blessed, nor selected them to give nourishment; but when the kind and loving Father had rained down the Word, Himself became spiritual nourishment to the good. O mystic marvel! The universal Father is one, and one the universal Word; and the Holy Spirit is one and the same everywhere, and one is the only virgin mother. I love to call her the Church. This mother, when alone, had not milk, because alone she was not a woman. But she is once virgin and mother—pure as a virgin, loving as a mother. And calling her children to her, she nurses them with holy milk, viz., with the Word for childhood. Therefore she had not milk; for the milk was this child fair and comely, the body of Christ, which nourishes by the Word the young brood, which the Lord Himself brought forth in throes of the flesh, which the Lord Himself swathed in His precious blood. O amazing birth! O holy swaddling bands! The Word is all to the child, both father and mother and tutor and nurse. “Eat ye my flesh,” He says, “and drink my blood.”89    John vi. 53, 54. Such is the suitable food which the Lord ministers, and He offers His flesh and pours forth His blood, and nothing is wanting for the children’s growth. O amazing mystery! We are enjoined to cast off the old and carnal corruption, as also the old nutriment, receiving in exchange another new regimen, that of Christ, receiving Him if we can, to hide Him within; and that, enshrining the Saviour in our souls, we may correct the affections of our flesh.

But you are not inclined to understand it thus, but perchance more generally. Hear it also in the following way. The flesh figuratively represents to us the Holy Spirit; for the flesh was created by Him. The blood points out to us the Word, for as rich blood the Word has been infused into life; and the union of both is the Lord, the food of the babes—the Lord who is Spirit and Word. The food—that is, the Lord Jesus—that is, the Word of God, the Spirit made flesh, the heavenly flesh sanctified. The nutriment is the milk of the Father, by which alone we infants are nourished. The Word Himself, then, the beloved One, and our nourisher, hath shed His own blood for us, to save humanity; and by Him, we, believing on God, flee to the Word, “the care-soothing breast” of the Father. And He alone, as is befitting, supplies us children with the milk of love, and those only are truly blessed who suck this breast. Wherefore also Peter says: “Laying therefore aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisy, and envy, and evil speaking, as new-born babes, desire the milk of the word, that ye may grow by it to salvation; if ye have tasted that the Lord is Christ.”90    1 Pet. ii. 1–3. Clement here reads Χριστός, Christ, for χρηστός, gracious, in Text. Rec. And were one to concede to them that the meat was something different from the milk, then how shall they avoid being transfixed on their own spit, through want of consideration of nature?91    [Clement here argues from what was scientific in his day, introducing a curious, but to us not very pertinent, episode.] For in winter, when the air is condensed, and prevents the escape of the heat enclosed within, the food, transmuted and digested and changed into blood, passes into the veins, and these, in the absence of exhalation, are greatly distended, and exhibit strong pulsations; consequently also nurses are then fullest of milk. And we have shown a little above, that on pregnancy blood passes into milk by a change which does not affect its substance, just as in old people yellow hair changes to grey. But again in summer, the body, having its pores more open, affords greater facility for diaphoretic action in the case of the food, and the milk is least abundant, since neither is the blood full, nor is the whole nutriment retained. If, then, the digestion of the food results in the production of blood, and the blood becomes milk, then blood is a preparation for milk, as blood is for a human beings, and the grape for the vine. With milk, then, the Lord’s nutriment, we are nursed directly we are born; and as soon as we are regenerated, we are honoured by receiving the good news of the hope of rest, even the Jerusalem above, in which it is written that milk and honey fall in showers, receiving through what is material the pledge of the sacred food. “For meats are done away with,”92    1 Cor. vi. 13. as the apostle himself says; but this nourishment on milk leads to the heavens, rearing up citizens of heaven, and members of the angelic choirs. And since the Word is the gushing fountain of life, and has been called a river of olive oil, Paul, using appropriate figurative language, and calling Him milk, adds: “I have given you to drink;”93    1 Cor. iii. 2. for we drink in the word, the nutriment of the truth. In truth, also liquid food is called drink; and the same thing may somehow be both meat and drink, according to the different aspects in which it is considered, just as cheese is the solidification of milk or milk solidified; for I am not concerned here to make a nice selection of an expression, only to say that one substance supplies both articles of food. Besides, for children at the breast, milk alone suffices; it serves both for meat and drink. “I,” says the Lord, “have meat to eat that ye know not of. My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me.”94    John iv. 32–34. You see another kind of food which, similarly with milk, represents figuratively the will of God. Besides, also, the completion of His own passion He called catachrestically “a cup,”95    Matt. xx. 22, etc. when He alone had to drink and drain it. Thus to Christ the fulfilling of His Father’s will was food; and to us infants, who drink the milk of the word of the heavens, Christ Himself is food. Hence seeking is called sucking; for to those babes that seek the Word, the Father’s breasts of love supply milk.

Further, the Word declares Himself to be the bread of heaven. “For Moses,” He says, “gave you not that bread from heaven, but My Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He that cometh down from heaven, and giveth life to the world. And the bread which I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”96    John vi. 32, 33, 51. Here is to be noted the mystery of the bread, inasmuch as He speaks of it as flesh, and as flesh, consequently, that has risen through fire, as the wheat springs up from decay and germination; and, in truth, it has risen through fire for the joy of the Church, as bread baked. But this will be shown by and by more clearly in the chapter on the resurrection. But since He said, “And the bread which I will give is My flesh,” and since flesh is moistened with blood, and blood is figuratively termed wine, we are bidden to know that, as bread, crumbled into a mixture of wine and water, seizes on the wine and leaves the watery portion, so also the flesh of Christ, the bread of heaven absorbs the blood; that is, those among men who are heavenly, nourishing them up to immortality, and leaving only to destruction the lusts of the flesh.

Thus in many ways the Word is figuratively described, as meat, and flesh, and food, and bread, and blood, and milk. The Lord is all these, to give enjoyment to us who have believed on Him. Let no one then think it strange, when we say that the Lord’s blood is figuratively represented as milk. For is it not figuratively represented as wine? “Who washes,” it is said, “His garment in wine, His robe in the blood of the grape.”97    Gen. xlix. 11. In His own Spirit He says He will deck the body of the Word; as certainly by His own Spirit He will nourish those who hunger for the Word.

And that the blood is the Word, is testified by the blood of Abel,98    [Matt. xxiii. 35. S.] the righteous interceding with God. For the blood would never have uttered a voice, had it not been regarded as the Word: for the righteous man of old is the type of the new righteous one; and the blood of old that interceded, intercedes in the place of the new blood. And the blood that is the Word cries to God, since it intimated that the Word was to suffer.

Further, this flesh, and the blood in it, are by a mutual sympathy moistened and increased by the milk. And the process of formation of the seed in conception ensues when it has mingled with the pure residue of the menses, which remains. For the force that is in the seed coagulating the substances of the blood, as the rennet curdles milk, effects the essential part of the formative process. For a suitable blending conduces to fruitfulness; but extremes are adverse, and tend to sterility. For when the earth itself is flooded by excessive rain, the seed is swept away, while in consequence of scarcity it is dried up; but when the sap is viscous, it retains the seed, and makes it germinate. Some also hold the hypothesis, that the seed of an animal is in substance the foam of the blood, which being by the natural heat of the male agitated and shaken out is turned into foam, and deposited in the seminal veins. For Diogenes Apollionates will have it, that hence is derived the word aphrodisia.99    [i.e., Not from the ἀφρὸς, of the sea, but of the blood.]

From all this it is therefore evident, that the essential principle of the human body is blood. The contents of the stomach, too, at first are milky, a coagulation of fluid; then the same coagulated substance is changed into blood; but when it is formed into a compact consistency in the womb, by the natural and warm spirit by which the embryo is fashioned, it becomes a living creature. Further also, the child after birth is nourished by the same blood. For the flow of milk is the product of the blood; and the source of nourishment is the milk; by which a woman is shown to have brought forth a child, and to be truly a mother, by which also she receives a potent charm of affection. Wherefore the Holy Spirit in the apostle, using the voice of the Lord, says mystically, “I have given you milk to drink.”100    1 Cor. iii. 2. For if we have been regenerated unto Christ, He who has regenerated us nourishes us with His own milk, the Word; for it is proper that what has procreated should forthwith supply nourishment to that which has been procreated. And as the regeneration was conformably spiritual, so also was the nutriment of man spiritual. In all respects, therefore, and in all things, we are brought into union with Christ, into relationship through His blood, by which we are redeemed; and into sympathy, in consequence of the nourishment which flows from the Word; and into immortality, through His guidance:—

The same blood and milk of the Lord is therefore the symbol of the Lord’s passion and teaching. Wherefore each of us babes is permitted to make our boast in the Lord, while we proclaim:—

And that milk is produced from blood by a change, is already clear; yet we may learn it from the flocks and herds. For these animals, in the time of the year which we call spring, when the air has more humidity, and the grass and meadows are juicy and moist, are first filled with blood, as is shown by the distension of the veins of the swollen vessels; and from the blood the milk flows more copiously. But in summer again, the blood being burnt and dried up by the heat, prevents the change, and so they have less milk.

Further, milk has a most natural affinity for water, as assuredly the spiritual washing has for the spiritual nutriment. Those, therefore, that swallow a little cold water, in addition to the above-mentioned milk, straightway feel benefit; for the milk is prevented from souring by its combination with water, not in consequence of any antipathy between them, but in consequence of the water taking kindly to the milk while it is undergoing digestion.

And such as is the union of the Word with baptism, is the agreement of milk with water; for it receives it alone of all liquids, and admits of mixture with water, for the purpose of cleansing, as baptism for the remission of sins. And it is mixed naturally with honey also, and this for cleansing along with sweet nutriment. For the Word blended with love at once cures our passions and cleanses our sins; and the saying,

seems to me to have been spoken of the Word, who is honey. And prophecy oft extols Him “above honey and the honeycomb.”103    Ps. xix. 10.

Furthermore, milk is mixed with sweet wine; and the mixture is beneficial, as when suffering is mixed in the cup in order to immortality. For the milk is curdled by the wine, and separated, and whatever adulteration is in it is drained off. And in the same way, the spiritual communion of faith with suffering man, drawing off as serous matter the lusts of the flesh, commits man to eternity, along with those who are divine, immortalizing him.

Further, many also use the fat of milk, called butter, for the lamp, plainly indicating by this enigma the abundant unction of the Word, since He alone it is who nourishes the infants, makes them grow, and enlightens them. Wherefore also the Scripture says respecting the Lord, “He fed them with the produce of the fields; they sucked honey from the rock, and oil from the solid rock, butter of kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs;”104    Deut. xxxii. 13, 14. and what follows He gave them. But he that prophesies the birth of the child says: “Butter and honey shall He eat.”105    Isa. vii. 15. And it occurs to me to wonder how some dare call themselves perfect and gnostics, with ideas of themselves above the apostle, inflated and boastful, when Paul even owned respecting himself, “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfect; but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which I am apprehended of Christ. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forth to those that are before, I press toward the mark, for the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus.”106    Phil. iii. 12–14. And yet he reckons himself perfect, because he has been emancipated from his former life, and strives after the better life, not as perfect in knowledge, but as aspiring after perfection. Wherefore also he adds, “As many of us as are perfect, are thus minded,”107    Phil. iii. 15. manifestly describing perfection as the renunciation of sin, and regeneration into the faith of the only perfect One, and forgetting our former sins.

