Incomparable wound; only God heals the blow he strikes

He has shown the complete wickedness, as having no witness of virtue at all, nor anyone who has stumbled in similar things. For what sin is like that of the one far from God and of the one who after drawing near has thrown off the reins? For “if I had not come,” he says, “and spoken to them, they would not have sin.” For which reason also “among those who draw near to me I will be sanctified”; because the one who does not know the will of the Lord and does not do it will be beaten with few blows; but the one who knows and does not do it will be beaten with many. The passion so great, then, which prophets have not been able to heal, needs God alone. For which reason he has also worn flesh—the prophets confessing weakness in “Lord, who has believed our report?” And formerly Jerusalem was also saying: “See if there is a passion according to my passion.” The one who struck, then, will heal—“for he himself makes to suffer and again restores.” The “who” is taken both of the rare and of the none; for no human being can heal the blow brought on by God.