heretics? He had risen from the dead, who said, “It behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise
again from the dead the third day.” This I believe. I believe it, he says. Dost thou believe?
Wherefore believest thou not what follows? In that thou believest, “It behoved Christ to
suffer, and to rise again from the dead the third day;” this was spoken of the Head; believe
also that which follows concerning the Church, “That repentance and remission of sins
should be preached throughout all nations.”3886 Wherefore dost thou believe as touching
the Head, and believest not as touching the Body? What hath the Church done to thee, that
thou wouldest so to say behead her? Thou wouldest take away the Church’s Head, and believe
the Head, leave the Body as it were a lifeless trunk. It is all to no purpose that thou dost
caress the Head, like any devoted servant. He that would take off the head, doth his best to
kill both the head and the body. They are ashamed to deny Christ, yet are they not ashamed
to deny Christ’s words. Christ neither we nor ye have seen with our eyes. The Jews saw, and
slew Him. We have not seen Him, and believe; His words are with us. Compare yourselves
with the Jews: they despised Him hanging upon the Tree, ye despise Him sitting in heaven;
at their suggestion Christ’s title was set3887 up, by your setting3888 yourselves up, Christ’s
Baptism is effaced. But what remains, Brethren, but that we pray even for the proud, that
we pray even for the puffed up, who so extol themselves? Let us say to God on their behalf,
“Let them know that the Lord is Thy Name; and” not “that” men, but “Thou Only art the
Most High over all the earth.”3889 Let us turn to the Lord, etc.
3886 Luke xxiv. 46, etc.
3887 Stetit.
3888 Stantibus.
3889 Ps. lxxxii. 19, Sept. (lxxxiii. 18, English version).
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On the words of the Gospel, John v. 39, ‘Ye search the Scriptures, because…