Πρὸς τοὺς ὑπολαμβάνοντας τὴν τῶν παιδίων καὶ νηπίων προσηγορίαν τὴν τῶν πρώτων μαθημάτων αἰνίττεσθαι διδαχήν. Ἔξεστι δὲ ἡμῖν ἐκ περιουσίας πρὸς τοὺς φιλεγκλήμονας ἐπαποδύσασθαι· οὐ γὰρ παῖδες ἡμεῖς καὶ νήπιοι πρὸς τὸ παιδαριῶδες καὶ εὐκαταφρόνητον τῆς μαθήσεως προσηγορεύμεθα, καθὼς οἱ εἰς γνῶσιν πεφυσιωμένοι διαβεβλήκασιν· ἀναγεννηθέντες γοῦν εὐθέως τὸ τέλειον ἀπειλήφαμεν, οὗ ἕνεκεν ἐσπεύδομεν. Ἐφωτίσθημεν γάρ· τὸ δὲ ἔστιν ἐπιγνῶναι τὸν θεόν. Οὔκουν ἀτελὴς ὁ ἐγνωκὼς τὸ τέλειον. Καί μου μὴ λάβησθε ὁμολογοῦντος ἐγνωκέναι τὸν θεόν. Ὧδέ πως γὰρ ἔδοξεν εἰπεῖν τῷ λόγῳ· ὃ δὲ ἐλεύθερος. Αὐτίκα γοῦν βαπτιζομένῳ τῷ κυρίῳ ἀπ' οὐρανῶν ἐπήχησε φωνὴ μάρτυς ἠγαπημένου υἱός μου εἶ σὺ ἀγαπητός, ἐγὼ σήμερον γεγέννηκά σε. Πυθώμεθα οὖν τῶν σοφῶν· σήμερον ἀναγεννηθεὶς ὁ Χριστὸς ἤδη τέλειός ἐστιν ἤ, ὅπερ ἀτοπώτατον, ἐλλιπής; Εἰ δὲ τοῦτο, προσμαθεῖν τι αὐτῷ δεῖ. Ἀλλὰ προσμαθεῖν μὲν αὐτὸν εἰκὸς οὐδὲ ἓν θεὸν ὄντα. Οὐ γὰρ μείζων τις εἴη τοῦ λόγου οὐδὲ μὴν διδάσκαλος τοῦ μόνου διδασκάλου. Μή τι οὖν ὁμολογήσουσιν ἄκοντες τὸν λόγον, τέλειον ἐκ τελείου φύντα τοῦ πατρός, κατὰ τὴν οἰκονομικὴν προδιατύπωσιν ἀναγεννηθῆναι τελείως; Καὶ εἰ τέλειος ἦν, τί ἐβαπτίζετο ὁ τέλειος; ἔδει, φασί, πληρῶσαι τὸ ἐπάγγελμα τὸ ἀνθρώπινον. Παγκάλως. Φημὶ γάρ· ἅμα τοίνυν τῷ βαπτίζεσθαι αὐτὸν ὑπὸ Ἰωάννου γίνεται τέλειος; δῆλον ὅτι· Οὐδὲν οὖν πρὸς αὐτοῦ προσέμαθεν; οὐ γάρ. Τελειοῦται δὲ τῷ λουτρῷ μόνῳ καὶ τοῦ πνεύματος τῇ καθόδῳ ἁγιάζεται; οὕτως ἔχει. Τὸ δὲ αὐτὸ συμβαίνει τοῦτο καὶ περὶ ἡμᾶς, ὧν γέγονεν ὑπογραφὴ ὁ κύριος· βαπτιζόμενοι φωτιζόμεθα, φωτιζόμενοι υἱοποιούμεθα, υἱοποιούμενοι τελειούμεθα, τελειούμενοι ἀπαθανατιζόμεθα· ἐγώ, φησίν, εἶπα, θεοί ἐστε καὶ υἱοὶ ὑψίστου πάντες. Καλεῖται δὲ πολλαχῶς τὸ ἔργον τοῦτο, χάρισμα καὶ φώτισμα καὶ τέλειον καὶ λουτρόν· λουτρὸν μὲν δι' οὗ τὰς ἁμαρτίας ἀπορρυπτόμεθα, χάρισμα δὲ ᾧ τὰ ἐπὶ τοῖς ἁμαρτήμασιν ἐπιτίμια ἀνεῖται, φώτισμα δὲ δι' οὗ τὸ ἅγιον ἐκεῖνο φῶς τὸ σωτήριον ἐποπτεύεται, τουτέστιν δι' οὗ τὸ θεῖον ὀξυωποῦμεν, τέλειον δὲ τὸ ἀπροσδεές φαμεν. Τί γὰρ ἔτι λείπεται τῷ θεὸν ἐγνωκότι; Καὶ γὰρ ἄτοπον ὡς ἀληθῶς χάρισμα κεκλῆσθαι θεοῦ τὸ μὴ πεπληρωμένον· τέλειος δὲ ὢν τέλεια χαριεῖται δήπουθεν· ὡς δὲ ἅμα τῷ κελεῦσαι αὐτὸν πάντα γίνεται, οὕτως ἕπεται τῷ χαρίσασθαι μόνον βουληθῆναι αὐτὸν τὸ πεπληρῶσθαι τὴν χάριν. Τὸ γὰρ μέλλον τοῦ χρόνου τῇ δυνάμει τοῦ θελήματος προλαμβάνεται. Πρὸς δὲ καὶ ἡ τῶν κακῶν ἀπαλλαγὴ σωτηρίας ἐστὶν ἀρχή. Μόνον δὲ ἄρα οἱ πρῶτον ἀρξάμενοι τῶν ὅρων τῆς ζωῆς ἤδη τέλειοι, ζῶμεν δὲ ἤδη οἱ θανάτου κεχωρισμένοι. Σωτηρία τοίνυν τὸ ἕπεσθαι Χριστῷ. Ὃ γὰρ γέγονεν ἐν αὐτῷ, ζωή ἐστιν. Ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, φησίν, ὁ τὸν λόγον μου ἀκούων καὶ πιστεύων τῷ πέμψαντί με ἔχει ζωὴν αἰώνιον καὶ εἰς κρίσιν οὐκ ἔρχεται, ἀλλὰ μεταβέβηκεν ἐκ τοῦ θανάτου εἰς τὴν ζωήν. Οὕτω τὸ πιστεῦσαι μόνον καὶ ἀναγεννηθῆναι τελείωσίς ἐστιν ἐν ζωῇ· οὐ γάρ ποτε ἀσθενεῖ ὁ θεός. Ὡς γὰρ τὸ θέλημα αὐτοῦ ἔργον ἐστὶ καὶ τοῦτο κόσμος ὀνομάζεται, οὕτως καὶ τὸ βούλημα αὐτοῦ ἀνθρώπων ἐστὶ σωτηρία καὶ τοῦτο ἐκκλησία κέκληται. Οἶδεν οὖν οὓς κέκληκεν, οὓς δὲ κέκληκεν, σέσωκεν· κέκληκεν δὲ ἅμα καὶ σέσωκεν. Αὐτοὶ γὰρ ὑμεῖς, φησὶν ὁ ἀπόστολος, θεοδίδακτοί ἐστε. Οὐκ ἄρα θεμιτὸν ἡμῖν ἀτελὲς τὸ ὑπ' αὐτοῦ διδασκόμενον νοεῖν, τὸ δὲ μάθημα ἀίδιος σωτηρία ἀιδίου σωτῆρος, ᾧ ἡ χάρις εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας, ἀμήν. Καὶ ὁ μόνον ἀναγεννηθείς, ὥσπερ οὖν καὶ τοὔνομα ἔχει, φωτισθεὶς ἀπήλλακται μὲν παραχρῆμα τοῦ σκότους, ἀπείληφεν δὲ αὐτόθεν τὸ φῶς. Ὥσπερ οὖν οἱ τὸν ὕπνον ἀποσεισάμενοι εὐθέως ἔνδοθεν ἐγρηγόρασιν, μᾶλλον δὲ καθάπερ οἱ τὸ ὑπόχυμα τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν κατάγειν πειρώμενοι οὐ τὸ φῶς αὑτοῖς ἔξωθεν χορηγοῦσιν, ὃ οὐκ ἔχουσιν, τὸ δὲ ἐμπόδιον ταῖς ὄψεσι καταβιβάζοντες ἐλευθέραν ἀπολείπουσι τὴν κόρην, οὕτως καὶ οἱ βαπτιζόμενοι, τὰς ἐπισκοτούσας ἁμαρτίας τῷ θείῳ πνεύματι ἀχλύος δίκην ἀποτριψάμενοι, ἐλεύθερον καὶ ἀνεμπόδιστον καὶ φωτεινὸν ὄμμα τοῦ πνεύματος ἴσχομεν, ᾧ δὴ μόνῳ τὸ θεῖον ἐποπτεύομεν, οὐρανόθεν ἐπεισρέοντος ἡμῖν τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύματος· κρᾶμα τοῦτο αὐγῆς ἀιδίου τὸ ἀίδιον φῶς ἰδεῖν δυναμένης· ἐπεὶ τὸ ὅμοιον τῷ ὁμοίῳ φίλον, φίλον δὲ τὸ ἅγιον τῷ ἐξ οὗ τὸ ἅγιον, ὃ δὴ κυρίως κέκληται φῶς· ἦτε γάρ ποτε σκότος, νῦν δὲ φῶς ἐν κυρίῳ. Ἐντεῦθεν τὸν ἄνθρωπον ὑπὸ τῶν παλαιῶν ἡγοῦμαι κεκλῆσθαι φῶτα. Ἀλλ' οὐδέπω, φασίν, ἀπείληφεν τὴν τελείαν δωρεάν. Σύμφημι κἀγώ, πλὴν ἐν φωτί ἐστιν καὶ τὸ σκότος αὐτὸν οὐ καταλαμβάνει· φωτὸς δὲ ἀνὰ μέσον καὶ τοῦ σκότους οὐδὲ ἕν· ἐν δὲ τῇ ἀναστάσει τῶν πιστευόντων ἀπόκειται τὸ τέλος· τὸ δὲ οὐκ ἄλλου τινός ἐστι μεταλαβεῖν ἀλλ' ἢ τῆς προ ωμολογημένης ἐπαγγελίας τυχεῖν. Μὴ γὰρ κατὰ τὸν αὐτὸν χρόνον ἅμα ἄμφω συνίστασθαί φαμεν, τήν τε πρὸς τὸ πέρας ἄφιξιν καὶ τῆς ἀφίξεως τὴν πρόληψιν· οὐ γάρ ἐστι ταὐτὸν αἰὼν καὶ χρόνος οὐδὲ μὴν ὁρμὴ καὶ τέλος, οὐκ ἔστιν· περὶ ἓν δὲ ἄμφω