7. I was dead, but because in Baptism I died together with Christ, I received the light of life from Christ. And he who dies in Christ, being warmed by Christ, receives the breath of life and resurrection. The boy was cold,Elisha warmed him with his breath, and imparted to him the warmth of life. He slept together with him that being thus buried with him in a figure the warmth of his rest might raise him up. He is cold then who dies not in Christ; he cannot be warmed to whom no burning fire is applied; he who has not Christ with him cannot grow warm by being near another.
8. And that you may understand it to be said as a mystery and not in reference to the bare number that two are better than one, he adds a mystical saying, Eccles. iv. 12. A threefold cord is not quickly broken. For that which is threefold and uncompounded cannot be broken. Thus the Trinity, being of an uncompounded nature, cannot be dissolved; for God is, whatever He is, one and simple and uncompounded; and what He is that He continues to be, and is not brought into subjection.
9. It is a good thing therefore to adhere closely to that other One, and to put your neck into His chain, and to bow down your shoulder and bear Him, and be not grieved with His bonds; because He went forth from the house of bondmen to assume His kingdom, that Ib. 13. Child who is better than an older and foolish king. Wherefore they who follow Him are also bound with chains. Paul too is Eph. iii. 1. the prisoner of Jesus Christ. And Jesus Himself Ps. lxviii. 18.
Eph. iv. 8. led captivity captive. He thought it not enough to destroy that captivity which the devil had imposed, so that he might not again assault those who were wandering at large. But to dwell in subjection to Christ, putting your feet into the fetters of wisdom, and becoming His captive that you may be free from the adversary, this is what He accounted perfect liberty.
10. Rightly is He called a Child, for Is. ix. 6. unto us a Child is born, and truly a good Child to Whom it has been said by God the Father, Ib. xlix. 6. puer, Vulg. It is a light thing that Thou shouldst be My Servant; wise also, as the gospel teaches us, for He S. Luke ii. 52. increased in wisdom and stature; and properly called poor, for, 2 Cor. viii. 9. though He was rich, for our sakes He became poor, that we through His poverty might be rich. Wherefore in His kingdom He does not despise the poor man, but listens to him and frees him from all straits and troubles.
11. Let us then live in obedience to Him, that that old and foolish king may have no power over us. For he, desiring to reign and be supreme after his own will, and not to be under subjection to the Lord Jesus, grows old in sin, and falls into the deformity of folly. For what can be more foolish than for a man to relinquish heavenly and apply himself to earthly things, for him to neglect what is eternal, and to choose the frail and perishing?
12. Let no one then say, 1 Kings xii. 16. We have no portion in Jacob nor inheritance in Israel.Let no one say, I am not among the Clergy, for it is written, Deut. xxxiii. 8. Give unto Levi his lots[295]; and again David says that he who Ps. lxviii. 13. Vulg. lieth in the midst among the lots ascends to heaven with spiritual wings. Say not of your God, Wisd. ii. 15. He is grievous to us, nor of your place, it Ib. v. 12. is not for our turn, since Scripture says, Eccles. x. 4. Leave not thy place: For the adversary would fain deprive thee of it, he would fain drive thee away, for he envies thee thy hopes and thy function.
13. But thou that art in the lot of the Lord, His portion and possession, depart not therefrom, that thou mayest say to Him, Ps. cxxxix. 13. For Thou hast possessed my reins, Thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb; and that He may say to thee, as to a good servant, S. Luke xvii. 7. Go, and sit down to meat.
Farewell, my sons: serve the Lord, for the Lord is good.