6z,2 Motiuee inducingthe fe Thee to beconucrted TheConuerfion of Paden%the badge of Chrifts Divi- nitic. and free aheart, as our Sauiour Chia. Tertmdlian faith, That hee came into the world, for to thew himfelfe a God in his fuffering ; making Patience the badge and marke of hisDiuinitie. And that the power which he (hewed in pardoning, being fogreat ; much greater was that which hee fhewed in fuffering. It was much that he fhould fuffer for man,much more in that he fuffered forman,when as manwouldnot fufferhim to beGod. To admit a Traytourto his boord, to bid him welcome, to feaft him,andmakemuchof him,that findinghim ;elk fo kindly vfed, he may make himfitrceafe fromhis plotted treafons, winninghim vnto himby there and the like courtefres, well may aman doe this ; but that God fhould admit aWas to his table, that he fhouldeate with God , God wit- ting, That he would goefrom the table to execute his treafon, to fell God, and to deliuer him vp into thehands ofhis enemies onely Godand his patience could fuffer fogreat an iniurie : whichmade Saint Augufline to fay, vlpotentia difcimrupatientiatt,. S. Chryfefiome,origen,and S. Ierome,are or opinion, That the alterationof the funne and the elements, wrought the fame effect vpon the theefe, as it did vpon Dyoniftua inAthens, when hecryedout, Either the world is at anend, or this man is God. Vincent Ferrarienfii faith , That the fhadowof our SauiourChrift did inlighten this Theefe. And that the fhadowof Saint Peter healing bodies, it was not much, that the thadowofChrift fhould heale foules. Whereuntomay be applyed that of Dasid, Thomhaftfbadonedmy headin theday ofbattaile. Parse Damianus faith , That the bleffed Virgin might bee a meanes of this Theeues Conuerfion, by intreating herforme, that he would bepleafed to open the eyesof his foule : Whether theweremooued thereunto, becaufe the good theefe did not reuile Chrift,orwhether (which Saintt..Áuguflinereports,though fomeattribute thefame toAnflmud) That inherjourney to ,,Egypt, hce being Captaine oftheTheeues , did the bleffedVirgin many good Ieruices, being much takenwith theprettineffe ofthechild, and the foherand modeft counte- nanceof the mother;fure I am,that it was a;happines fofole in theworld ,& con- fi(ting offuchftrange circumflances,That noman did,or euer (hall enioy thelike good lucke. Andas we cannotexpeda fecond death ofour Sauiour Chrift ;fo fucha fecond happy incounteras this was, cannot bee hoped for. This Theefe came inthat good time, when asheauendid fhouredowne mercies, when there was aplenary Indulgenceand Iubilee granted ; whenGoddid poure forth the baime of his Blood for to ranfomeman ; when the doores of heauen, and the woundsofChrifl wereequally open ; when the fountaineof liuing water, did cry our in therniddeft of the world, tfanymanthirfi, lethim comevntomee and drinke ; when our Sauiourhad fucha longing defire to feethe fruit of his labors and fweats ; When he had put that petition tohis Father, whichbegan with rg- nofceillu, Forgiue them : And it feeming vnto him, That his Father was too flow in grantinghis regueft, he did thus pittifully complaine vnto him, omy God, my God, why hall thou forfaker. me ? Whycame I into theworld.' Why was I borne inpouertìe, hued in labour, and dyed in forrow ! What ? Hamel laboured then in vaine ? Secondly, it was his happinefl'e, (as Saint Gregory Nigin bath obferuéd) That he inioyed our Sauiour Chrifts fide, and his fhadow ; that hewas fodoleVnder his wing . He thatfayles ina littleBarke with apowerfull Prince, as it fucceeded vnto Mitre Carar,Cafarem vehu, &fertmnam tins, Iris not much that he fhouldbe fauoured. Saint Ambrofe faith, Thatas long as Peter ftuckedole to Chrifts fide, he did fetvponawhole fquadronat once ; but when hewas gonebut a little fur- the:
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