Letters

²¹ The heathen have come, and in very truth have come into Your inheritance, for they who came as heathen have become Christians. Those who came to invade Your inheritance, have been made coheirs with God. I have those as protectors whom I considered to be adversaries. That is fulfilled which the Prophet sang of the Lord Jesus that “His dwelling is in peace,” and “There broke He the horns of the bows, the shield, the sword and the battle.” For whose gift is this, whose work is this but Yours, Lord Jesus? You saw armed men coming to Your temple; on the one hand the people wailing and coming in throngs so as not to seem to surrender the Basilica of God, on the other hand the soldiers ordered to use violence. Death was before my eyes, lest madness should gain any footing while things were thus. You, O Lord, came between, and made of two one. You restrained the armed men, saying, If you run together to arms, if those shut up in My temple are troubled, “what profit is there in My blood.” Thanks then be unto You, O Christ. No ambassador, no messenger, but You, O Lord, have saved Your people, “You have put off my sackcloth and girded me with gladness.”