First Christian Voices: Practices of the Apostolic Fathers

56

First Christian Voices

all things and none of the things determined by Him will pass away. All things are exposed before Him, and nothing can be hidden from His counsel. “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard” (Ps 19:1–3). T o D iognetus 9: He was aware, then, of all the plans He had arranged along with His Child so that He permitted us to be carried away by unruly impulses, being drawn away by the desire of pleasure and various lusts in the former times. This was not because He delighted in our sins, but because He was patient. He did not approve of the former season of our unrighteousness. And like a skilled craftsman of righteousness, in spite of this period of time when our own attempts in our unworthy lives might be now put to shame, we might be made worthy through the kindness of God. And having proven that in and of ourselves we were unable to enter into the kingdom of God, we can do so now only through the power of God. But when our wickedness had reached its height and it had been clearly shown its reward—that is, our imminent punishment and death—and when the time had come which God had appointed before through revealing His own goodness and power (oh, the surpassing kindness and love of God) through His exceeding mercy for people, He did not regard us with hatred, nor thrust us away, nor remember our sin against us. Instead, He showed great patience and restraint. He took upon Himself the burden of our sin. He gave His own Son as a ransom for us, the Holy One for sinners, the Blameless One for the wicked,