14.

"And every man feared" (ver. 9). They that feared not, were not even men. "Every man feared;" that is, every one using reason to perceive the things which were done. Whence they that feared not, must rather be called cattle, rather beasts savage and cruel. A lion ramping and roaring is that people as yet. But in truth every man feared: that is, they that would believe, that trembled at the judgment to come. "And every man feared: and they declared the works of God."..."And every man hath feared: and they have declared the works of God, and His doings they have perceived." What is, "His doings they have perceived"? Was it, O Lord Jesus Christ, that Thou wast silent, and like a sheep for a victim wast being led, and didst not open before the shearer Thy mouth, ¹ and we thought Thee to be set in smiting and in grief, ² and knowing how to bear weakness? ³ Was it that Thou wast hiding Thy beauty, O Thou beautiful in form before the sons of men? ⁴ Was it that Thou didst not seem to have beauty nor grace? ⁵ Thou didst bear on the Cross men reviling and saying, "If Son of God He is, let Him come down from the Cross." ⁶ ...This thing they, that would have had Him come down from the Cross, perceived not: but when He rose again, and being glorified ascended into Heaven, they perceived the works of God.