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| Chapter XI. He returns to the prophecy of Isaiah.
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Chapter XI.
He returns to the prophecy of Isaiah.
“The labour,”
says he, “of Egypt, and the merchandize of Ethiopia, and the
Sabæans, men of stature shall come over to thee.” No one can
doubt that in these names of different nations is signified the coming
of the nations who were to believe. But you cannot deny that the
nations have come over to Christ, for since the name of Christianity
has arisen, they have come over to the Lord Jesus Christ not only in
faith but actually in name. For since they are called what they really
are, that which was the work of faith becomes the token by which they
are named. “They shall,” he says, “come over to thee
and shall be thine: they shall walk after thee bound with
manacles.” As there are chains of coercion, so too there are
chains of love, as the Lord says: “I drew them with chains of
love.”2477
For indeed
great are these chains, and chains of ineffable love, for those who are
bound with them rejoice in their fetters. Do you want to know whether
this is true? Hear how the Apostle Paul exults and rejoices in his
chains, when he says: “I therefore a prisoner in the Lord beseech
you.”2478
And again:
“I beseech thee, whereas thou art such an one as Paul the aged,
and now a prisoner also of Jesus Christ.”2479
You see how he rejoiced in the dignity
of his chains, by the example of which he actually stirred up others.
But there can be no doubt that where there is single-minded love of the
Lord, there is also single-minded delight in chains worn for the
Lord’s sake: as it is written: “But the multitude of the
believers was of one heart and one soul.”2480
“And they shall worship
thee,” he says, “and shall make supplication to thee: for
in thee is God, and there is no God beside thee.” The Apostle
clearly explains the prophet’s words, when he says that
“God was in Christ reconciling the world to
Himself.”2481
“In Thee
then,” he says, “is God and there is no God beside
thee.” When the prophet says “In Thee is God,” most
admirably does he point not merely to Him who was visible, but to Him
who was in what was visible, distinguishing the indweller from Him in
whom He dwelt, by pointing out the two natures, not by denying the
unity (of Person).E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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