καὶ περὶ ἄμφω ὁ εἷς καταγίνεται. Ἔστι γοῦν, ὡς εἰπεῖν, ὁρμὴ μὲν ἡ πίστις ἐν χρόνῳ γεννωμένη, τέλος δὲ τὸ τυχεῖν τῆς ἐπαγγελίας εἰς αἰῶνας βεβαιούμενον. Αὐτὸς δὲ ὁ κύριος σαφέστατα τῆς σωτηρίας τὴν ἰσότητα ἀπεκάλυψεν εἰπών· τοῦτο γάρ ἐστι τὸ θέλημα τοῦ πατρός μου, ἵνα πᾶς ὁ θεωρῶν τὸν υἱὸν καὶ πιστεύων ἐπ' αὐτὸν ἔχῃ ζωὴν αἰώνιον, καὶ ἀναστήσω αὐτὸν ἐν τῇ ἐσχάτῃ ἡμέρᾳ. Καθ' ὅσον μὲν οὖν δυνατὸν ἐν τῷδε τῷ κόσμῳ, ὃν ἐσχάτην ἡμέραν ᾐνίξατο εἰς τότε τηρούμενον ὅτε παύσεται, τελείους ἡμᾶς γενέσθαι πιστεύομεν. Πίστις γὰρ μαθήσεως τελειότης· διὰ τοῦτό φησιν ὁ πιστεύων εἰς τὸν υἱὸν ἔχει ζωὴν αἰώνιον. Εἰ τοίνυν οἱ πιστεύσαντες ἔχομεν τὴν ζωήν, τί περαιτέρω τοῦ κεκτῆσθαι ζωὴν ἀίδιον ὑπολείπεται; οὐδὲν δὲ ἐνδεῖ τῇ πίστει τελείᾳ οὔσῃ ἐξ ἑαυτῆς καὶ πεπληρωμένῃ. Εἰ δὲ ἐνδεῖ τι αὐτῇ, οὐκ ἔστιν ὁλοτελὴς οὐδὲ πίστις ἐστί, σκάζουσα περί τι, οὐδὲ μετὰ τὴν ἐνθένδε ἀποδημίαν ἄλλα μένει τοὺς πεπιστευκότας, ἀδιακρίτως ἐνταῦθα ἠρραβωνισμένους, ἐκεῖνο δὲ τῷ πιστεῦσαι ἤδη προειληφότες ἐσόμενον, μετὰ τὴν ἀνάστασιν ἀπολαμβάνομεν γενόμενον, ὅπως ἂν ἐκεῖνο πληρωθῇ τὸ λεχθὲν γενηθήτω κατὰ τὴν πίστιν σου. Οὗ δὲ ἡ πίστις, ἐνταῦθα ἡ ἐπαγγελία, τελείωσις δὲ ἐπαγγελίας ἡ ἀνάπαυσις. Ὥστε ἡ μὲν γνῶσις ἐν τῷ φωτίσματι, τὸ δὲ πέρας τῆς γνώσεως ἡ ἀνά παυσις, ὃ δὴ ἔσχατον νοεῖται ὀρεκτόν. Καθάπερ οὖν τῇ πείρᾳ ἡ ἀπειρία καταλύεται καὶ τῷ πόρῳ ἡ ἀπορία, οὕτως ἀνάγκη τῷ φωτισμῷ ἐξαφανίζεσθαι τὸ σκότος· ἡ ἄγνοια δὲ τὸ σκότος, καθ' ἣν περιπίπτομεν τοῖς ἁμαρτήμασιν, ἀμβλυωποῦντες περὶ τὴν ἀλήθειαν. Φωτισμὸς ἄρα ἡ γνῶσίς ἐστιν, ὁ ἐξαφανίζων τὴν ἄγνοιαν καὶ τὸ διορατικὸν ἐντιθείς. Ἀλλὰ καὶ ἡ τῶν χειρόνων ἀποβολὴ τῶν κρειττόνων ἐστὶν ἀποκάλυψις. Ἃ γὰρ ἡ ἄγνοια συνέδησεν κακῶς, ταῦτα διὰ τῆς ἐπιγνώσεως ἀναλύεται καλῶς. Τὰ δὲ δεσμὰ ταῦτα, ᾗ τάχος, ἀνίεται πίστει μὲν ἀνθρωπίνῃ, θεϊκῇ δὲ τῇ χάριτι, ἀφιεμένων τῶν πλημμελημάτων ἑνὶ παιωνίῳ φαρμάκῳ, λογικῷ βαπτίσματι. Πάντα μὲν οὖν ἀπολουόμεθα τὰ ἁμαρτήματα, οὐκέτι δέ ἐσμεν παρὰ πόδας κακοί. Μία χάρις αὕτη τοῦ φωτίσματος τὸ μὴ τὸν αὐτὸν εἶναι τῷ πρὶν ἢ λούσασθαι τὸν τρόπον. Ὅτι δὲ ἡ γνῶσις συνανατέλλει τῷ φωτίσματι περιαστράπτουσα τὸν νοῦν, καὶ εὐθέως ἀκούομεν μαθηταὶ οἱ ἀμαθεῖς, πρότερόν ποτε τῆς μαθήσεως ἐκείνης προσγενομένης· οὐ γὰρ ἂν ἔχοις εἰπεῖν τὸν χρόνον. Ἡ μὲν γὰρ κατήχησις εἰς πίστιν περιάγει, πίστις δὲ ἅμα βαπτίσματι ἁγίῳ παιδεύεται πνεύματι· ἐπεί, ὅτι γε μία καθολικὴ τῆς ἀνθρωπότητος σωτηρία ἡ πίστις, ἰσότης δὲ καὶ κοινωνία τοῦ δικαίου καὶ φιλανθρώπου θεοῦ ἡ αὐτὴ πρὸς πάντας, ὁ ἀπόστο λος σαφέστατα ἐξηγήσατο ὧδέ πως εἰπών· Πρὸ τοῦ δὲ ἐλθεῖν τὴν πίστιν ὑπὸ νόμον ἐφρουρούμεθα συγκλειόμενοι εἰς τὴν μέλλουσαν πίστιν ἀποκαλυφθῆναι· ὥστε ὁ νόμος παιδαγωγὸς ἡμῶν γέγονεν εἰς Χριστόν, ἵνα ἐκ πίστεως δικαιωθῶμεν· ἐλθούσης δὲ τῆς πίστεως οὐκέτι ὑπὸ παιδαγωγόν ἐσμεν. Οὐκ ἀκούετε ὅτι ὑπ' ἐκεῖνον τὸν νόμον οὐκέτι ἐσμέν, ὃς ἦν μετὰ φόβου, ὑπὸ δὲ τὸν λόγον τῆς προαιρέσεως τὸν παιδαγωγόν; Εἶτα μέντοι ἐπήγαγεν τὴν ἁπάσης ἐκτὸς προσωποληψίας φωνήν· πάντες γὰρ υἱοί ἐστε διὰ πίστεως θεοῦ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ· ὅσοι γὰρ εἰς Χριστὸν ἐβαπτίσθητε, Χριστὸν ἐνεδύσασθε. Οὐκ ἔνι Ἰουδαῖος οὔτε Ἕλλην, οὐκ ἔνι δοῦλος οὔτε ἐλεύθερος,οὐκ ἔνι ἄρσεν καὶ θῆλυ· πάντες γὰρ ὑμεῖς εἷς ἐστε ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ. Οὐκ ἄρα οἳ μὲν γνωστικοί, οἳ δὲ ψυχικοὶ ἐν αὐτῷ τῷ λόγῳ, ἀλλ' οἱ πάντες ἀποθέμενοι τὰς σαρκικὰς ἐπιθυμίας ἴσοι καὶ πνευματικοὶ παρὰ τῷ κυρίῳ. Καὶ ἀλλαχόθι πάλιν γράφει· καὶ γὰρ ἐν ἑνὶ πνεύματι ἡμεῖς πάντες εἰς ἓν σῶμα ἐβαπτίσθημεν, εἴτε Ἰουδαῖοι εἴτε Ἕλληνες, εἴτε δοῦλοι εἴτε ἐλεύ θεροι· καὶ πάντες ἓν πόμα ἐποτίσθημεν. Οὐκ ἄτοπον δὲ καὶ τοῖς αὐτῶν ἐκείνων συγχρήσασθαι ῥήμασιν, οἳ διυλισμὸν μὲν τοῦ πνεύματος τὴν μνήμην τῶν κρειττόνων εἶναί φασιν. ∆ιυλισμὸν δὲ νοοῦσιν τὸν ἀπὸ τῆς ὑπομνήσεως τῶν ἀμεινόνων τῶν χειρόνων χωρισμόν· ἕπεται δὲ ἐξ ἀνάγκης τῷ ὑπομνησθέντι τῶν βελτιόνων ἡ μετάνοια ἡ ἐπὶ τοῖς ἥττοσιν· αὐτὸ γοῦν τὸ πνεῦμα ὁμολογοῦσι μετανοῆσαν ἀναδραμεῖν. Τὸν αὐτὸν οὖν τρόπον καὶ ἡμεῖς ἐπὶ τοῖς ἡμαρτημένοις μετανενοηκότες, ἀποταξάμενοι τοῖς ἐλαττώμασιν αὐτῶν, διυλιζόμενοι βαπτίσματι, πρὸς τὸ ἀίδιον ἀνατρέχομεν φῶς, οἱ παῖδες πρὸς τὸν πατέρα. Ἀγαλλιασάμενος γοῦν ἐν τῷ πνεύματι Ἰησοῦς, ἐξομολογοῦμαί σοι, πάτερ, φησίν, ὁ θεὸς τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ τῆς γῆς, ὅτι ἀπέκρυψας ταῦτα ἀπὸ σοφῶν καὶ συνετῶν, καὶ ἀπεκάλυψας αὐτὰ νηπίοις· νηπίους ἡμᾶς ὁ παιδαγωγὸς καὶ διδάσκαλος ἀποκαλῶν τοὺς τῶν ἐν κόσμῳ σοφῶν ἐπιτηδειοτέρους εἰς σωτηρίαν, οἳ σοφοὺς σφᾶς ἡγούμενοι τετύφωνται. Καὶ ἐπιβοᾶται, ἀγαλλιώμενος καὶ ὑπερευφραινόμενος, οἱονεὶ συντραυλίζων τοῖς νηπίοις· ναί, ὁ πατήρ, ὅτι οὕτως εὐδοκία ἐγένετο ἔμπροσθέν σου. ∆ιὰ τοῦτο τὰ κεκρυμμένα ἀπὸ σοφῶν καὶ συνετῶν τοῦ νῦν αἰῶνος ἀπεκαλύφθη τοῖς νηπίοις. Νήπιοι ἄρα εἰκότως οἱ παῖδες τοῦ θεοῦ οἱ τὸν μὲν παλαιὸν ἀποθέμενοι ἄνθρωπον καὶ τῆς κακίας ἐκδυσάμενοι τὸν