Isaias — Chapter 63

S. Dionyse supposeth this to be the question of the highest order of Angels, admiring Christs beauty to be so excellent, notwithstanding that he is embrewed with bloud, ascending from Edom into heaven, with triumph after a bloudie victorie.

The Angel or guardian of the Church standeth before the face of God. Christ testifying that the particular guardians doe always see the face of his Father. Mat. 18.

Abraham hath not knowne vs.] The faithful people considering their owne great, frequent, & inueterate sinnes, with the extreme calamities whcrinto they were fallen for the same, supposed that their progenitour Abraham (whom God had particularly called out of his countrie) & Iacob (of whose twelue sonnes the whole nation was propagated) did no longer acknowledge them for their children, because they had so grieuously offended God, & were not worthie of anie fauour. Al which notwithstanding, yet they hoped in Gods inseparable mercie, that his diuine goodnes, being Creatour of al, who had elected the for his peculiar people, brought them out of Egypt, and often deliuered them from sundrie afflictions, would againe reduce them from captiuitie and as their merciful father, remit their sinnes, and relieue their miseries: though Abraham, Iacob, and other Patriarchs had iustly reiected them as lost children. This being the proper literal sense of this place, according to S. Ierome, and other ancient Doctours explication, it maketh nothing at al for the old and new heresie of Vigilantius, & Luther, denying that Saints in an other life doe know what is done in this world. For albeit the Patriarchs in zele of iustice, did not acknowledge their carnal posteritie (because of their great sinnes) for their children, yet they knew their state, as S. Augustin (li. de cura pro mortuis) interpreting this, and other places of holie Scripture, teacheth, partly by relation of such as passed from hence to them; partly by holie Angels; and especially by diuine inspirations. As it is cleere that Abraham knew the state of poore Lazarus, & of the rich glutton, describing what ech of them had deserued, and consequently receiued. Much more both the old Patriarchs, and al other Saints, in eternal glori. know ech other, though neuer seen nor knowne before in this world, as S. Gregorie teacheth li. 4. c. 33. Dial.g. The glorified Saints see also in God that which perteynerh to their clients, that pray vnto them in earth, so farre as God doth ordaine, more cleerly by light of glorie, then Prophets see by light of prophecie: as S. Augustin teacheth. But touching the manner, he saith it exceeded the reach of his vnderstanding, how Martyrs doe helpe those whom it is certaine are holpen by them. So discoursing at large of the vncertaine manner, sheweth that there is no doubt at al of the thing it selfe, that Saints in heauen doe know mortal mens necessities, heare their prayers, and helpe them by theyr intercession and merits; which he confirmeth also li. 20. c. 2. i. cont. Faust. Tract. li. Ioa Ser. 1. de Sanctis. Likewise S. Ierom against Vigilantius, S Gregorie li. 3. Epist. ep. 30. d. 7. ep. 1.26. li. 9. ep. 38. and others in manie places.