thou followest; whom thou wast persecuting, now for them thou sufferest persecution. He
rises up the preacher, who was struck to the earth, the persecutor. He heard the Lord’s voice.
He was blinded, but in the body only, that he might be enlightened in heart. He was brought
to Ananias, catechised on sundry points, baptized, and so came forth an Apostle. Speak
then, preach, preach Christ, spread His doctrine, O thou goodly leader of the flock,3572 but
lately a wolf. See him, mark him, who once was raging. “But for me, God forbid that I should
glory, save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to
me and I to the world.”3573 Spread the Gospel: scatter with thy mouth what thou hast con-
ceived in thine heart. Let the nations hear, let the nations believe; let the nations multiply,
let the Lord’s empurpled spouse spring forth from the blood of Martyrs. And from her how
many have come already, how many members have cleaved to the Head, and cleave to Him
still and believe! They were baptized, and others shall be baptized, and after them shall
others come. Then I say, at the end of the world shall the stones be joined to the foundation,
living stones, holy stones, that at the end the whole edifice may be built by that Church, yea
by this very Church which now sings the new song, while the house is in building. For so
the Psalm itself says, “When the house was in building after the captivity;” and what says it,
“Sing unto the Lord a new song, sing unto the Lord all the earth.”3574 How great a house is
this! But when does it sing the new song? When it is in building. When is it dedicated? At
the end of the world. Its foundation has been already dedicated, because He hath ascended
into heaven, and dieth no more. When we too shall have risen to die no more, then shall
we be dedicated.
3572 Aries.
3573 Gal. vi. 14.
3574 Ps. xcv. 1, Sept. (xcvi. 1, English version).
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On the words of the Gospel, Luke xxiv. 36, ‘He himself stood in the midst…