χιτῶνα, ἐπενδυσά μενοι δὲ τὴν ἀφθαρσίαν τοῦ Χριστοῦ, ἵνα καινοὶ γενόμενοι, λαὸς ἅγιος, ἀναγεννηθέντες ἀμίαντον φυλάξωμεν τὸν ἄνθρωπον καὶ νήπιοι ὦμεν ὡς βρέφος τοῦ θεοῦ κεκαθαρμένον πορνείας καὶ πονηρίας. Σαφέστατα γοῦν ὁ μακάριος Παῦλος ἀπήλλαξεν ἡμᾶς τῆς ζητήσεως ἐν τῇ προτέρᾳ πρὸς Κορινθίους ἐπιστολῇ ὧδέ πως γράφων· ἀδελφοί, μὴ παιδία γίνεσθε ταῖς φρεσίν, ἀλλὰ τῇ κακίᾳ νηπιάζετε, ταῖς δὲ φρεσὶ τέλειοι γίνεσθε. Τὸ δὲ ὅτε ἤμην νήπιος, ἐφρόνουν ὡς νήπιος, ἐλάλουν ὡς νήπιος τὴν κατὰ νόμον ἀγωγὴν αἰνίττεται, καθ' ἣν οὐχ ὡς ἁπλοῦς ἤδη, ἀλλ' ὡς ἔτι ἄφρων νήπια μὲν φρονῶν ἐδίωκε, νήπια δὲ λαλῶν ἐβλασφήμει τὸν λόγον. ∆ύο γὰρ σημαίνει τὸ νήπιον. Ἐπειδὴ γέγονα, φησίν, ἀνήρ, πάλιν ὁ Παῦλος λέγει, κατήργηκα τὰ τοῦ νηπίου. Οὐχ ἡλικίας μέγεθος ἀτελές, ἀλλ' οὐδὲ μὴν χρόνου μέτρον ὡρισμένον, ἀλλ' οὐδὲ ἀνδρικῶν καὶ ἐντελεστέρων μαθημάτων διδαχὰς ἄλλας ἀπορρήτους αἰνίττεται, τὴν νηπιότητα ὑπερόριον ἀποστέλλων ὁ καταργεῖν αὐτὴν ὁμολογῶν ἀπόστολος, ἀλλὰ νηπίους μὲν τοὺς ἐν νόμῳ λέγει, οἳ τῷ φόβῳ, καθάπερ οἱ παῖδες τοῖς μορμολυκείοις, ἐκταράττονται, ἄνδρας δὲ τοὺς λόγῳ πειθηνίους καὶ αὐτεξουσίους κέκληκεν· οἳ πεπιστεύκαμεν ἑκουσίῳ προαιρέσει σῳζόμενοι, ἐμφρόνως, οὐκ ἀφρόνως, δεδιττόμενοι τῷ φόβῳ. Αὐτὸς περὶ τούτου μαρτυρήσει ὁ ἀπόστολος τοὺς Ἰουδαίους κατὰ τὴν προτέραν διαθήκην κληρονόμους λέγων, κατ' ἐπαγγελίαν δὲ ἡμᾶς. Λέγω δέ, φησίν, ἐφ' ὅσον χρόνον ὁ κληρονόμος νήπιός ἐστιν, οὐδὲν διαφέρει δούλου κύριος πάντων ὤν, ἀλλὰ ὑπὸ ἐπιτρόπους ἐστὶ καὶ οἰκονόμους ἄχρι τῆς προθεσμίας τοῦ πατρός. Οὕτως καὶ ἡμεῖς, ὅτε ἦμεν νήπιοι, ὑπὸ τὰ στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου ἦμεν δεδουλωμένοι· ὅτε δὲ ἦλθεν τὸ πλήρωμα τοῦ χρόνου, ἐξαπέστειλεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ, γενόμενον ἐκ γυναικός, γενόμενον ὑπὸ νόμον, ἵνα τοὺς ὑπὸ νόμον ἐξαγοράσῃ, ἵνα τὴν υἱοθεσίαν ἀπολάβωμεν δι' αὐτοῦ. Ὅρα πῶς ὡμολόγησεν εἶναι νηπίους τοὺς ὑπὸ φόβον καὶ ἁμαρτίας, τοὺς δὲ ὑπὸ τὴν πίστιν υἱοὺς καλῶν ἀπήνδρωσεν ὡς πρὸς ἀντιδιαστολὴν τῶν ἐν τῷ νόμῳ νηπίων. Οὐκέτι γάρ, φησί, δοῦλος εἶ, ἀλλὰ υἱός· εἰ δὲ υἱός, καὶ κληρονόμος διὰ θεοῦ. Τί οὖν ἐνδεῖ τῷ υἱῷ μετὰ τὴν κληρονομίαν; Χάριεν τοίνυν οὕτως ἐξηγήσασθαι τὸ ὅτε ἤμην νήπιος, τουτέστιν ὅτε ἤμην Ἰουδαῖος, Ἑβραῖος γὰρ ἄνωθεν ἦν, ὡς νήπιος ἐφρόνουν, ἐπειδὴ εἱπόμην τῷ νόμῳ· ἐπὶ δὲ γέγονα ἀνήρ, οὐκέτι τὰ τοῦ νηπίου, τουτέστι τὰ τοῦ νόμου, ἀλλὰ τὰ τοῦ ἀνδρὸς φρονῶ, τουτέστι τὰ τοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὃν μόνον ἄνδρα ἡ γραφή, καθὼς προειρήκαμεν, καλεῖ, κατήργηκα τὰ τοῦ νηπίου. Ἡ δὲ ἐν Χριστῷ νηπιότης τελείωσίς ἐστιν, ὡς πρὸς τὸν νόμον. Ἐνταῦθα γενομένοις τῇ νηπιότητι ἡμῶν συνηγορητέον. Ἔτι καὶ τὸ πρὸς τοῦ ἀποστόλου εἰρημένον ἐπεξηγητέον γάλα ὑμᾶς ἐπότισα, ὡς νηπίους ἐν Χριστῷ, οὐ βρῶμα· οὔπω γὰρ ἐδύνασθε· ἀλλ' οὐδὲ ἔτι νῦν δύνασθε. Οὔ μοι γὰρ δοκεῖ ἰουδαϊκῶς ἐκδέχεσθαι δεῖν τὸ λεγόμενον. Ἀντιπαραθήσω γὰρ κἀκείνην τὴν γραφὴν εἰσάξω ὑμᾶς εἰς τὴν γῆν τὴν ἀγαθήν, τὴν ῥέουσαν γάλα καὶ μέλι. Ἀνακύπτει τοίνυν ἀπορία μεγίστη κατὰ τὴν τῶν γραφῶν τῶνδε συμβολήν, τί νοοῦσιν. Εἰ γὰρ ἀρχὴ τῆς εἰς Χριστὸν πίστεως ἡ διὰ τοῦ γάλακτος νηπιότης ἐστίν, ἐξευτελίζεται δὲ αὕτη ὡς παιδαριώδης καὶ ἀτελής, πῶς ἡ τοῦ τελείου καὶ γνωστικοῦ μετὰ τὴν βρῶσιν ἀνάπαυσις αὖθις νηπίῳ τετίμηται γάλακτι; Μή τι οὖν τὸ ὡς, παραβολῆς ὂν δηλωτικόν, τοιοῦτόν τι ἐμφαίνει, καὶ δὴ ἀναγνωστέον ὧδέ πως τὸ ῥητόν· γάλα ὑμᾶς ἐπότισα ἐν Χριστῷ καὶ διαστήσαντες ὀλίγον ἐπαγάγωμεν ὡς νηπίους, ἵνα κατὰ τὴν διαστολὴν τῆς ἀναγνώσεως τοιαύτην ἀποδεξώμεθα διάνοιαν· κατήχησα ὑμᾶς ἐν Χριστῷ ἁπλῇ καὶ ἀληθεῖ καὶ αὐτοφυεῖ τροφῇ τῇ πνευματικῇ· τοιαύτη γὰρ ἡ τοῦ γάλακτος ζωοτρόφος οὐσία, φιλοστόργοις πηγάζουσα μαστοῖς· ὡς νοεῖσθαι τὸ πᾶν τῇδε· ὥσπερ τῷ γάλακτι αἱ τίτθαι τοὺς παῖδας τοὺς νεογνοὺς ἐκτρέφουσιν, κἀγὼ δὲ οὕτω τῷ Χριστοῦ γάλακτι λόγῳ πνευματικὴν ὑμῖν ἐνστάζων τροφήν. Οὕτω γοῦν τελεία τροφὴ τὸ γάλα ἐστὶ τὸ τέλειον καὶ εἰς τέλος ἄγει τὸ ἀκατάπαυστον. ∆ιὸ κἀν τῇ ἀναπαύσει τὸ αὐτὸ τοῦτο ἐπήγγελται γάλα καὶ μέλι. Εἰκότως γάλα αὖθις ὑπισχνεῖται τοῖς δικαίοις ὁ κύριος, ἵνα δὴ σαφῶς ὁ λόγος ἄμφω δειχθῇ, ἄλφα καὶ ὦ, ἀρχὴ καὶ τέλος ὁ λόγος ἀλληγορούμενος γάλα. Τοιοῦτόν τι καὶ Ὅμηρος ἄκων μαντεύεται τοὺς δικαίους τῶν ἀνθρώπων γαλακτοφά γους καλῶν. Ἔξεστι δὲ καὶ οὕτως ἐκλαμβάνειν τὴν γραφήν· κἀγὼ δέ, ἀδελφοί, οὐκ ἐδυνήθην λαλῆσαι ὑμῖν ὡς πνευματικοῖς, ἀλλ' ὡς σαρκίνοις, ὡς νηπίοις ἐν Χριστῷ, ὡς δύνασθαι σαρκίνους νοεῖσθαι τοὺς νεωστὶ κατηχουμένους καὶ νηπίους ἔτι ἐν Χριστῷ. Πνευματικοὺς μὲν γὰρ τοὺς πεπιστευκότας ἤδη τῷ ἁγίῳ πνεύματι προσεῖπεν, σαρκικοὺς δὲ τοὺς νεοκατηχήτους καὶ μηδέπω κεκαθαρμένους, οὓς ἔτι σαρκικοὺς εἰκότως λέγει ἐπ' ἴσης τοῖς ἐθνικοῖς τὰ σαρκὸς ἔτι φρονοῦν τας. Ὅπου γὰρ ἐν ὑμῖν ζῆλος καὶ ἔρις, οὐχὶ σαρκικοί ἐστε καὶ κατὰ ἄνθρωπον περιπατεῖτε; ∆ιὸ καὶ γάλα ὑμᾶς ἐπότισα, φησίν, τὴν γνῶσιν ὑμῖν ἐνέχεα, λέγων, τὴν ἐκ κατηχήσεως ἀνατρέφουσαν εἰς ζωὴν ἀίδιον. Ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸ ἐπότισα ῥῆμα τελείας μεταλήψεως σύμβολόν ἐστιν. Πίνειν μὲν γὰρ οἱ τέλειοι λέγονται, θηλάζειν δὲ οἱ νήπιοι. Τὸ αἷμά μου γάρ, φησὶν ὁ κύριος, ἀληθής ἐστι πόσις. Μή τι οὖν γάλα εἰπὼν ἐπότισα τὴν ἐν λόγῳ γάλακτι τελείαν εὐφροσύνην, τὴν γνῶσιν τῆς ἀληθείας, ᾐνίξατο; Τὸ δ' ἐπαγόμενον ἑξῆς οὐ βρῶμα, οὔπω γὰρ ἐδύνασθε τὴν ἐν τῷ μέλλοντι αἰῶνι ἐναργῆ ἀποκάλυψιν βρώματος δίκην πρόσωπον πρὸς πρόσωπον αἰνίττεσθαι δύναται. Βλέπομεν γὰρ ὡς δι' ἐσόπτρου νῦν, ὁ αὐτὸς ἀπόστολος λέγει, τότε δὲ πρόσωπον πρὸς πρόσωπον. ∆ιὸ κἀκεῖνο ἐπήγαγεν· ἀλλ' οὐδὲ ἔτι νῦν δύνασθε, ἔτι γὰρ σαρκικοί ἐστε, τὰ τῆς σαρκὸς φρονοῦντες, ἐπιθυμοῦντες, ἐρῶντες, ζηλοῦντες, μηνιῶντες, φθονοῦντες· οὐ γὰρ ὅτι ἔτι ἐν σαρκί ἐσμεν, ὡς ὑπειλήφασί τινες· σὺν αὐτῇ γὰρ τὸ πρόσωπον ἰσάγγελον ἔχοντες πρόσωπον πρὸς πρόσωπον τὴν ἐπαγγε λίαν ὀψόμεθα. Πῶς δέ, εἰ ἐκείνη ὄντως ἐστὶν ἡ ἐπαγγελία μετὰ τὴν ἐνθένδε ἀπαλλαγήν, ἣν ὀφθαλμὸς οὐκ εἶδεν οὐδὲ ἐπὶ νοῦν ἀνθρώπου οὐκ ἀνέβη, εἰδέναι φασὶν οὐ πνεύματι ἐννενοηκότες, ἀλλὰ ἐκ μαθήσεως παρειληφότες ὃ οὖς οὐκ ἤκουσέν ποτε ἢ μόνον ἐκεῖνο τὸ ἐν τρίτῳ ἁρπασθὲν οὐρανῷ; Ἀλλὰ κἀκεῖνο ἐχεμυθεῖν ἐκελεύετο τότε. Εἰ δὲ ἀνθρωπίνη σοφία ἐστίν, ὅπερ ὑπολείπεται νοεῖν, ἡ μεγαλαυχία τῆς γνώσεως, ἄκουε τὸν νόμον τῆς γραφῆς· μὴ καυχάσθω ὁ σοφὸς ἐν τῇ σοφίᾳ αὐτοῦ, καὶ μὴ καυχάσθω ὁ ἰσχυρὸς ἐν τῇ ἰσχύι αὐτοῦ, ὁ δὲ καυχώμενος ἐν κυρίῳ καυχάσθω. Ἡμεῖς δὲ θεο δίδακτοι καὶ τῷ Χριστοῦ ὀνόματι καυχώμενοι. Πῶς οὖν οὐ ταύτῃ νοεῖν τὸν ἀπόστολον ὑποληπτέον τὸ γάλα τῶν νηπίων, εἴ τε ποιμένες ἐσμὲν οἱ τῶν ἐκκλησιῶν προηγούμενοι κατ' εἰκόνα τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ ποιμένος, τὰ δὲ πρόβατα ἡμεῖς, μὴ οὐχὶ καὶ γάλα τῆς ποίμνης τὸν κύριον λέγοντα τὴν ἀκολουθίαν φυλάττειν ἀλληγοροῦντα; Καὶ δὴ τὸ ῥητὸν αὖθις τῇ διανοίᾳ ἐφαρμοστέον· γάλα ὑμᾶς ἐπότισα, οὐ βρῶμα· οὔπω γὰρ ἐδύνασθε, οὐκ ἄλλο τι παρὰ τὸ γάλα τὸ βρῶμα ὑπολαμβάνοντας, ταὐτὸν δὲ τῇ οὐσίᾳ· ὡσαύτως γὰρ καὶ ὁ λόγος ὁ αὐτὸς ἢ ἀνειμένος καὶ ἤπιος ὡς γάλα ἢ πεπηγὼς καὶ συνεστραμμένος ὡς βρῶμα. Οὐ μὴν ἀλλὰ καὶ τῇδε ἐκλαμβάνουσιν ἡμῖν γάλα νοεῖσθαι τὸ κήρυγμα δύναται τὸ ἐπὶ πλεῖστον κεχυμένον, βρῶμα δὲ ἡ πίστις εἰς θεμέλιον ἐκ κατηχήσεως συνεστραμμένη, ἣ δὴ στερεμνιωτέρα τῆς ἀκοῆς ὑπάρχουσα βρώματι ἀπεικάζεται, ἐν αὐτῇ σωματοποιουμένη τῇ ψυχῇ. Τὴν τοιάνδε τροφὴν ἀλλαχόθι δὲ καὶ ὁ κύριος ἐν τῷ κατὰ Ἰωάννην εὐαγγελίῳ ἑτέρως ἐξήνεγκεν διὰ συμβόλων φάγεσθέ μου τὰς σάρκας εἰπὼν καὶ πίεσθέ μου τὸ αἷμα, τὸ ἐναργὲς τῆς πίστεως καὶ τῆς ἐπαγ γελίας βρώσιμον καὶ τὸ πότιμον ἀλληγορῶν· δι' ὧν ἡ ἐκκλησία, καθάπερ ἄνθρωπος ἐκ πολλῶν συνεστηκυῖα μελῶν, ἄρδεταί τε καὶ αὔξεται συγκροτεῖταί τε καὶ συμπήγνυται ἐξ ἀμφοῖν, σώματος μὲν τῆς πίστεως, ψυχῆς δὲ τῆς ἐλπίδος, ὥσπερ καὶ ὁ κύριος ἐκ σαρκὸς καὶ αἵματος. Τῷ γὰρ ὄντι αἷμα τῆς πίστεως ἡ ἐλπίς, ὑφ' ἧς συνέχεται, καθάπερ ὑπὸ ψυχῆς, ἡ πίστις. ∆ιαπνευσάσης δὲ τῆς ἐλπίδος δίκην ἐκρυέντος αἵματος τὸ ζωτικὸν τῆς πίστεως ὑπεκλύεται. Εἰ δὲ ἄρα προσφιλονικεῖν ἐθέλοιέν τινες τὰ πρῶτα μαθήματα τὸ γάλα μηνύειν λέγοντες, ὡσανεὶ πρώτας τροφάς, τὸ δὲ βρῶμα τὰς πνευματικὰς ἐπιγνώσεις, σφᾶς αὐτοὺς ἀνάγοντες εἰς γνῶσιν, ἴστωσαν, ὡς ἄρα στερεὰν τροφὴν τὸ βρῶμα λέγοντες καὶ σάρκα καὶ αἷμα τοῦ Ἰησοῦ ὑποφέρονται τῇ σφῶν αὐτῶν μεγαλαύχῳ σοφίᾳ ἐπὶ τὴν ἁπλότητα τὴν ἀληθῆ. Πρωτόγονον γὰρ τὸ αἷμα εὑρίσκεται ἐν ἀνθρώπῳ, ὃ δή τινες οὐσίαν εἰπεῖν ψυχῆς τετολμήκασιν· τοῦτο δὴ τὸ αἷμα φυσικῇ τρεπόμενον πέψει, κυησάσης τῆς μητρός, φιλοστοργίᾳ συμπαθεῖ ἐξανθεῖ καὶ γηράσκει πρὸς τὸ ἄφοβον τοῦ παιδίου· καὶ ἔστι μὲν τῆς σαρκὸς ὑγρότερον τὸ αἷμα, οἷον ὑγρά τις οὖσα σάρξ, τοῦ δὲ αἵματος νοστιμώτερον τὸ γάλα καὶ λεπτομερέστερον. Εἴτε γὰρ τὸ ἐπιχορηγούμενον αἷμα τῷ ἐμβρύῳ καὶ διὰ μητρῴου πρότερον ἐπιπεμπόμενον ὀμφαλοῦ εἴτε αὖ τὸ καταμήνιον αὐτό, ἀποκλεισθὲν τῆς οἰκείας φορᾶς, κατὰ φυσικὴν ἀνάχυσιν χωρεῖν κελεύεται πρὸς τοῦ παντρόφου καὶ γενεσιουργοῦ θεοῦ ἐπὶ τοὺς φλεγμαίνοντας ἤδη μαστοὺς καὶ ὑπὸ πνεύματος ἀλλοιούμενον θερμοῦ ποθεινὴ σκευάζεται τῷ νηπίῳ τροφή, αἷμα τὸ μεταβάλλον ἐστί. Μάλιστα γὰρ πάντων μελῶν μαστοὶ συμπαθεῖς μήτρᾳ. Ἐπὰν οὖν κατὰ τοὺς τόκους ἀποκοπὴν λάβῃ τὸ ἀγγεῖον, δι' οὗ πρὸς τὸ ἔμβρυον τὸ αἷμα ἐφέρετο, μύσις μὲν γίνεται τοῦ πόρου, τὴν δὲ ὁρμὴν ἐπὶ τοὺς μαστοὺς τὸ αἷμα λαμβάνει καὶ πολλῆς τῆς ἐπιφορᾶς γενομένης διατείνονται καὶ μεταβάλλει τὸ αἷμα εἰς γάλα, ἀναλόγως τῇ ἐπὶ τῆς ἑλκώσεως εἰς πῦον τοῦ αἵματος μεταβολῇ· εἴτε αὖ ἀπὸ τῶν ἐν μαστοῖς παρακειμένων φλεβῶν ἀναστομουμένων κατὰ τὰς διατάσεις τῆς κυήσεως τὸ αἷμα μεταχεῖται εἰς τὰς φυσικὰς τῶν μαστῶν σήραγγας, τούτῳ δὲ ἀνακιρνάμενον τὸ ἀπὸ τῶν γειτνιωσῶν καταπεμπόμενον ἀρτηριῶν πνεῦμα, μενούσης ἔτι τῆς ὑποκειμένης ἀκεραίου τοῦ αἵματος οὐσίας, ἐκκυμαινόμενον λευκαίνεται καὶ τῇ τοιαύτῃ ἀνακοπῇ κατ' ἐξαφρισμὸν μεταβάλλεται, παραπλήσιόν τι πεπονθὸς τῇ θαλάττῃ, ἣν δὴ κατὰ τὰς ἐμβολὰς τῶν πνευμάτων οἱ ποιηταί φασιν ἀπο πτύειν ἁλὸς