438 A TREATISE AGAINST NOVATIAN. from defending you always."1 And because Jeremiahthe prophet,in the personof the sinfulpeople,prays totheLord, saying,u Amend us,O Lord, but in judgment, and notin anger, lestThou make us few;"2 Isaiahfalso added,and said," For hissinI have slightlyafflictedhim ; and I have strickenhim, and have turned away my facefrom him : and he was afflicted,and went away sadlyin hisways."5 And because he labours,he added and said,"I have seenhis ways, and I have healed him ; and I have given him a true exhortation,peaceupon peace;"4thattothosewho repent,and pray,and labour,restorationis possible,because theywould miserablyperish,and becausetheywould declinefrom Christ. 11. Moreover, thisis proved in the Gospel,where isde scribedthatwoman who was a sinner,who came to thehouse of a certainPhariseewhitherthe Lord had been biddenwith His disciples,and she brought a vesselof ointment,and stood at the Lord's feet,and washed His feetwith her tears,and wiped them with her hair,and pressedkissesupon them ;so thatthatPhariseewas provoked,and said," If thisman were a prophet,he would know who and what sortof a woman this is who touches him ; for she is a sinner."5 Whence immediatelythe Lord, the remitterof sins and the receiver of the penitent,says," Simon, I have somewhat to sayunto thee. And he answered, saying, Master, say on. And the Lord, There was a certaincreditorwhich had two debtors; one who had G fivehundred pence, and the other fifty. When they had nothing to pay, he forgave both. And He asked,Which of these loved most ? And Simon answered, Assuredly he to whom he forgave most. And He added,saying,Seest thou that woman ? I enteredinto thy house,thou gavestme no kiss;but she hath not ceasedto kissmy feet; thou washedst not my feet,but she haswashed them with her tears,and wiped them with her hair; thou didst not anoint my feet with oil,but she hath anointed them. Wherefore I say unto thee,Simon, thather sinsare forgivenher." Behold,the Lord grants the debt withHis 1 Isa.lvii.16. 2Jer.x.24. 3 Isa.lvii.17. *Isa.Ivii.19. * Lukevii.39 etseq. 6 "Habebat,"butprobably"debebat"—owed.