Page:Ecclesiastical History of Eusebius Pamphilus, 1842.djvu/50

18 Since the  Scriptures  in  the  same  words,  and  in  reference  to  the same one  says,  "  When  the  Lord  saw  that  he  drew  near  to  see. the  Lord  called  to  him  from  the  midst  of  the  bush,  saying,  Moses, Moses.  And  he  answered.  Here  am  I.  But  he  said.  Draw  not nearer,  loose  thy  shoes  from  off  thy  feet,  for  the  place  on  which thou  standest  is  holy  ground.  And  he  said  to  him,  I  am  the  God of  thy  fathers,  the  God  of  Abraham,  the  God  of  Isaac,  and  the God  of  Jacob."

That there  is  also  a  certain  antemundane,  living,  and  self-existing substance,  ministering  to  the  Father  and  God  of  all  unto  the formation of  all  created  objects,  called  the  word  and  the  wisdom of God,  besides  the  proofs  already  advanced,  we  may  also  learn from the  very  words  of  wisdom,  speaking  of  herself  in  the  clearest manner,  through  Solomon,  and  thus  initiating  us  into  her mysteries. Prov. viii. " I  wisdom  make  my  habitation  with  prudence and  knowledge,  and  have  called  to  understanding.  By me  kings  reign  and  princes  define  justice.  By  me  the  great  are magnified,  and  rulers  subdue  the  earth." To which  he  subjoins the following :  "  The  Lord  created  me  in  the  beginning  of  his ways,  for  his  works ;  before  the  world  he  established  me,  before the  formation  of  the  earth,  before  the  waters  came  from  their fountains,  before  the  foundation  of  the  mountains,  before  all  hills, he  brought  me  forth.  When  he  prepared  the  heavens,  I  was present  with  him,  and  when  he  established  the  fountains  under the  heavens,  I  was  with  him,  adjusting  them.  I  was  his  delight; daily  I  exulted  before  him  at  all  times,  when  he  rejoiced  that  he had  completed  the  world." That the  divine  word,  therefore,  preexisted and  appeared,  if  not  to  all,  at  least  to  some,  has  been  thus briefly shown.

The reason,  however,  why  this  was  not  also  proclaimed  before in ancient  times,  to  all  men  and  all  nations,  as  it  is  now,  will  appear from  the  following  considerations. The life  of  men,  in  ancient  times,  was  not  in  a  situation  to  receive  the  doctrine  of  Christ, in the  all-comprehensive  fulness  of  its  wisdom  and  its  virtue. For immediately in  the  beginning,  after  that  happy  state,  the  first