9

Since, then, we must mount Jacob's ladder before descending it, let us

place the first rung of the ascension in the depths, putting the whole

sensible world before us as a mirror, by which ladder we shall mount up to

God, the Supreme Creator, that we may be true Hebrews crossing from Egypt

to the land promised to our fathers; let us be Christians crossing with

Christ from this world over to the Father [John, 13, 1]; let us also be

lovers of wisdom, which calls to us and says, "Come over to me, all ye that

desire me, and be filled with my fruits" [Ecclesiasticus, 24, 26]. For by

the greatness of the beauty and of the creature, the Creator of them may be

seen [Wisdom, 13, 5].