Zechariah 1:3

But not all who see are equally enlightened by Christ, but each is enlightened according to that measure by which he is able to receive the force of the light. And just as the eyes of our body are not equally enlightened by the sun, but the higher one ascends into lofty places and beholds its rising by the gazing of a more elevated watchtower, so much the more will he receive both of its splendor and its heat; so also our mind, the more loftily and highly it approaches Christ and presents itself nearer to the splendor of his light, so much the more magnificently and clearly will it be irradiated by his light, as he himself also says through the prophet: "Draw near to me, and I will draw near to you, says the Lord." And again he says: "I am a God drawing near, and not a God from afar."

If we are entirely devoted to God and humbly implore his mercy, through the mercy of God we may deserve to be healed of all our infirmities, rescued from all our sins, set free from the frequent flooding of waters. We ought to believe for certain, dearest brothers, that if our sins cease, the divine mercy will immediately remove the punishments that were due to us. Thus he himself has deigned to promise through the prophet when he said, "Return to me, and I will return to you," and again, "If you groan and return to me, then you shall be saved." Therefore let us turn to a better life while the remedies are still in our power. By our good deeds let us summon to mercy the kind and merciful Lord whom we provoked by our sins. According to his usual practice, he will then deign to keep adversities from us and in his clemency to grant us good fortune.

Indeed, God is good to everyone, but he shows his patient endurance especially to those who sin. And if you want to hear a paradoxical statement—paradoxical because it is not customary, but true for the great piety it reveals—listen. God always seems to be severe to the righteous but good to sinners and quick to clemency. He restores the one who sinned and fell and tells him, "Shall not he who falls arise; or he that turns away, shall he not turn back again?" And "Why did that stupid daughter of Judah turn away with a shameless revolting?" And again, "Return to me, and I will return to you." Elsewhere he assures with an oath the salvation from repentance by much clemency. " 'As I live,' says the Lord, 'I do not desire the death of a sinner, but that he should turn from his way and live.' " To the righteous he says, "If a man achieves every righteousness and truth and later turns from his way and sins, I will not remember his righteousness, but he will die in his sin." O such strictness toward the righteous! O such abundant forgiveness toward the sinner! He finds so many different means, without himself changing, to keep the righteous in check and forgive the sinner, by usefully dividing his rich goodness.