526 GOSPEL ACCORDING TO CHAP. XV. powers thus are calledsheep,because every created nature as compared with God is as the beasts,but inasmuch as it Oreg.in is rational,they are calledfriendsand neighbours. GREG. Hom.34 ^nd we must ODservethat He says not," Rejoicewith the sheep that is found," but with me, because trulyour lifeis His joy,and when we are brought home to heaven we fillup the festivityof His joy. AMBROSE. Now the angels,inas much. as they are intelligentbeings,do not unreasonably rejoiceat the redemption of men, as it follows,I say unto you, that likewisejoy shallbe in heaven overone sinnerthat repenteth,more than over ninetyand ninejustpersons who need no repentance. Let thisserveas an incentiveto good ness,fora man to believethathisconversionwillbe pleasing to the assembled angels,whose favour he ought to court, Greg. or whose displeasureto fear. GREG. But He allows there ubisup. is more jov in heaven over the converted sinner,than over the just who remain stedfast;for the latterfor the most part,not feelingthemselvesoppressedby the weight of their sins,stand indeed in the way of righteousness,but stilldo not anxiouslysigh afterthe heavenly country, frequently being slow to perform good works, from theirconfidence in themselvesthat they have committed no grievous sins. But, on the other hand, sometimes those who remember certaininiquitiesthat they have committed, being pricked to the heart,from theirvery griefgrow inflamed towards the loveof God ; and because they considerthey have wan dered from God, make up fortheirformer lossesby the suc ceeding gains. Greaterthen isthe joy in heaven,justas the leaderin battlelovesthat soldiermore who having turned from flight,bravelypursues the enemy, than him who never turned his back and never did a brave act. So the husband man ratherlovesthatland which afterbearingthorns yields abundant fruit,than thatwhich never had thorns,and never gave him a plentifulcrop. But in the meantime we must be aware thatthere are very many justmen in whose lifethere is so much joy,that no penitenceof sinnershowever great can in any way be preferredto them. Whence we may gather what greatjoy itcauses to God when the justman humbly mourns, ifitproducesjoy in heaven when the unrighteousby hisrepentancecondemns the evilthat he has done.