the way that my Beloved has preceded thee, when he was seen upon earth and conversed with men,[1] and gave you an example, that you also should do as he has done.
Man. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort,[2] who art rich in mercy; for the exceeding love with which thou hast loved us. While we were dead in sins, thou hast quickened us together in Christ (by whose grace we are saved), and hast raised us up together, and hast made us sit together in the heavenly places through Christ, that thou mightst show, in the ages to come, the abundant riches of thy grace.[3] Oh, how sweet are thy words to my palate with which thou callest us to the fellowship of thy Son? [4] But can I follow God? the servant his Lord? the slime of the earth the King of heaven? one so little the Boundless? the lowest the Highest? and one so weak the Almighty?
§ 3. God became man that he might be capable of imitation.
Christ. I came from heaven, and from invisible became visible; and because thou wast not able to endure the splendour of my majesty, I emptied myself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men, and in habit formed as a man, that so at least thou mightst be able to follow and imitate me, whom it is your great glory to follow, your greatest happiness to attain to.
For because by the first man all his posterity had fallen from his state of happiness, they could not be restored without some guide to go before them. But who could this be? A man? Not so; for all were in one condition, both of nature and of guilt. Some Angel, then? Yet not even thus could the satisfaction to the Divine justice be full and sufficient. God alone, therefore, was equal to it; but he could not be seen. Therefore, that one might be given to man, who could be seen by all, and whom man might safely follow, I, who am God, became a mortal man like yourselves, that my every action might be your instruction, and my Godhead shine forth to you in manhood.
Why, then, doest thou hesitate where the two ways meet? Seekest thou the right and royal road to salvation? I am the Way; whosoever enters by me shall be saved. Dost thou doubt what to think of honours, riches, joys, the pleasures of the world, and the judgments of men,
