Nicene and Post-Nicene Church Fathers Series 2 - The Still Small ...

above and to earth, that he may judge his people.” 964 And so Moses when about to deliver
his oracles to the people says, “I call heaven and earth to witness this day;” 965 and again in
his song he says, “Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak, and hear, O earth, the words of
my mouth;” 966 and Isaiah, “Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth;” 967 and 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.” 968 And so the apostle, knowing the angels to be set over men as tutors and guardians,
calls them to witness. Moreover, Joshua, the son of Nun, even set up a stone as witness of
his words (already a heap somewhere had been called a witness by Jacob), 969 for he says,
“Behold this stone shall be a witness unto you this day to the end of days, when ye lie to the
Lord our God,” 970 perhaps believing that by God’s power even the stones would speak to
the conviction of the transgressors; or, if not, that at least each man’s conscience would be
wounded by the force of the reminder. In this manner they who have been entrusted with
the stewardship of souls provide witnesses, whatever they may be, so as to produce them at
some future day. But the Spirit is ranked together with God, not on account of the emergency
of the moment, but on account of the natural fellowship; is not dragged in by us, but invited
by the Lord.
964 Ps. l. 4.
965 Deut. iv. 26.
966 Deut. xxxii. 1.
967 Isa. i. 2.
968 Jer. ii. 12, 13, lxx.
969 Gen. xxxi. 47.
970 Josh. xxiv. 27, lxx.
Statement of the reason why in the writings of Paul the angels are associated…
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