ἄχνην· πλὴν ἀλλὰ αἷμα ἔχει τὴν οὐσίαν. Τούτῳ τῷ τρόπῳ καὶ οἱ ποταμοὶ ῥόθῳ φερόμενοι τῇ ἐμπεριλήψει τοῦ περικεχυμένου ἀέρος ξαινόμενοι ἀφρὸν μορμύρουσιν, καὶ τὸ ἐνστόμιον ἡμῶν ὑγρὸν τῷ πνεύματι ἐκλευκαίνεται. Τίς οὖν ἡ ἀποκλήρωσις μὴ οὐχὶ καὶ τὸ αἷμα ἐπὶ τὸ φωτεινότατον καὶ λευκότατον ὑπὸ τοῦ πνεύματος τρέπεσθαι ὁμολογεῖν; Πάσχει δὲ τὴν μεταβολὴν κατὰ ποιότητα, οὐ κατ' οὐσίαν. Ἀμέλει γοῦν οὐ τροφιμώτερον ἄλλο τι οὐδὲ μὴν γλυκύτερον ἀλλ' οὐδὲ λευκότερον εὕροις ἂν γάλακτος. Πάντῃ δὲ ἔοικεν τούτῳ ἡ πνευματικὴ τροφή, γλυκεῖα μὲν διὰ τὴν χάριν ὑπάρχουσα, τρόφιμος δὲ ὡς ζωή, λευκὴ δὲ ὡς ἡμέρα Χριστοῦ, καὶ τὸ αἷμα τοῦ λόγου πεφανέρωται ὡς γάλα. Ταύτῃ τοίνυν περὶ τὴν ἀποκύησιν οἰκονομούμενον τῷ βρέφει τὸ γάλα χορηγεῖται, καὶ οἱ μαστοί, οἱ τέως τὸν ἄνδρα περιβλεπόμενοι ὀρθοί, ἤδη κατανεύουσι πρὸς τὸ παιδίον, τὴν ὑπὸ τῆς φύσεως πεπονημένην εὔληπτον παρέχειν διδασκόμενοι τροφὴν εἰς ἀνατροφὴν σωτηρίας· οὐ γὰρ ὡς αἱ πηγαὶ πλήρεις εἰσὶν οἱ μαστοὶ ἐπεισρέοντος ἑτοίμου γάλακτος, ἀλλὰ μεταβάλλοντες τὴν τροφὴν ἐν ἑαυτοῖς ἐργάζονται γάλα καὶ διαπνέουσιν. Ἡ τροφὴ δὲ ἡ κατάλληλος αὕτη καὶ πρόσφορος νεοπαγεῖ καὶ νεοφυεῖ παιδίῳ πρὸς τοῦ θεοῦ τοῦ τροφέως καὶ πατρὸς τῶν γεννωμένων καὶ ἀναγεννωμένων πονουμένη, οἷον τὸ μάννα οὐρανόθεν ἐπερρέετο τοῖς παλαιοῖς Ἑβραίοις, ἡ τῶν ἀγγέλων ἐπουράνιος τροφή. Ἀμέλει καὶ νῦν αἱ τίτθαι τὸ πρωτόχυτον τοῦ γάλακτος πόμα ὁμωνύμως ἐκείνῃ τῇ τροφῇ μάννα κεκλήκασιν. Ἀλλ' αἱ μὲν γυναῖκες αἱ κυοῦσαι μητέρες γενόμεναι πηγάζουσι γάλα· ὁ δὲ κύριος ὁ Χριστὸς ὁ τῆς παρθένου καρπὸς οὐκ ἐμακάρισεν τοὺς γυναικείους μαστοὺς οὐδὲ ἔκρινεν αὐτοὺς τροφεῖς, ἀλλὰ τοῦ φιλοστόργου καὶ φιλανθρώπου πατρὸς ἐπομβρήσαντος τὸν λόγον αὐτὸς ἤδη τροφὴ γέγονεν πνευματικὴ τοῖς σώφροσιν. Ὢ θαύματος μυστικοῦ· εἷς μὲν ὁ τῶν ὅλων πατήρ, εἷς δὲ καὶ ὁ τῶν ὅλων λόγος, καὶ τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον ἓν καὶ τὸ αὐτὸ πανταχοῦ, μία δὲ μόνη γίνεται μήτηρ παρθένος· ἐκκλησίαν ἐμοὶ φίλον αὐτὴν καλεῖν. Γάλα οὐκ ἔσχεν ἡ μήτηρ αὕτη μόνη, ὅτι μόνη μὴ γέγονεν γυνή, παρθένος δὲ ἅμα καὶ μήτηρ ἐστίν, ἀκήρατος μὲν ὡς παρθένος, ἀγαπητικὴ δὲ ὡς μήτηρ, καὶ τὰ αὑτῆς παιδία προσκαλουμένη ἁγίῳ τιθηνεῖται γάλακτι, τῷ βρεφώδει λόγῳ. ∆ιὸ οὐκ ἔσχε γάλα, ὅτι γάλα ἦν τὸ παιδίον τοῦτο καλὸν καὶ οἰκεῖον, τὸ σῶμα τοῦ Χριστοῦ, τὴν νεολαίαν ὑποτροφοῦσα τῷ λόγῳ, ἣν αὐτὸς ἐκύησεν ὁ κύριος ὠδῖνι σαρκικῇ, ἣν αὐτὸς ἐσπαργάνωσεν ὁ κύριος αἵματι τιμίῳ. Ὢ τῶν ἁγίων λοχευμάτων, ὢ τῶν ἁγίων σπαργάνων· ὁ λόγος τὰ πάντα τῷ νηπίῳ, καὶ πατὴρ καὶ μήτηρ καὶ παιδαγωγὸς καὶ τροφεύς. Φάγεσθέ μου, φησί, τὴν σάρκα καὶ πίεσθέ μου τὸ αἷμα. Ταύτας ἡμῖν οἰκείας τροφὰς ὁ κύριος χορηγεῖ καὶ σάρκα ὀρέγει καὶ αἷμα ἐκχεῖ· καὶ οὐδὲν εἰς αὔξησιν τοῖς παιδίοις ἐνδεῖ. Ὢ τοῦ παραδόξου μυστηρίου· ἀποδύσασθαι ἡμῖν τὴν παλαιὰν καὶ σαρκικὴν ἐγκελεύεται φθοράν, ὥσπερ καὶ τὴν παλαιὰν τροφήν, καινῆς δὲ ἄλλης τῆς Χριστοῦ διαίτης μεταλαμβάνοντας, ἐκεῖνον, εἰ δυνατόν, ἀναλαμβάνοντας ἐν ἑαυτοῖς ἀποτίθεσθαι καὶ τὸν σωτῆρα ἐνστερνίσασθαι, ἵνα καταργήσωμεν τῆς σαρκὸς ἡμῶν τὰ πάθη. Ἀλλ' οὐ ταύτῃ νοεῖν ἐθέλεις, κοινότερον δὲ ἴσως. Ἄκουε καὶ ταύτῃ· σάρκα ἡμῖν τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον ἀλληγορεῖ, καὶ γὰρ ὑπ' αὐτοῦ δεδημιούργηται ἡ σάρξ· αἷμα ἡμῖν τὸν λόγον αἰνίττεται, καὶ γὰρ ὡς αἷμα πλούσιον ὁ λόγος ἐπικέχυται τῷ βίῳ· ἡ κρᾶσις δὲ ἡ ἀμφοῖν ὁ κύριος, ἡ τροφὴ τῶν νηπίων· ὁ κύριος πνεῦμα καὶ λόγος. Ἡ τροφή, τουτέστιν ὁ κύριος Ἰησοῦς, τουτέστιν ὁ λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ, πνεῦμα σαρκούμενον, ἁγιαζομένη σὰρξ οὐράνιος. Ἡ τροφὴ τὸ γάλα τοῦ πατρός, ᾧ μόνῳ τιτθευόμεθα οἱ νήπιοι. Αὐτὸς γοῦν ὁ ἠγαπημένος καὶ τροφεὺς ἡμῶν λόγος τὸ αὐτοῦ ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν ἐξ έχεεν αἷμα, σῴζων τὴν ἀνθρωπότητα· δι' οὗ πεπιστευκότες εἰς τὸν θεὸν ἐπὶ τὸν λαθικηδέα μαζὸν τοῦ πατρός, τὸν λόγον, καταφεύγομεν, ὃ δέ, ὡς ἔοικεν, μόνος ἡμῖν τοῖς νηπίοις τὸ γάλα τῆς ἀγάπης χορηγεῖ, καὶ οὗτοι ὡς ἀληθῶς μακάριοι μόνοι, ὅσοι τοῦτον θηλάζουσι τὸν μαστόν. ∆ιὰ τοῦτό φησι καὶ ὁ Πέτρος· ἀποθέμενοι οὖν πᾶσαν κακίαν καὶ πάντα δόλον καὶ τὴν ὑπόκρισιν καὶ φθόνον καὶ καταλαλίαν, ὡς ἀρτιγέννητα βρέφη τὸ λογικὸν γάλα ἐπιποθήσατε, ἵνα ἐν αὐτῷ αὐξηθῆτε εἰς σωτηρίαν, εἰ ἐγεύσασθε ὅτι χρηστὸς ὁ κύριος. Εἰ δὲ καὶ συνενδῴη τις αὐτοῖς ἄλλο τι εἶναι τὸ βρῶμα παρὰ τὸ γάλα, εἶτα πῶς οὐ περιπαρήσονται σφίσιν αὐτοῖς, οὐ κατανενοηκότες τὴν φύσιν; Ἡ γάρ τοι τροφὴ χειμῶνος μὲν πυκνοῦντος τοῦ περιέχοντος καὶ πάροδον οὐ διδόντος ἐντὸς κατακλειομένῳ τῷ θερμῷ, ἑψομένη καὶ πεπτομένη, εἰς τὰς φλέβας ἐξαιματουμένη ἐκχωρεῖ· αἳ δὲ διαπνοῆς οὐ τυγχάνουσαι πεπληρωμέναι μάλιστα συντείνονται καὶ σφύζουσι· διὸ καὶ αἱ τίτθαι περι πληθεῖς τότε μάλιστα γίνονται τῷ γάλακτι. Ἀποδέδεικται δὲ ἡμῖν μικρῷ πρόσθεν τὸ αἷμα εἰς γάλα ταῖς κυούσαις κατὰ μεταβολήν, οὐ κατ' οὐσίαν χωρεῖν, ὥσπερ ἀμέλει καὶ αἱ τρίχες αἱ ξανθαὶ τοῖς γηρῶσιν εἰς πολιὰς