Ps 83:7

“The Old Testament proclaimed the Father openly and the Son more obscurely. The New [Testament] manifested the Son and suggested the deity of the Spirit. Now the Spirit dwells among us and supplies us with a clearer demonstration of himself. For it was not safe, when the Godhead of the Father was not yet acknowledged, plainly to proclaim the Son; nor when that of the Son was not yet received to burden us further (if I may use so bold an expression) with the Holy Spirit; lest perhaps people might, like persons loaded with food beyond their strength and presenting eyes as yet too weak to look at the sun's light, risk the loss even of that which was within the reach of their powers; but that by gradual additions, and, as David says, "Goings up, and advances and progress from glory to glory," the light of the Trinity might shine on the more illuminated. It was for this reason, I think, that [the Holy Spirit] gradually came to dwell in the disciples, measuring himself out to them according to their capacity to receive him, at the beginning of the Gospel, after the passion, after the ascension, making perfect their powers, being breathed on them and appearing in fiery tongues.”

“Transgressors in the valley of weeping Those who transgress Your law behold, they are in the depth of Gehinnom with weeping and wailing. make it into a fountain with the tears of their eyes. also with blessings they enwrap [their] Teacher They bless and thank His name and say, “He judged us fairly, and His judgment is true.” (Another explanation: Shem Ephraim) And the one who taught us to follow the good way enwraps us with blessings, but we did not obey him.”

“It was fitting for the perfect Leader to show himself when there was opportunity to run toward the prize: and this is in the end of times, yet before the terminus, and in the approach to the final judgment, so that, spurred by the fear of judgment and drawn by the hope of reward and animated by the perfection of his example, we might vigorously and perfectly follow the Leader from virtue to virtue, until we arrive at the prize of eternal happiness.”

“Whoever therefore wishes to ascend to God must, having avoided the fault that deforms nature, exercise the aforementioned natural powers toward reforming grace, and this through prayer; toward purifying justice, and this in conduct of life; toward illuminating knowledge, and this in meditation; toward perfecting wisdom, and this in contemplation. Just as therefore no one comes to wisdom except through grace, justice, and knowledge, so one does not arrive at contemplation except through clear meditation, holy conduct, and devout prayer. Just as therefore grace is the foundation of uprightness of the will and of clear illumination of reason, so first we must pray, then live in holiness, third attend to the spectacles of truth, and by attending ascend step by step, until one arrives at the lofty mountain, where the God of gods is seen in Sion.”