140. Howbeit, to make it more abundantly
clear and known that the standing implied no dishonour, but rather
sovereignty, Stephen prayed to the Son, being desirous to commend
himself the more to the Father, saying: “Lord Jesu, receive
my spirit.” Acts vii. 58. Again,
to show that the sovereignty of the Father and of the Son is one and
the same, he prayed again, saying, “Lord, lay not this sin to
their charge.” Acts vii. 51. These
are the words that the Lord, in His own Passion, speaks to the Father,
as the Son of Man—these the words of Stephen’s prayer, in
his own martyrdom to the Son of God. When the same grace is
sought of both the Father and the Son, the same power is affirmed of
each.