IV. And pardon me meanwhile that I again
suffer a human affection. I am filled with indignation and grief
for my Christ (and would that you might sympathize with me) when I see
my Christ dishonoured on this account on which He most merited
honour. Is He on this account to be dishonoured, tell me, that
for you He was humble? Is He therefore a Creature, because He
careth for the creature? Is He therefore subject to time, because
He watches over those who are subject to time? Nay, He beareth
all things, He endureth all things. 1 Cor. xiii. 7. And what
marvel? He put up with blows, He bore spittings, He tasted gall
for my taste. And even now He bears to be stoned, not only by
those who deal despitefully with Him, but also by ourselves who seem to
reverence Him. For to use corporeal names when discoursing of the
incorporeal is perhaps the part of those who deal despitefully and
stone Him; but pardon, I say again to our infirmity, for I do not
willingly stone Him; but having no other words to use, we use what we
have. Thou art called the Word, and Thou art above Word; Thou art
above Light, yet art named Light; Thou art called Fire not as
perceptible to sense, but because Thou purgest light and worthless
matter; a Sword, because Thou severest the worse from the better; a
Fan, because Thou purgest the threshing-floor, and blowest away all
that is light and windy, and layest up in the garner above all that is
weighty and full; an Axe, because Thou cuttest down the worthless
fig-tree, after long patience, because Thou cuttest away the roots of
wickedness; the Door, because Thou bringest in; the Way, because we go
straight; the Sheep, because Thou art the Sacrifice; the High Priest,
because Thou offerest the Body the Son, because Thou art of the
Father. Again I stir men’s tongues; again some men rave
against Christ, or rather against me, who have been deemed worthy to be
a herald of the Word. I am like John, The Voice of one crying in
the wilderness Matt. iii. 3.—a wilderness
that once was dry, but now is only too populous.