27. As, when we read in the
Gospel, “Thou hast received a blow in the face, make ready the
other cheek.”2339
Now as an
example of
patience can none be found than that of the
Lord Himself
more potent and excellent; but He, when smitten on the cheek, said
not, Behold here is the other cheek, but He said, “If I have
spoken
ill, bear witness of the
evil; but if well, why smitest thou
Me?”
2340
Where He
shows that the
preparation of the other cheek is to be done in the
heart. Which also the
Apostle Paul knew, for he, too, when he was
smitten on the face before the high
priest, did not say,
Smite the
other cheek: but, “
God,” saith he, “shall
smite thee, thou
whited wall: and sittest thou to
judge me according to
law, and
contrary to
law commandest me to be smitten?”
2341
with most
deep insight beholding
that the
priesthood of the
Jews was already become such, that in
name it outwardly was
clean and fair, but within was foul with
muddy
lusts; which
priesthood he saw in spirit to be ready to pass
away through
vengeance of the
Lord, when he spake those words: but
yet he had his
heart ready not only to receive other blows on the
cheek, but also to
suffer for the truth any torments whatever, with
love of them from whom he should suffer the same.
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