Therefore, when he worked his work of love
and mercy, he took care to tell the Jews that they were not his
works, but the works of his Father who sent him; that he was not
doing his own will, but his Father's. Therefore he was always
preaching of the Father in heaven, and holding him up to men as the
perfection of all love and goodness and glory: and only once or
twice, it seems, when he was compelled, as it were, for very truth's
sake, did he say openly who he was, and claim his co-equal and co-
eternal glory, saying, 'Before Abraham was, I am.'
And, after all this, if anything can grieve him now, must it not
grieve him to see men fancying that he is better than his Father is,
more loving and merciful than his Father is, more worthy of our
trust, and faith, and adoration, and gratitude than his Father is?--
His Father, for whose honour he was jealous with a divine jealousy--
His Father, who, he knows well, loved the world which shrinks from
him so well that he spared not his only begotten Son, but freely
gave him up for it.
Oh, my friends, believe me, if any sin of man can add a fresh thorn
to Christ's crown, it is to see men, under pretence of honouring
him, dishonouring his Father. For just think for once of this--What
nobler feeling on earth than the love of a son to his father? What
greater pain to a good son than to see his father dishonoured, and
put down below him? But what is the love of an earthly son to an
earthly father, compared to the love of The Son to the Father? What
is the jealousy of an earthly son for his father's honour, compared
with the jealousy of God the Son for God the Father's honour?
All men, the Father has appointed, are to honour the Son, even as
they honour the Father.
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