11. Matt. X. 30.
POLITICAL WRITINGS 313 hairs. Verily I say unto you, even the hairs of your head are all numbered.^^ Our hairs are numbered by God; how much more is our conduct known to Him to Whom our hairs are thus known?
See then, how that God doth not disregard our least things. For if He disregarded them, He would not create them. For he verily created our hairs, and still taketh count of them. But thou wilt say, though they are preserved at present, perhaps they will perish. On this point also hear
His word. Verily I say unto you, there shall not an hair of your head perish.^^
Why art thou afraid of man, O man, whose place is in the Bosom of God? Fall not out of
His Bosom; whatsoever thou shalt suffer there, will avail to thy salvation, not to thy destruction. Martyrs have endured the tearing of their hmbs, and shall Christians fear the injuries of Christian times? He who would do thee an injury now, can only do it in fear. He does not say openly, come to my altars, and banquet there. And if he should say so, and thou wast to refuse, let him make a complaint of it, let him bring it as an accusation and charge against thee: "He would not come to my altars, he would not come to my temple, where I worship." Let him say this. He does not dare; but in his guile he contrives another attack. Make ready thy hair; he is sharpening the razor; he is about to take off thy superfluous things, to shave what thou must soon leave behind thee. Let him take off what shall endure, if he can. This powerful enemy, what has he taken away? What great thing has he taken away? That which a thief or housebreaker oould take: in his utmost
11. Matt. X. 30.
12. Luke xxi. 18.