and is not ashamed: He cometh to her secret dwelling place. He beholds her in her drunk-
enness. And how doth He come? not in the bare essence of His original nature, but He be-
comes that which the harlot was, not in intention but in reality does He become this, in order
that she may not be scared when she sees Him, that she may not rush away, and escape. He
cometh to the harlot, and becomes man. And how does He become this? He is conceived
in the womb, he increases little by little and follows like me the course of human growth.
Who is it who does this? the Deity as manifested, not the Godhead; the form of the servant
not that of the Master; the flesh which belongs to me, not the essential nature which belongs
to Him: He increases little by little, and has intercourse with mankind. Although He finds
the harlot, human nature, full of sores, brutalised, and oppressed by devils, how does He
act? He draws nigh to her. She sees Him and flees away. He calleth the wise men saying Why
are ye afraid? I am not a judge, but a physician. “I came not to judge the world but to save
the world.”851 Straightway He calleth the wise men. Oh! new and strange event. The imme-
diate first-fruits of His coming are wise men. He who upholds the world lieth in a manger,
and He who careth for all things is a nursling in swaddling bands. The temple is founded
and the God dwelleth therein. And wise men come and straightway worship Him: the
publican comes and is turned into an evangelist: the harlot comes and is turned into a
maiden: the Canaanitish woman comes and partakes of his lovingkindness. This is the mark
of one who loves, to forbear demanding an account of sins, and to forgive transgressions
and offences. And how does He act? He takes the sinner and espouses her to himself. And
what doth He give her? a signet ring. Of what nature? the Holy Spirit. Paul saith “now He
who establisheth us with you is God who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the
Spirit.”852 The Spirit then He giveth her. Next He saith “Did not I plant thee in a garden?”
She saith “yea.” And how didst thou fall from thence? “The devil came and cast me out of
the garden.” Thou wast planted in the garden and he cast thee out: behold I plant thee in
myself, I uphold thee. How? The devil dares not approach me. Neither do I take thee up
into Heaven; but something greater than Heaven is here: I carry thee in myself who am the
Lord of Heaven. The shepherd carries thee and the wolf no longer comes: or rather I permit
him to approach. And so the Lord carrieth our nature: and the devil approaches and is
worsted. “I have planted thee in myself:” therefore He saith “I am the root, ye are the
branches:”853 so He planted her in Himself. “But,” she saith, “I am a sinner and unclean.”
“Let not this trouble thee, I am a physician. I know my vessel, I know how it was perverted.
It was formerly a vessel of clay, and it was perverted. I remodel it by means of the laver of
regeneration and I submit it to the action of fire.” For observe: He took dust from the earth
851 John xii. 47.
852 2 Cor. i. 21, 22.
853 John xv. 5. In the original, “I am the vine,” etc.
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Homily II. After Eutropius having been found outside the Church had been…