Be astonished, O you heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be you very desolate,
says the LORD.
Read Chapter 2
Athanasius the Apostolic
AD 373
Who that witnessed these things, or that has merely heard of them, will not be greatly appalled and cry aloud to the Lord, saying, “Will you make a full end of Israel?” Who that is acquainted with these proceedings will not with good reason cry out and say, “A wonderful and horrible thing is done in the land,” and, “The heavens are astonished at this, and the earth is even more horribly afraid.” The ancestors of the people and the teachers of the faith are taken away, and the impious are brought in to lead the churches? Who that saw when Liberius, bishop of Rome, was banished, and when the great Hosius, the father of the bishops, suffered these things, or who that saw so many bishops banished out of Spain and the other parts could fail to perceive—however little sense he might possess—that the charges against Athanasius also and the rest were false, and altogether mere calumny? This is also why others endured the suffering they did, because they saw plainly that the conspiracies laid a...
Not only Paul, but generally all those to whom is committed any ministry of the word, never cease from testifying but call heaven and earth to witness on the ground that now every deed that is done is done within them, and that in the examination of all the actions of life they will be present with the judged. So it is said, “He shall call to the heavens above and to the earth, that he may judge his people.” And so Moses when about to deliver his oracles to the people says, “I call heaven and earth to witness this day,” and again in his song he says, “Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak. Hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.” Isaiah invokes: “Hear, O heavens. Listen, O earth.” Jeremiah describes astonishment in heaven at the tidings of the unholy deeds of the people: “The heaven was astonished at this and was horribly afraid, because my people committed two evils.” - "On the Spirit 13.30"
Reproof is the bringing forward of sin, laying it before one. This form of instruction God employs as necessary in the highest degree by reason of the feebleness of the faith of many. For he says by Isaiah, “You have forsaken the Lord and have provoked the holy One of Israel to anger.” He says also by Jeremiah: “Heaven was astonished at this, and the earth shuddered exceedingly. My people have committed two evils. They have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and have hewn out for themselves broken cisterns that will not be able to hold water.” - "Christ the Educator 1.9"
Here too let the prophet Jeremiah say of the race of Israel, “Who will grant for my head to be waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears, that I may weep for this people day and night?” “For what lamentation can suffice for those who fell into the pit of destruction because of their wicked conduct to Christ, and for guilt so great, that not with words only did they grieve him, and mock him with blasphemous cries, but even laid sinful hands upon him and prepared the snare of death for him?… “The heavens themselves were astonished, and shuddered very greatly,” says the Lord. For the Lord of earth and heaven, the Creator and Maker of all, the King of kings and Lord of Lords, he who is of such surpassing greatness in glory and majesty, the foundation of everything, and that in which all things exist and abide—for all things exist in him—he who is the breath of all the holy spirits in heaven is scorned like one of us and patiently endures beatings. - "Commentary on Luke, Homily 150"
For where the church is, there is the Spirit of God. Where the Spirit of God is, there is the church and every kind of grace. The Spirit is truth. Those, therefore, who do not partake of him are neither nourished into life from the mother’s breasts, nor do they enjoy that most clear fountain that issues from the body of Christ. Instead, they dig for themselves broken cisterns out of earthly trenches and drink putrid water out of the mire, fleeing from the faith of the church lest they be convicted. They reject the Spirit with the result that they are not instructed. - "Against Heresies 3.24.1"
