5. Perhaps however you will declare yourself to be secure of her merits and faith, you cannot endure the feeling of regret at seeing her no longer after the flesh, which is to you a better grief. And does not the Apostolic saying move you that _henceforth we know no man after the flesh; yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we Him no more_. For our flesh cannot be perpetual and lasting, it must needs die that it may rise again, it must be dissolved that it may rest, and sin come to an end. We too have known many according to the flesh, but now we know them no more. _We have known the Lord Jesus_, says the Apostle, _after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we Him no more_. For now He has put off the coil of the body, and is not seen in fashion as a Man, but has died for all and all are dead in Him, to the intent that being renewed by Him and quickened in the Spirit they may no longer live to themselves but to Christ. Wherefore the same Apostle also says elsewhere, _I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me_. Sidenote: Acts ix. 1. &c. Sidenote: 2 Cor. v. 17. Sidenote: Gen. vi. 3. Sidenote: 2 Cor. v. 17. Sidenote: S. Matt. xiii. 52. Sidenote: Cant. vii. 13. 6. And well indeed was it that he who had before known Christ after the flesh, who had before persecuted and oppressed with bitter hatred the disciples of the Man, and the attendants on His bodily presence, but who now recognized His invisible workings, discerning not His bodily presence but His power,――well indeed was it that he became the teacher of the Gentiles, and began to instruct and prepare the worshippers of His Divinity to become preachers of the Gospel. Wherefore he added, _if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature_, that is, he that is perfect in Christ is a new creature, for all flesh is imperfect. And the Lord saith, _My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh_. No carnal man then is in Christ, but _if any man be in Christ he is a new creature_, formed by newness not of nature but of grace. These _old things_ which are according to the flesh _have past away, all things are made new_. And what are they but the things which _the scribe instructed unto the kingdom of heaven_ knows, _like unto that householder, who brings forth out of his treasure things new and old_; neither old things without new, nor new things without old? Thus too the Church saith, _things new and old have I laid up for Thee_. For old things, that is, the hidden mysteries of the Law are passed away, all things are made new in Christ. Sidenote: Gal. v. 6. Sidenote: Ps. ciii. 5. Sidenote: 2 Cor. v. 19, 20. Sidenote: S. John i. 29. Sidenote: 2 Cor. v. 21.