22. Is
it not evident that the Lord Jesus is angry with us when we sin in
order that He may convert us through fear of His indignation? His
indignation, then, is not the carrying out of vengeance, but rather the
working out of forgiveness, for these are His words: “If
thou shalt turn and lament, thou shalt be saved.” Ps. xxx. 15 [LXX.]. He waits for our lamentations
here, that is, in time, that He may spare us those which shall be
eternal. He waits for our tears, that He may pour forth His
goodness. So in the Gospel, having pity on the tears of the
widow, He raised her son. He waits for our conversion, that He
may Himself restore us to grace, which would have continued with us had
no fall overtaken us. But He is angry because we have by our sins
incurred guilt, in order that we may be humbled; we are humbled, in
order that we may be found worthy rather of pity than of
punishment.