Chapter XXXVI.—All Blessings are Given to Us Through Christ.

This is the way, beloved, in which we find our Saviour,193    Literally, “that which saves us.” even Jesus Christ, the High Priest of all our offerings, the defender and helper of our infirmity.  By Him we look up to the heights of heaven.  By Him we behold, as in a glass, His immaculate and most excellent visage.  By Him are the eyes of our hearts opened.  By Him our foolish and darkened understanding blossoms194    Or, “rejoices to behold.” up anew towards His marvellous light.  By Him the Lord has willed that we should taste of immortal knowledge,195    Or, “knowledge of immortality.” “who, being the brightness of His majesty, is by so much greater than the angels, as He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.”196    Heb. i. 3, 4.  For it is thus written, “Who maketh His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire.”197    Ps. civ. 4; Heb. i. 7.  But concerning His Son198    Some render, “to the Son.” the Lord spoke thus:  “Thou art my Son, to-day have I begotten Thee.  Ask of me, and I will give Thee the heathen for Thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession.”199    Ps. ii. 7, 8; Heb. i. 5.  And again He saith to Him, “Sit Thou at my right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool.”200    Ps. cx. 1; Heb. i. 13.  But who are His enemies?  All the wicked, and those who set themselves to oppose the will of God.201    Some read, “who oppose their own will to that of God.”

ΚΕΦΑΛΑΙΟΝ ΛϚ’. Aὕτη ἡ ὁδός, ἀγαπητοί, ἐν ᾗ εὕρομεν τὸ σωτήριον ἡμῶν, Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν, τὸν ἀρχιερέα τῶν προσφορῶν ἡμῶν, τὸν προστάτην καὶ βοηθὸν τῆς ἀσθενείας ἡμῶν. ∆ιὰ τούτου ἀτενίζομεν εἰς τὰ ὕψη τῶν οὐρανῶν, διὰ τούτου ἐνοπτριζόμεθα τὴν ἄμωμον καὶ ὑπερτάτην ὄψιν αὐτοῦ, διὰ τούτου ἠνεóχθησαν ἡμῶν οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ τῆς καρδίας, διὰ τούτου ἡ ἀσύνετος καὶ ἐσκοτωμένη διάνοια ἡμῶν ἀναθάλλει εἰς τὸ φῶς, διὰ τούτου ἠθέλησεν ὁ δεσπότης τῆς ἀθανάτου γνώσεως ἡμᾶς γεύσασθαι, «ὃς ὢν ἀπαύγασμα τῆς μεγαλωσύνης αὐτοῦ τοσούτῳ μείζων ἐστὶν ἀγγέλων, ὅσῳ διαφορώτερον ὄνομα κεκληρονόμηκεν». Γέγραπται γὰρ οὕτως· «Ὁ ποιῶν τοὺς ἀγγέλους αὐτοῦ πνεύματα καὶ τοὺς λειτουργοὺς αὐτοῦ πυρὸς φλόγα.» Ἐπὶ δὲ τῷ υἱῷ αὐτοῦ οὕτως εἶπεν ὁ δεσπότης· «Υἱός μου εἶ σύ, ἐγὼ σήμερον γεγέννηκά σε· αἴτησαι παρ' ἐμοῦ, καὶ δώσω σοι ἔθνη τὴν κληρονομίαν σου καὶ τὴν κατάσχεσίν σου τὰ πέρατα τῆς γῆς.» Καὶ πάλιν λέγει πρὸς αὐτόν· «Κάθου ἐκ δεξιῶν μου, ἕως ἂν θῶ τοὺς ἐχθρούς σου ὑποπόδιον τῶν ποδῶν σου.» Τίνες οὖν οἱ ἐχθροί; οἱ φαῦλοι καὶ ἀντιτασσόμενοι τῷ θελήματι αὐτοῦ.