Sidenote: S. Matt. vii. 14. 6. But let us enter the gates of the Lord, _the gates of righteousness_, which the righteous entereth and _giveth praise unto the Lord_. But few enter in here, wherefore the Lord saith, _Straight is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it_. But the wide gate and broad way, wherein the many walk, leads to death, and carries thither them that travel on it. Sidenote: Prov. ii. 13. 7. Let our way then be narrow, our virtue abundant, our steps more careful, our faith more lofty, our path narrow, our energy of mind overflowing, our paths straight, for the steps of virtue cannot be turned aside; wherefore Solomon saith, _Who leave the paths of uprightness_. Sidenote: Is. xxxi. 1. Sidenote: Exod. vii. 1. 8. Let our steps tend upward, for it is better to ascend. Lastly, as we read to-day, _Woe to them that go down to Egypt!_ Not that to pass over into Egypt is blameable, but to pass into their habits, to pass into their cruel perfidy and hideous lusts. He that passes over thither descends, he that descends falls. Wherefore let us avoid the Egyptian, who is man, not God. For the king of Egypt himself was given over to the dominion of his vices, and compared with him Moses was accounted a god, ruling over kingdoms and subjecting to himself powers. Hence we read that he was addressed thus, _See I have made thee a god to ♦Pharaoh_. Farewell, and love me, as indeed you do, with the affection of a son. LETTER XXIX. A.D. 389. THIS letter is in fact a meditation on Christ as the true Chief good of man, the true Source of happiness, and Food of the soul, and Fountain of life, to be sought therefore with eagerness, and clung to with all the affection of the soul, which must therefore scorn all meaner delights. AMBROSE TO IRENÆUS, GREETING. Sidenote: Ps. xlv. 3. Sidenote: Rom. x. 15. Is. lii. 7. 1. WHILE engaged in reading, after resting my mind for a while and desisting from study, I began to meditate on that versicle which in the evening we had sung at Vigils, _Thou art fairer than the children of men_, and, _How beautiful are the feet of them that bring good tidings_ of Him. And truly nothing is more beautiful than that chief good, the very preaching of which is beyond measure lovely, and specially the progress of continuous discourse, and the foot-steps, so to speak, of Apostolic preaching. But who is equal to these things? They to whom God gave not only to preach Christ, but also to suffer for Him. Sidenote: Ps. lxiii. 6. Sidenote: Ib. xxii. 29.