116.  What further need is there of words.  Here am I, my pastors and fellow-pastors, here am I, thou holy flock, worthy of Christ, the Chief Shepherd,357    1 Pet. v. 4. here am I, my father, utterly vanquished, and your subject according to the laws of Christ rather than according to those of the land:358    Of the land, lit., “external,” i.e. the Roman laws, which gave absolute power to a father over his children.  here is my obedience, reward it with your blessing.  Lead me with your prayers, guide me with your words, establish me with your spirit.  The blessing of the father establisheth the houses of children,359    Ecclus. iii. 9. and would that both I and this spiritual house may be established, the house which I have longed for, which I pray may be my rest for ever,360    Ps. cxxxii. 13, 14. when I have been passed on from the church here to the church yonder, the general assembly of the firstborn, who are written in heaven.361    Heb. xii. 23.

ΡΙ2ʹ. Τί δεῖ μακροτέρων ἡμῖν τῶν λόγων; Ἔχετε ἡμᾶς, ὦ ποιμένες καὶ συμποιμένες: ἔχετε, ὦ ποίμνιον ἱερὸν καὶ Χριστοῦ τοῦ ἀρχιποιμένος ἄξιον: ἔχεις, ὦ πάτερ, εἰς πάντα νενικημένον, καὶ κατὰ τοὺς τοῦ Χριστοῦ νόμους πλέον ἢ τοὺς ἔξωθεν ὑπεξούσιον. Ἔχεις τὴν εὐπείθειαν, ἀπόδος τὴν εὐλογίαν. Χειραγώγησον καὶ σὺ ταῖς εὐχαῖς, ὁδήγησον τῷ λόγῳ, τῷ πνεύματι στήρισον. Εὐλογία πατρὸς στηρίζει οἴκους τέκνων: καὶ στηριχθείημεν ἐγώ τε καὶ ὁ πνευματικὸς οἶκος οὗτος, ὃν ᾑρετισάμην, ὅν μοι καὶ γενέσθαι κατάπαυσιν εἰς αἰῶνα αἰῶνος εὔχομαι, ἀπὸ τῆς ἐντεῦθεν Ἐκκλησίας ἐπὶ τὴν ἐκεῖθεν παραπεμφθέντι, καὶ πανήγυριν πρωτοτόκων ἀπογεγραμμένων ἐν οὐρανοῖς.