3. Therefore had the Lord Jesus compassion
upon us in order to call us to Himself, not frighten us away. He
came in meekness, He came in humility, and so He said:
“Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will
refresh you.” S. Matt. xi. 28. So, then,
the Lord Jesus refreshes, and does not shut out nor cast off, and fitly
chose such disciples as should be interpreters of the Lord’s
will, as should gather together and not drive away the people of
God. Whence it is clear that they are not to be counted amongst
the disciples of Christ, who think that harsh and proud opinions should
be followed rather than such as are gentle and meek; persons who, while
they themselves seek God’s mercy, deny it to others, such as are
the teachers of the Novatians, who call themselves pure. In order to
distinguish themselves from Catholics the Novatians assumed the name
καθαροί
“pure.”