still, so does He moderate the severity of His just judgments against those who offend, that He scourges not so as to destroy, but, as it were, by His scourges to raise those who are fallen ; wishing not for the death of sinners, but rather that they may be converted and live, as there is more joy among the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth, than over ninety-nine just persons who need not repentance. For, inasmuch as the senses of all men are prone to evil from their youth upwards, and human nature is more inclined to sin, in order that, if exalted only by prosperity, they may not wax proud and their pride may ever hold the ascendancy over them, He allows them to be humbled, that so, when they shall feel sensible that they are afflicted acording to their deserts, they may recognize the justice of the judge, and, washing away the faults of their repentance with their tears, may be turned unto the Lord, and the Lord may be turned unto them ; a thing which in the depopulation of the Eastern lands may readily be perceived by all. For when men who had now grown old in the world, had grown old in well-doing as well, and young men, Eke boys, had waxed wanton in the paths of vice, for now these hundred years past, and, almost all, like sheep going astray, being given up to the lusts of the flesh, wandered, every one his own way, the Lord willed by the loss of the province of Jerusalem, so to punish our misdeeds, as, by renewing in some measure the mystery of His passion, to open a gate to repentance, and a way unto us to salvation. For He who in his body suffered for our sins upon the Cross of wood, once again suffering crucifixion on that wood for the remission of our sins, allowed himself, as it were, to be afflicted, in suffering the Cross upon which our Salvation hung, and which He stained with His own blood, to be taken by the Saracens, and to be so long held in their possession, that He might see if any one would grieve at his griefs ; if there should be any one to seek that his body should be given up to him ; if there should be any one to wrap it in a napkin, and to place it in the sepulchre, and, when deposited in the tomb, to place thereupon spices of sweetsmelling savour. But we rejoice in the Lord that He who gave the cause for repentance, has also bestowed upon many the feelings of repentance, and has in His mercy inspired them with a wish, assuming the sign of the Cross, to avenge the injuries done to Jesus Christ, fulfilling the precept of the Gospel, 'If any man will come after me, let him deny himself,