A TREATISE AGAINST NOVATIAN. 439 liberalkindnessto both debtors! Behold Him who pardons sins! Behold the woman who was a sinner,penitent,weep ing,praying,and receivingremissionof her sins! 12. And now blush if thou canst,Novatian; cease to deceive the unwary with thy impious arguments ; cease to frightenthem with the subtletyof one particular.We read, and adore,and do not pass over the heavenlyjudgment of the Lord, where he says that He willdeny him who denies Him. But does thismean the penitent? And why should I be takingpainssolong to proveindividualcasesof mercies? sincethemercy of God isnot indeed deniedtothe Ninevites, althoughstrangers,and placedapartfrom thelaw oftheLord, when theybeseechiton accountof the overthrowannounced to theircity. Nor to Pharaoh himself,resistingwithsacrile gious boldness,when formerlyhe was strickenwith heavenly plagues,and turningto Moses and tohisbrother,said," Pray to the Lord forme, forI have sinned,"1 atonce the anger of God was suspended from him. And yet thou,O Novatian, judgestand declarestthatthe lapsed have no hope of peace and mercy, nor inclinestthineearto therebuke of theapostle, when he says,"Who art thou,who judgest another man's servant? To his own master he standethor falleth.Yea, he shallstand. God ismighty to establishhim."1 Whence pertinentlyand needfullythe Holy Spirit,in the person of thosesame lapsedpeople,rebukesyou when He says,"Rejoice not over me, O mine enemy : becauseifI have fallen,I shall alsoriseagain; and if I shallwalk in darkness,the Lord is my light. I willbear the indignationof the Lord, because I have sinned againstHim, untilHe justifymy cause,and execute judgment and justice,and bring me forth to the light. I shallbehold His righteousness; and she that is mine enemy shallsee me, and shallcoverherselfwith con fusion."* 13. I beseech thee,hast thou not read,"Boast not,and speak not loftily,and letnot arrogancyproceedout of your mouth: for the Lord lifteththe poor from the earth; He raisethup the beggar from the dunghill,and maketh him to 1Ex.ix.28. 2Rom. xiv.4. 3 Mic.vii.8-10.