'What shall we then do, my brethren? Do you not see
that God is angered? He can no longer bear with us. The Lord is angry.
Do you not behold the scourges of God increasing every day? Our sins
increase, says St. John Chrysostom, and our scourges increase likewise.
God, my brethren, is wrathful: but with all his anger he has commanded
me to say, what he formerly commanded to be said by the prophet Zachary:
And thou shall say to them, Thus says the Lord of Hosts: Turn to Me
says the Lord of Hosts, and I will turn to you says the Lord of Hosts.
Sinners, says the Lord, you have turned your backs upon me, and
therefore have constrained me to deprive you of my grace. Do not oblige
me to drive you forever from my face, and punish you in hell without
hope of pardon. Have done with it: abandon sin, be converted to me, and I
promise to pardon you all your offences, and once more to embrace you
as my children.'
