ABSTRACT
Now as the beginning of everything which existeth is poor and weak in comparison with the end thereof, which is built up little by little,— even as a child is first of all trained in simple things, and little by little he acquireth growth and increase of power and stature, and as when the command was given to Adam, that he should not eat of the fruit,1 the world continued for a long time in a state of childhood without progress2 to manhood, for the gift of the Law by the hands of the blessed Moses3 was more excellent than that which was given to Adam, for the latter was written upon the tables of the heart with the knowledge of nature, but the former was added with ink, after the manner of books,4 and also the perfection which is according to the wisdom which is in Christ, the Lord of our life, and which surpasseth all ancient laws and command ments, was given in after times according to the measure of the perfect Man-so also was it in respect of the
1 Genesis iii. 3. 2 from Y a rare word3 Exodus xx. 4 tyjaiso, literally “ by writing.” There seems to be no
example of this word in Payne Smith’s Thesaurus.
