Psalm 85:4. Convert us, O God our Savior, and put away Thy wrath from us.
"Having explained himself how he wanted to be understood, namely, that he is speaking in spirit, he now prays for the things which he had foretold would come. Consequently he is now speaking also about spiritual conversion and wrath. This is, therefore, supremely necessary, because this cannot be done by human strength, only by divine strength. This is true because God is hidden in the flesh, so that no man can recognize Him unless he has been enlightened by God’s spiritual grace. Hence blessed Peter, who had been thus converted and said, “You are Christ, the Son of the living God,” heard Him say: “Blessed are you, Simon, Bar-Jona. Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 16:16–17). And in John 6:45 we read: “They shall all be taught by God”; and in Matt. 11:25: “Thou hast revealed these things to the little ones and hidden them from the wise and prudent.” [And again (John 6:44): “No one comes to Me unless My Father, who has sent Me, draws him.”] Therefore no one can be converted to God unless he has first been converted to Christ, as He says (John 14:6): “No one comes to the Father, but by Me.”
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