Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

THE FIRST AND THE SECOND MAN.93in the generation of whom is most completely verifiedhis title of the Second Adam. From the wombof the Church, become from a Bride the Mother ofall living, the Father of the age to come bears thatchosen race, and royal priesthood, and holy nation,and purchased people. And here we see expressedwith great force the truth that all who belong tothe Father's supernatural race must come by theMother. Her office of parent is here set forth ; asher fidelity and intense affection shine in the titleof the Bride, as her union, submission, and unfailingreception of life in her title of Body, so in thetitle of Mother all the saved are borne to Christby her, as S. Cyprian25 drew the conclusion, " hecannot have God for his father who has not theChurchfor his mother."n all this we see the five26 great loves firstshown by God to man, then returned by man toGod; the love of the Saviour, redeeming captives,and out of these forming O His kingdom; o" the loveof the friend, who is God, sanctifying those whomHe redeems into one temple ; the love which Heanted in man for self-preservation, sincethat which He so redeems and sanctifies He hasmade His own body; the love which He has givento the bridegroom for the bride, since it is theBride of the Lamb who is so adorned; and the love25 S. Cyprian de Unitate, 5.26 All these five relations between Christ and the Church are mentionedin one passage of S. Paul, Ephes. v. 22-33.