5. And that we may more fully understand, beloved brethren, that patience is a thing of God, and that whoever is gentle, and patient, and meek, is an imitator of God the Father; when the Lord in His Gospel was giving precepts for salvation, and, bringing forth divine warnings, was instructing His disciples to perfection, He laid it down, and said, “Ye have heard that it is said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and have thine enemy in hatred. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, and pray for them which persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven, who maketh His sun to rise on the good and on the evil, and raineth upon the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward shall ye have? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye shall salute your brethren only, what do ye more (than others)? do not even the heathens the same thing? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.”14 Matt. v. 43–48. He said that the children of God would thus become perfect. He showed that they were thus completed, and taught that they were restored by a heavenly birth, if the patience of God our Father dwell in us—if the divine likeness, which Adam had lost by sin, be manifested and shine in our actions. What a glory is it to become like to God! what and how great a felicity, to possess among our virtues, that which may be placed on the level of divine praises!
V. Atque ut plenius intelligere possimus, fratres dilectissimi, quia patientia Dei res est, et quisquis lenis et patiens et mitis est, Dei Patris imitator est, cum in Evangelio suo Dominus praecepta in salutem 0625B daret, et divina monita depromens ad perfectum discipulos erudiret, posuit et dixit: Audistis quia dictum est: Diliges proximum tuum , et odio habebis inimicum tuum. Ego autem dico vobis: Diligite inimicos vestros, et orate pro eis qui vos persequuntur, ut sitis filii Patris vestri qui in coelis est, qui solem suum oriri facit super bonos et malos, et pluit super justos et injustos. Si enim dilexeritis eos qui vos diligunt, quam mercedem habebitis? Nonne sic et publicani faciunt ? Et si salutaveritis fratres vestros tantum? quid amplius facitis ? Nonne et ethnici idipsum faciunt. Estote itaque vos perfecti? sicut Pater vester coelestis perfectus est (Matth. V, 43-48). Sic perfectos dixit fieri Dei filios, sic consummari ostendit et docuit coelesti nativitate reparatos, si patientia Dei Patris maneat 0625C in nobis, si similitudo divina, quam peccato Adam perdiderat, manifestetur et luceat in actibus nostris. Quae gloria est similem Deo fieri! qualis et quanta felicitas habere in virtutibus quod divinis laudibus possit aequari!