11. Moreover, God had previously foretold that it would happen, that as the ages passed on, and the end of the world was near at hand, God would gather to Himself from every nation, and people, and place, worshippers much better in obedience and stronger in faith,12    “Of greater obedience and of stronger faith” is a varied reading here. who would draw from the divine gift that mercy which the Jews had received and lost by despising their religious ordinances. Therefore of this mercy and grace13    Some add, “and discipline.” the Word and Son of God is sent as the dispenser and master, who by all the prophets of old was announced as the enlightener and teacher of the human race. He is the power of God, He is the reason, He is His wisdom and glory; He enters into a virgin; being the holy Spirit,14    “With the co-operation of the Holy Spirit,” is perhaps a more probable reading. [See vol. iii. p. 609.] He is endued with flesh; God is mingled with man. This is our God, this is Christ, who, as the mediator of the two, puts on man that He may lead them to the Father. What man is, Christ was willing to be, that man also may be what Christ is.

XI. Necnon Deus ante praedixerat fore ut, vergente saeculo et mundi fine jam proximo, ex omni gente et populo et loco cultores sibi allegeret Deus multo fideliores et melioris obsequii qui indulgentiam de divinis muneribus haurirent , quam acceptam, Judaei contemptis religionibus, perdidissent. Hujus igitur gratiae disciplinaeque arbiter et magister Sermo et Filius Dei mittitur, qui per Prophetas 0578B omnes retro illuminator et doctor humani generis praedicabatur . Hic est virtus Dei, hic ratio, hic sapientia ejus et gloria. Hic in virginem illabitur, carnem Spiritus sanctus induitur, Deus cum homine 0579A miscetur. Hic Deus noster, hic Christus est, qui mediator duorum, hominem induit, quem perducat ad Patrem. Quod homo est esse Christus voluit, ut et homo possit esse quod Christus est.