I. It is the Day of
the Resurrection, and my Beginning has good auspices. Let us then
keep the Festival with splendour, Isa. lxvi. 5. and let us
embrace one another. Let us say Brethren, even to those who hate
us; much more to those who have done or suffered aught out of love for
us. Let us forgive all offences for the Resurrection’s
sake: let us give one another pardon, I for the noble tyranny
which I have suffered (for I can now call it noble); and you who
exercised it, if you had cause to blame my tardiness; for perhaps this
tardiness may be more precious in God’s sight than the haste of
others. For it is a good thing even to hold back from God for a
little while, as did the great Moses of old, Ex. iv. 10.
and Jeremiah Jer. i. 6. later on; and then
to run readily to Him when He calls, as did Aaron Ex. iv. 27. and Isaiah, Isa. i. 6. so
only both be done in a dutiful spirit;—the former because of his
own want of strength; the latter because of the Might of Him That
calleth.