Library of Fathers of the Holy Catholic Church (Volume 11, PT. 1) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1843. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... Why the Multitudes followed our Lord. 375 HOMILY XXV. Matt. vii. 28. And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at His doctrine. Yet was it rather natural for them to grieve at the unplea' Homil. santness of His sayings, and to shudder at the loftiness of xxvHis injunctions; but now so great was the power of the Teacher, that many of them were even caught thereby, and thrown into very great admiration, and persuaded by reason of the sweetness of His sayings, not even when He ceased to speak, to depart from Him at all afterwards. For neither did the hearers depart, He having come down from the mountain, but even then the whole auditory followed Him; so great a love for His sayings had He instilled into them. But they were astonished most of all at His authority. For not with reference to another, like the Prophet and Moses, did He say what He said; but every where indicating Himself to be the person that had the power of deciding. For so, when setting forth His laws, He still kept adding, But I say unto you. And in reminding them of that Day, He declared Himself to be the Judge, both by the punishments, and by the honours. And yet it was likely that this too would disturb them. For if, when they saw Him by His works shewing forth His authority, the Scribes were for stoning and persecuting Him; 376 How He alternates His Miracles with His Doctrine. Homil. while there were words only to prove this, how was it other 1 2.' than likely for them to be offended? and especially when at first setting out these things were said, and before He had given proof of His own power? But however, they felt nothing of this; for when the heart and mind is candid, it is easily persuaded by the words of the truth. And this is just why one sort, ...