μεταβάλλουσιν. Θέρους δὲ ἔμπαλιν ἀραιότερον ὂν τὸ σῶμα τὴν τροφὴν εὐδιαφορητοτέραν παρέχει, καὶ ἥκιστα πλεονάζει τὸ γάλα, ἐπεὶ μηδὲ τὸ αἷμα· οὐδὲ γὰρ πᾶσα κατέχεται ἡ τροφή. Εἰ τοίνυν ἡ μὲν κατεργασία τῆς τροφῆς ἐξαιματοῦται, τὸ δὲ αἷμα ἐκγαλακτοῦται, παρασκευὴ γίνεται τὸ αἷμα τοῦ γάλακτος ὡς σπέρμα ἀνθρώπου καὶ γίγαρτον ἀμπέλου. Τῷ οὖν γάλακτι, τῇ κυριακῇ τροφῇ, εὐθὺς μὲν ἀποκυηθέντες τιθηνούμεθα, εὐθὺς δὲ ἀναγεννηθέντες τετιμήμεθα τῆς ἀναπαύσεως τὴν ἐλπίδα, τὴν ἄνω Ἱερουσαλὴμ εὐαγγελιζόμενοι, ἐν ᾗ μέλι καὶ γάλα ὀμβρεῖν ἀναγέγραπται, διὰ τῆς ἐνύλου καὶ τὴν ἁγίαν μνηστευόμενοι τρο φήν. Τὰ μὲν γὰρ βρώματα καταργεῖται, ᾗ φησιν ὁ ἀπόστολος αὐτός, ἡ δὲ διὰ γάλακτος τροφὴ εἰς οὐρανοὺς καθηγεῖται, πολίτας οὐρανῶν καὶ συγχορευτὰς ἀγγέλων ἀναθρεψαμένη. Ἐπειδὴ δέ ἐστιν ὁ λόγος πηγὴ ζωῆς βρύουσα καὶ ποταμὸς εἴρηται ἐλαίου, εἰκότως ἀλληγορῶν ὁ Παῦλος καὶ γάλα αὐτὸν ὀνομάζων ἐπότισα ἐπιφέρει· πίνεται γὰρ ὁ λόγος, ἡ τροφὴ τῆς ἀληθείας. Ἀμέλει καὶ τὸ ποτὸν ὑγρὰ καλεῖται τροφή. ∆υνατὸν δὲ τὸ αὐτὸ καὶ βρῶμα εἶναί πως ἔχον καὶ ποτόν, πρὸς ἄλλο καὶ ἄλλο νοούμενον, καθάπερ καὶ ὁ τυρὸς γάλακτός ἐστι πῆξις ἢ γάλα πεπηγός. Οὐ γάρ μοι τῆς λεξιθηρίας μέλει τὰ νῦν, πλὴν ὅτι τὰς τροφὰς ἄμφω μία διακονεῖται οὐσία. Ἀλλὰ καὶ τοῖς ὑποτιτθίοις παιδίοις ἀρκεῖ μόνον τὸ γάλα καὶ ποτὸν εἶναι καὶ τροφήν. Ἐγώ, φησὶν ὁ κύριος, βρῶσιν ἔχω φαγεῖν, ἣν ὑμεῖς οὐκ οἴδατε· ἐμὸν βρῶμά ἐστιν, ἵνα ποιήσω τὸ θέλημα τοῦ πέμψαντός με. Ὁρᾶτε ἄλλο βρῶμα ἀλληγορούμενον παραπλησίως γάλακτι τὸ θέλημα τοῦ θεοῦ. Ἀλλὰ καὶ τὴν συμπλήρωσιν τοῦ ἰδίου πάθους ποτήριον κέκληκεν καταχρηστικῶς, ὅτι ἐκπιεῖν καὶ ἐκτελέσαι μόνον ἐχρῆν αὐτό. Οὕτως Χριστῷ μὲν ἡ τροφὴ τῆς πατρικῆς βουλῆς ἡ τελείωσις ἦν, ἡμῖν δὲ αὐτὸς ὁ Χριστὸς ἡ τροφὴ τοῖς νηπίοις, τοῖς ἀμέλγουσιν τὸν λόγον τῶν οὐρανῶν· ἐντεῦθεν τὸ ζητῆσαι μαστεῦσαι καλεῖται, ὅτι τοῖς ζητοῦσιν νηπίοις τὸν λόγον αἱ πατρικαὶ τῆς φιλανθρωπίας θηλαὶ χορηγοῦσι τὸ γάλα. Ἔτι δὲ καὶ ἄρτον αὑτὸν οὐρανῶν ὁμολογεῖ ὁ λόγος. Οὐ γὰρ Μωσῆς, φησίν, ἔδωκεν ὑμῖν τὸν ἄρτον ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ νοῦ, ἀλλ' ὁ πατήρ μου δίδωσιν ὑμῖν τὸν ἄρτον ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ τὸν ἀληθινόν· ὁ γὰρ ἄρτος τοῦ θεοῦ ἐστιν ὁ ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καταβαίνων καὶ ζωὴν διδοὺς τῷ κόσμῳ. Καὶ ὁ ἄρτος, ὃν ἐγὼ δώσω, ἡ σάρξ μού ἐστιν ὑπὲρ τῆς τοῦ κόσμου ζωῆς. Ἐνταῦθα τὸ μυστικὸν τοῦ ἄρτου παρασημειωτέον, ὅτι σάρκα αὐτὸν λέγει καὶ ὡς ἀνισταμένην δῆθεν διὰ πυρός, καθάπερ ἐκ φθορᾶς καὶ σπορᾶς ὁ πυρὸς ἀνίσταται, καὶ μέντοι διὰ πυρὸς συνισταμένην εἰς εὐφροσύνην ἐκκλησίας ὡς ἄρτον πεπτόμενον. Ἀλλὰ γὰρ αὖθις ἡμῖν σαφέστερον τοῦτο ἐν τῷ Περὶ ἀναστάσεως δηλωθήσεται. Ἐπεὶ δὲ εἶπεν καὶ ὁ ἄρτος, ὃν ἐγὼ δώσω, ἡ σάρξ μού ἐστιν, σὰρξ δὲ αἵματι ἄρδεται, τὸ δὲ αἷμα οἶνος ἀλληγορεῖται, ἰστέον οὖν, ὅτι ὡς ἄρτος εἰς κρᾶμα καταθρυβεὶς τὸν οἶνον ἁρπάζει, τὸ δὲ ὑδατῶδες ἀπολείπει, οὕτως καὶ ἡ σὰρξ τοῦ κυρίου, ὁ ἄρτος τῶν οὐρανῶν, ἀναπίνει τὸ αἷμα, τοὺς οὐρανίους τῶν ἀνθρώπων εἰς ἀφθαρσίαν ἐκτρέφων, ἀπολείπων δὲ μόνας ἐκείνας εἰς φθορὰν τὰς σαρκικὰς ἐπιθυ μίας. Οὕτως πολλαχῶς ἀλληγορεῖται ὁ λόγος, καὶ βρῶμα καὶ σὰρξ καὶ τροφὴ καὶ ἄρτος καὶ αἷμα καὶ γάλα, ἃ πάντα ὁ κύριος εἰς ἀπόλαυσιν ἡμῶν τῶν εἰς αὐτὸν πεπιστευκότων. Μὴ δὴ οὖν τις ξενιζέσθω λεγόντων ἡμῶν ἀλληγορεῖσθαι γάλα τὸ αἷμα τοῦ κυρίου· ἦ γὰρ οὐχὶ καὶ οἶνος ἀλληγορεῖται; Ὁ πλύνων, φησίν, ἐν οἴνῳ τὴν στολὴν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐν αἵματι σταφυλῆς τὴν περιβολὴν αὐτοῦ· ἐν τῷ αἵματι τῷ αὑτοῦ κοσμήσειν λέγει τὸ σῶμα τοῦ λόγου, ὥσπερ ἀμέλει τῷ αὑτοῦ πνεύματι ἐκθρέψει τοὺς πεινῶντας τὸν λόγον. Ὅτι δὲ τὸ αἷμα ὁ λόγος ἐστίν, μαρτυρεῖ τοῦ Ἄβελ τοῦ δικαίου τὸ αἷμα ἐντυγ χάνον τῷ θεῷ· οὐ γὰρ τὸ αἷμα ἄν ποτε προήσεται φωνήν, μὴ οὐχὶ ὁ λόγος νοούμενος τὸ αἷμα· τύπος γὰρ ὁ δίκαιος ὁ παλαιὸς τοῦ νέου δικαίου καὶ τὸ αἷμα τὸ ἐντυγχάνον τὸ παλαιὸν ὑπερεντυγχάνει τοῦ αἵματος τοῦ νέου. Φθέγγεται δὲ πρὸς τὸν θεὸν τὸ αἷμα, ὁ λόγος, ἐπεὶ λόγον ἐμήνυεν τὸν πεισόμενον. Ἀλλὰ καὶ ἡ σὰρξ αὐτὴ καὶ τὸ ἐν αὐτῇ αἷμα τῷ γάλακτι, οἷον ἀντιπελαργούμενον, ἄρδεταί τε καὶ αὔξεται. Καὶ δὴ καὶ ἡ διαμόρφωσις τοῦ συλληφθέντος τῷ τῆς ἐπὶ μῆνα καθάρσεως ὑπολελειμμένῳ καθαρῷ περιττώματι κιρναμένου τοῦ σπέρματος γίνεται· ἡ γὰρ ἐν τούτῳ δύναμις, θρομβοῦσα τοῦ αἵματος τὴν φύσιν, ὃν τρόπον ἡ πυτία συνίστησι τὸ γάλα, οὐσίαν ἐργάζεται μορφώσεως· εὐθαλεῖ γὰρ ἡ κρᾶσις, σφαλερὰ δὲ ἡ ἀκρότης εἰς ἀτεκνίαν. Καὶ γὰρ αὐτῆς ἤδη τῆς γῆς ὑπὸ μὲν ἐπομβρίας κατακλυσθὲν ἀποσύρεται τὸ σπέρμα, διὰ δὲ αὐχμὸν νοτίδος ἀποξηραίνεται, κολλώδης δὲ ὁ χυμὸς ὢν συνέχει τὸ σπέρμα καὶ φύει. Τινὲς δὲ καὶ τὸ σπέρμα τοῦ ζῴου ἀφρὸν εἶναι τοῦ αἵματος κατ' οὐσίαν ὑποτίθενται, ὃ δὴ τῇ ἐμφύτῳ τοῦ ἄρρενος θέρμῃ παρὰ τὰς συμπλοκὰς ἐκταραχθὲν ἐκριπιζόμενον ἐξαφροῦται κἀν ταῖς σπερματίτισιν παρατίθεται φλεψίν· ἐντεῦθεν γὰρ ὁ Ἀπολλωνιάτης ∆ιογένης τὰ ἀφροδίσια κεκλῆσθαι