cies; I gave, too, an example to my disciples, that sometimes persecution is to be avoided for the greater future glory of God. That I was not found by my pursuers, the counsel of my Deity prevailed over man’s counsel, for it is not easy to fight against God. That the innocents were slain, was a sign of my future passion, a mystery of those to be called, and of divine charity; for though the innocents did not bear testimony unto me by voice and mouth, yet they did by their death, as agreed with my childhood; because it was foreseen, that even in the blood of innocents, praise should be perfected to God. For though the malice of the unjust unjustly afflicted them, yet my divine permission, ever just and benignant, exposed them only justly, to show the malice of men and the incomprehensible counsel and piety of my divinity. Therefore, when unjust malice wreaked itself on the children, there justly superabounded merit and grace; and where the confession of the tongue and age were wanting, there the blood shed accumulated the most perfect good. — Lib. v., inter, xii., sol. 4.
