XV.  Moreover this also I reckoned and still reckon with myself; and do you see if it is not quite correct.  I have often discussed it with you before.  These men have the houses, but we the Dweller in the house; they the Temples, we the God; and besides it is ours to be living temples of the Living God, lively sacrifices, reasonable burnt-offerings, perfect sacrifices, yea, gods through the adoration of the Trinity.  They have the people, we the Angels; they rash boldness, we faith; they threatenings, we prayer; they smiting, we endurance; they gold and silver, we the pure word.  “Thou hast built for thyself a wide house and large chambers (recognize the words of Scripture), a house celled and pierced with windows.”25    Jer. xxii. 14.  But not yet is this loftier than my faith, and than the heavens to which I am being borne onwards.  Is mine a little flock?  But it is not being carried over a precipice.  Is mine a narrow fold?  But it is unapproachable by wolves; it cannot be entered by a robber, nor climbed by thieves and strangers.  I shall yet see it, I know well, wider.  And many of those who are now wolves, I must reckon among my sheep, and perhaps even amongst the shepherds.  This is the glad tidings brought me by the Good Shepherd, for Whose sake I lay down my life for the sheep.  I fear not for the little flock; for it is seen at a glance.  I know my sheep and am known of mine.  Such are they that know God and are known of God.  My sheep hear my voice, which I have heard from the oracles of God, which I have been taught by the Holy Fathers, which I have taught alike on all occasions, not conforming myself to the fortune, and which I will never cease to teach; in which I was born, and in which I will depart.

ΙΕʹ. Πρὸς δὲ καὶ ταῦτα ἐλογιζόμην τε καὶ λογίζομαι, καὶ σκοπεῖτε, εἰ μὴ καὶ λίαν ὀρθῶς, ἃ καὶ πολλάκις ὑμῖν ἐφιλοσόφησα. Ἔχουσιν οὗτοι τοὺς οἴκους, ἡμεῖς τὸν ἔνοικον: οὗτοι τοὺς ναοὺς, ἡμεῖς τὸν Θεόν: καὶ τὸ ναοὶ γενέσθαι Θεοῦ ζῶντος καὶ ζῶντες, ἱερεῖα ἔμψυχα, ὁλοκαυτώματα λογικὰ, θύματα τέλεια, θεοὶ διὰ Τρίαδος προσκυνουμένης. Οὗτοι δήμους, ἡμεῖς ἀγγέλους: οὗτοι θράσος, πίστιν ἡμεῖς: οὗτοι τὸ ἀπειλεῖν, ἡμεῖς τὸ προσεύχεσθαι: οὗτοι τὸ βάλλειν, ἡμεῖς τὸ φέρειν: οὗτοι χρυσὸν καὶ ἄργυρον, ἡμεῖς λόγον κεκαθαρμένον. Ἐποίησας σεαυτῷ διώροφα καὶ τριώροφα (γνῶθι τὰ ῥήματα τῆς Γραφῆς), οἶκον ῥιπιστὸν, διεσταλμένον θυρίσιν; ἀλλ' οὔπω ταῦτα τῆς ἐμῆς πίστεως ὑψηλότερα, καὶ τῶν οὐρανῶν πρὸς οὓς φέρομαι. Μικρόν μοι τὸ ποίμνιον; Ἀλλ' οὐκ ἐπὶ κρημνῶν φερόμενον. Στενή μοι ἡ μάνδρα, πλὴν λύκοις ἀνεπίβατος, πλὴν οὐ παραδεχομένη λῃστὴν, οὐδὲ ὑπερβαινομένη κλέπταις καὶ ξένοις. Ὄψομαι ταύτην, εὖ οἶδα, καὶ πλατυτέραν. Πολλοὺς τῶν νῦν λύκων, ἐν προβάτοις ἀριθμῆσαί με δεῖ, τυχὸν καὶ ποιμέσιν. Τοῦτο εὐαγγελίζεταί μοι ὁ ποιμὴν ὁ καλὸς, δι' ὃν ἐγὼ τίθημι τὴν ψυχὴν ὑπὲρ τῶν προβάτων. Οὐ φοβοῦμαι τὸ μικρὸν ποίμνιον, εὐσύνοπτον γάρ: ὅτι γινώσκω τὰ ἐμὰ, καὶ γινώσκομαι ὑπὸ τῶν ἐμῶν. Τοιαῦτα τὰ Θεὸν γινώσκοντα, καὶ Θεῷ γινωσκόμενα. Τὰ πρόβατα τὰ ἐμὰ τῆς φωνῆς μου ἀκούει, ἧς ἤκουσα παρὰ τῶν θείων λογίων, ἣν ἐδιδάχθην παρὰ τῶν ἁγίων Πατέρων, ἣν ἐδίδαξα κατὰ πάντα καιρὸν ὁμοίως, οὐ συμμορφούμενος τοῖς καιροῖς, καὶ διδάσκων οὐ παύσομαι, μεθ' ἧς ἐγεννήθην, καὶ ᾗ συναπέρχομαι.