Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament

^5. For hence it is that we are bold to say, day by day, “Your kingdom come;” that when His kingdom comes, we too may reign with Him. Which has been promised to us in these words; “Then will I say unto them, Come, you blessed of My Father, receive the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world.” But assuredly only if we shall have done what follows in that place. “For I was an hungred, and you gave Me meat,” etc. He made these promises to our fathers; but He has given us a security, for us too to read. If He who has vouchsafed to give us this security, were to make a reckoning with us and say, “Read my debts, the debts, that is, of my promises, and reckon up what I have already paid, and reckon also what I still owe; see how many I have paid already; and what I owe is but little; will you for that little that remains, think Me an untrustworthy promiser?” What should we have to answer against this most evident truth? Let him then who is barren repent, and bear “fruit worthy of repentance.” He that is bent down, who looks only on the earth, rejoices in earthly happiness, who thinks this the only happy life, where he may be happy, and who believes no other can be; whosoever he be that is so bent down, let him be made straight; if he cannot by himself, let him call upon God. For was that woman made straight by herself? Woe had it been for her, if He had not stretched out His Hand.