dear and beloved children, how many are the mercies of the Lord our God,
and His gopdness and clemency towards us. He requireth from those who f- 20 b
have sinned that they repent ; and in many places He speaketh about
these things, and giveth no place to the opinion of those who are hard-
hearted, and who wish to judge sharply and without mercy, and to cast
completely away those who have sinned, as if there were no repentance for
them. But God is not thus, but He calls even sinners to repentance, and
gives them hope, but those that have not sinned He teaches and says to
them, that they must not expect that we should bear or share in the sins
of others. Simply therefore receive those that repent, not doubting. For