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   "In order that the disciple should be made to fear, and not become worse   
   for lack of reverence, nor himself undergo punishment and penalty, Christ   
   displayed this His power on the fig-tree, saying, "Let no fruit grow on   
   thee henceforward," (Matt. xxi. 3 9,) and, by His mere word, caused it   
   instantly to wither. In this way, without causing harm to any man, Pie   
   himself showed His might, though it was only a tree that bore the   
   infliction. And the disciple, if he had attended to this instance of   
   punishment, would have reaped profit from it. Still, however, even thus he   
   was not corrected. And Christ, foreseeing even this, not only did this   
   thing, but afterwards wrought a much greater wonder. For when the Jews came   
   against Him, armed with swords and staves, He caused them all to become   
   blind; this being shown by His saying, "Whom seek ye?" Since Judas had said   
   again and again, "What will ye give me, and I will deliver Him unto you?"   
   (Matt. xxvi. 15,) the Lord, wishing to prove to the Jews, and to let Judas   
   also know, that He went of His own accord to His sufferings, and that all   
   these events were in His own power;----that He was not overpowered by the   
   wickedness of another, He said, when the traitor with all his companions   
   stood still, "Whom seek ye?" Judas did not know Him whom he came to betray,   
   for his eyes were blinded. Nor was this all, but Christ by His word caused   
   them all to fall backward to the ground. And since even this did not render   
   them less cruel, nor cause the wretched man to desist from his   
   treachery,----for he was still incorrigible,----Christ even now did not   
   give up His kindness and regard; but mark how movingly He deals with this   
   mind devoid of shame, and how He speaks words which ought to melt a heart   
   of stone."   
      
   St. John Chrysostom, Discourse I, Chiefly on the parable of the rich manand   
   Lazarus   
      
   "Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His   
   wonderful works to the children of men! Let them exalt Him also in the   
   assembly of the people, And praise Him in the company of the elders."   
    Psalm 107:31-32   
      
   Draw nigh unto God and He will draw nigh unto you.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)