βούλεται. Συμφανὲς τοίνυν ἐκ τούτων ἁπάντων αἷμα εἶναι τοῦ ἀνθρωπίνου σώματος τὴν οὐσίαν. Καὶ δὴ καὶ τὸ κατὰ γαστρὸς τὸ μὲν πρῶτον ὑγροῦ ἐστι σύστασις γαλακτοειδής, ἔπειτα ἐξαιματουμένη σαρκοῦται ἡ σύστασις αὕτη, πηγνυμένη δὲ ἐν τῇ ὑστέρᾳ ὑπὸ τοῦ φυσικοῦ καὶ θερμοῦ πνεύματος, ὑφ' οὗ διαπλάττεται τὸ ἔμβρυον, ζωογονεῖται. Ἀλλὰ καὶ μετὰ τὴν ἀποκύησιν αὖθις ἐκτρέφεται τὸ παιδίον αἵματι τῷ αὐτῷ· αἵματος γὰρ φύσις τοῦ γάλακτος ἡ ῥύσις, καὶ πηγὴ τροφῆς τὸ γάλα, ᾧ δὴ καὶ γυνὴ δήλη τεκοῦσα ἀληθῶς καὶ μήτηρ, δι' οὗ καὶ φίλτρον εὐνοίας προσλαμβάνει. ∆ιὰ τοῦτο ἄρα μυστικῶς τὸ ἐν τῷ ἀποστόλῳ ἅγιον πνεῦμα τῇ τοῦ κυρίου ἀποχρώμενον φωνῇ γάλα ὑμᾶς ἐπότισα λέγει. Εἰ γὰρ ἀνεγεννήθημεν εἰς Χριστόν, ὁ ἀναγεννήσας ἡμᾶς ἐκτρέφει τῷ ἰδίῳ γάλακτι, τῷ λόγῳ· πᾶν γὰρ τὸ γεννῆσαν ἔοικεν εὐθὺς παρέχειν τῷ γεννωμένῳ τροφήν. Καθάπερ δὲ ἡ ἀναγέννησις, ἀναλόγως οὕτως καὶ ἡ τροφὴ γέγονεν τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ πνευματική. Πάντῃ τοίνυν ἡμεῖς τὰ πάντα Χριστῷ προσῳκειώμεθα, καὶ εἰς συγγένειαν διὰ τὸ αἷμα αὐτοῦ, ᾧ λυτρούμεθα, καὶ εἰς συμπάθειαν διὰ τὴν ἀνατροφὴν τὴν ἐκ τοῦ λόγου, καὶ εἰς ἀφθαρσίαν διὰ τὴν ἀγωγὴν τὴν αὐτοῦ· τὸ θρέψαι δ' ἐν βροτοῖσι πολλάκις πλείω πορίζει φίλτρα τοῦ φῦσαι τέκνα. Τὸ αὐτὸ ἄρα καὶ αἷμα καὶ γάλα τοῦ κυρίου πάθους καὶ διδα σκαλίας σύμβολον. Ἐφεῖται τοιγαροῦν ἡμῶν ἑκάστῳ τῶν νηπίων ἐγκαυχᾶσθαι τῷ κυρίῳ, ἐπιφθεγγομένοις πατρὸς δ' ἐξ ἀγαθοῖο καὶ αἵματος εὔχομαι εἶναι. Ὡς δ' ἐξ αἵματος γάλα κατὰ μεταβολὴν γίνεται, ἤδη μὲν σαφές, οὐ μὴν ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐκ τῶν ποιμνίων ἔκ τε τῶν βουκολίων ἔξεστι μαθεῖν. Τὰ γὰρ ζῷα ταῦτα τοῦ ἔτους κατὰ τὴν ὥραν, ἣν ἔαρ καλοῦμεν, ὑγροτέρου τοῦ περιέχοντος γεγονότος, ἀλλὰ καὶ τῆς πόας καὶ τῶν νομῶν εὐχύλων τὸ τηνικάδε οὐσῶν καὶ ἐνίκμων, αἵματος πίμπλαται πρότερον, ὡς ἐκ τῆς διατάσεως τῶν φλεβῶν, κυρτουμένων τῶν ἀγγείων, δείκνυται· ἐκ δὲ τοῦ αἵματος δαψιλέστερον χεῖται τὸ γάλα· θέρους δ' ἔμπαλιν ὑπὸ τοῦ καύματος συγκαιόμενον καὶ ἀναξηραινόμενον ἵστησι τὴν μεταβολὴν τὸ αἷμα, καὶ ταύτῃ ἔλαττον ἀμέλγονται. Ναὶ μὴν καὶ συγγένειάν τινα πρὸς τὸ ὕδωρ φυσικωτάτην ἔχει τὸ γάλα, καθάπερ ἀμέλει πρὸς τὴν πνευματικὴν τροφὴν τὸ λου τρὸν τὸ πνευματικόν· οἱ γοῦν ἐπιρροφοῦντες τῷ προειρημένῳ γάλακτι ψυχροῦ ὀλίγον ὕδατος ὠφελοῦνται παραχρῆμα· οὐ γὰρ ἀποξύνεσθαι τὸ γάλα ἐᾷ ἡ πρὸς τὸ ὕδωρ κοινωνία, οὐκ ἀντιπα θείᾳ τινί, προσπεπαινομένου δὲ προσπαθείᾳ. Καὶ ἣν ὁ λόγος ἔχει πρὸς τὸ βάπτισμα κοινωνίαν, ταύτην ἔχει τὸ γάλα τὴν συναλλαγὴν πρὸς τὸ ὕδωρ. ∆έχεται γὰρ μόνον τῶν ὑγρῶν τοῦτο καὶ τὴν πρὸς τὸ ὕδωρ μῖξιν ἐπὶ κάθαρσιν παραλαμβανόμενον καθά περ τὸ βάπτισμα ἐπὶ ἀφέσει ἁμαρτιῶν. Μίγνυται δὲ καὶ μέλιτι προσφυῶς καὶ τοῦτο ἐπὶ καθάρσει πάλιν μετὰ γλυκείας τῆς τροφῆς· μιγνύμενος γὰρ ὁ λόγος φιλανθρωπίᾳ ἰᾶταί τε ἅμα τὰ πάθη καὶ ἀνακαθαίρει τὰς ἁμαρτίας· καὶ τὸ μέλιτος γλυκίων ῥέεν αὐδὴ ἐπὶ τοῦ λόγου λελέχθαι μοι δοκεῖ, ὅς ἐστιν μέλι· καὶ πολλαχοῦ δὲ ἡ προφητεία ὑπὲρ μέλι καὶ κηρίον ἀνάγει. Ναὶ μὴν ἐπιμίγνυται τὸ γάλα καὶ οἴνῳ τῷ γλυκεῖ, ἐπωφελὴς δὲ ἡ μῖξις, καθάπερ ἀνακιρναμένου τοῦ πάθους εἰς ἀφθαρσίαν· ἐξορροῦται γὰρ ὑπὸ τοῦ οἴνου τὸ γάλα καὶ σχίζεται, καὶ ὅτι περ αὐτοῦ νόθον, τοῦτ' ἀποχετεύεται. Κατὰ τὰ αὐτὰ δὲ τῆς πίστεως ἡ κοινωνία ἡ πνευματικὴ πρὸς τὸν παθητὸν ἄνθρωπον, τὰς σαρκικὰς ἐπιθυμίας ἐξορροῦσα, εἰς ἀιδιότητα συστέλλει τὸν ἄνθρωπον, τοῖς θείοις ἀπαθανατίζουσα. Ἀλλ' οἱ πολλοὶ δὲ καὶ τῷ λιπαρῷ τοῦ γάλακτος, ὃ δὴ βούτυρον καλοῦσιν, καταχρῶνται εἰς λύχνον, τὸ πολυέλαιον τοῦ λόγου δι' αἰνίγματος ἀριδήλου σαφηνίσαντες, ὡς μόνου τοῦδε ἐνδίκως καὶ τρέφοντος καὶ αὔξοντος καὶ φωτίζοντος τοὺς νηπίους. ∆ιὰ τοῦτο γὰρ καὶ ἡ γραφὴ περὶ τοῦ κυρίου λέγει ἐψώμισεν αὐτοὺς γενήματα ἀγρῶν, ἐθήλασαν μέλι ἐκ πέτρας καὶ ἔλαιον ἐκ στερεᾶς πέτρας, βούτυρον βοῶν καὶ γάλα προβάτων μετὰ στέατος ἀρνῶν καὶ τὰ ἐπὶ τούτοις ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς· ἀλλὰ καὶ τὴν γέννησιν τοῦ παιδίου ὁ προφητεύων βούτυρον φησὶν ἔδεται καὶ μέλι. Ἐμοὶ δὲ καὶ θαυμάζειν ἔπεισιν ὅπως σφᾶς τελείους τινὲς τολμῶσι καλεῖν καὶ γνωστικούς, ὑπὲρ τὸν ἀπόστολον φρονοῦντες, φυσιούμενοί τε καὶ φρυαττόμενοι, αὐτοῦ ὁμολογοῦντος τοῦ Παύλου περὶ ἑαυτοῦ· οὐχ ὅτι ἤδη ἔλαβον ἢ ἤδη τετελείωμαι, διώκω δὲ εἰ καὶ καταλάβω, ἐφ' ᾧ καὶ κατελήφθην ὑπὸ Χριστοῦ. Ἀδελφοί, ἐγὼ ἐμαυτὸν οὔπω λογίζομαι κατειληφέναι· ἓν δέ, τὰ μὲν ὀπίσω ἐπιλανθανόμενος, τοῖς δὲ ἔμπροσθεν ἐπεκτεινόμενος, κατὰ σκοπὸν διώκω εἰς τὸ βραβεῖον τῆς ἄνω κλήσεως ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ. Καὶ τέλειον μὲν ἑαυτὸν ἡγεῖται, ὅτι ἀπήλλακται τοῦ προτέρου βίου, ἔχεται δὲ τοῦ κρείττονος, οὐχ ὡς ἐν γνώσει τέλειος, ἀλλ' ὡς τοῦ τελείου ἐφιέμενος· διὸ καὶ ἐπιφέρει ὅσοι οὖν τέλειοι, τοῦτο φρονοῦμεν, τελείωσιν δηλονότι λέγων τὸ ἀποτετάχθαι ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις καὶ εἰς πίστιν τοῦ μόνου τελείου ἀναγεγεννῆσθαι, ἐκλαθομένους τῶν κατόπισθεν ἁμαρτιῶν.