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 to death His Own Divine Son, Who, though He assumed flesh that was to all seeming contaminated with sin, was nevertheless holy and innocent.

God, therefore, in order to save mankind, and at the same time to answer the claims of His justice, was pleased to condemn His Own Son to a painful life and to a shameful death. And can this ever be true? It is of faith, and St. Paul assures us of it: He spared not even His Own Son; but delivered Him up for us all. [Rom. 8:32] Jesus Christ Himself affirms it to us: God so loved the world, as to give His Only-begotten Son. [John 3:16] Celius Rodiginus relates, that there was a certain man, called Doeotarus, who had several sons, but loved one of them more than all the rest; insomuch that in order to leave him his whole fortune, he had the monstrous cruelty to murder all the others. But God has done quite the reverse; He has slain His well-beloved Son, His only Son, in order to give salvation to us vile and ungrateful worms: God so loved the world, as to give His Only-begotten Son.

Let us weigh these words: God so loved the world. What? a God condescends to love men, miserable worms, that have been rebellious and ungrateful towards Him, and to love them to such an extent ("the word so signifies the vehemence of love," says St. John Chrysostom), so as to give His Only-begotten Son! that He chose to give them His very Son, and that Only-begotten One Whom He loved as much as Himself! Not a servant, not an Angel, not an Archangel did He give, but His Own Son, subjoins the same holy Doctor. But in what manner did He choose to give Him? He gave Him to us lowly, humbled,