Ambrosiaster : These are the true riches of God's mercy, that even when we did not seek it mercy was made known through his own initiative.… This is God's love to us, that having made us he did not want us to perish. His reason for making us was that he might love what he had made, seeing that no one hates his own workmanship. — EPISTLE TO THE Ephesians 2.4 Ignatius of Antioch : Do ye therefore, clothing yourselves with meekness, become the imitators of His sufferings, and of His love, wherewith He loved us when He gave Himself a ransom for us, that He might cleanse us by His blood from our old ungodliness, and bestow life on us when we were almost on the point of perishing through the depravity that was in us. — Epistle of Ignatius to the Trallians John Chrysostom : "But God, being rich in mercy." Not merely merciful, but rich in mercy; as it is said also in another place; "In the multitude of thy mercies." And again, "Have mercy upon me, according to the multitude of thy tender mercies." — Homily on Ephesians 4 John Chrysostom : "For His great love, wherewith He loved us." Why did He love us? For these things are not deserving of love, but of the sorest wrath, and punishment. And thus it was of great mercy. — Homily on Ephesians 4