Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, who has loved us, and has given us everlasting encouragement and good hope through grace,
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John Chrysostom
AD 407
Again a prayer after an admonition. For this is truly to benefit. Which loved us, he says, and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace. Where now are those who lessen the Son, because He is named in the grace of the Laver after the Father? For, lo, here it is the contrary. Which loved us, he says, and gave us eternal comfort. Of what sort then is this? Even the hope of things future. Do you see how by the method of prayer he stirs up their mind, giving them the unspeakable care of God for pledges and signs. Comfort your heart, he says, in every good work and word, that is, through every good work and word. For this is the comfort of Christians, to do something good and pleasing to God. See how he brings down their spirit. Which gave us comfort, he says, and good hope through grace. At the same time he makes them also full of good hopes with respect to future things. For if He has given so many things by grace, much more things future. I indeed, he says, have spoken, but the whole is of God. Stablish; confirm you, that you be not shaken, nor turned aside. For this is both His work and ours, so that it is in the way both of doctrines, and of actions. For this is comfort, to be established. For when any one is not turned aside, he bears all things, whatever may happen to him, with much longsuffering; whereas if his mind be shaken, he will no longer perform any good or noble action, but like one whose hands are paralyzed, so also his soul is shaken, when it is not fully persuaded that it is advancing to some good end.
