XXXIII. What say I then, and what is my
argument? Yesterday you were a Canaanite soul bent
together Luke xiii. 11, which S. Gregory has apparently mixed
with a recollection of Matt.
xv. 21. by sin; today you
have been made straight by the Word. Do not be bent gain, and
condemned to the earth, as if weighed down by the Devil with a wooden
collar, nor get an incurable curvature. Yesterday you were being
dried up Matt. ix. 20. by an abundant
hæmorrhage, for you were pouring out crimson sin; today stanched
and flourishing again, for you have touched the hem of Christ and your
issue has been stayed. Guard, I pray you, the cleansing lest you
should again have a hæmorrhage, and not be able to lay hold of
Christ to steal salvation; for Christ does not like to be stolen from
often, though He is very merciful. Yesterday you were flung upon
a bed, exhausted and paralyzed, and you had no one when the water
should be troubled to put you into the pool. John v. 1, &c. Today you have Him Who is in one
Person Man and God, or rather God and Man. You were raised up
from your bed, or rather you took up your bed, and publicly
acknowledged the benefit. Do not again be thrown upon your bed by
sinning, in the evil rest of a body paralyzed by its pleasures.
But as you now are, so walk, mindful of the command, Ib. v.
14. Behold thou art made whole; sin no more lest
a worse thing happen unto thee if thou prove thyself bad after the
blessing thou hast received. You have heard the loud voice,
Lazarus, come forth, John xi. 43. as you lay in the
tomb; not, however, after four days, but after many days; and you were
loosed from the bonds of your graveclothes. Do not again become
dead, nor live with those who dwell in the tombs; Mark v. 3. nor bind yourself with the bonds of your own
sins; Ps. lxviii. 9. for it is uncertain whether you will rise
again from the tomb till the last and universal resurrection, which
will bring every work into judgment, Eccles. xii. 14. not to be
healed, but to be judged, and to give account of all which for good or
evil it has treasured up.