Two thieves were hanged with Him, as I said, in
mockery even of the passion which brings salvation to the whole world: but of
these, the one, it says, resembled in his conduct the impiety of the Jews,
belching forth the same words as they did, and giving free utterance to
blasphemous expressions. "For if, says he, You be the Christ, save
Yourself, and us." But the other, following a different course, is justly
worthy of our admiration: for he believed in Him: and while suffering so bitter
a punishment, he rebuked the vehement outcries of the Jews, and the words of
him who was hanging with him. He "confessed his sin, that he might be
justified:" he became the accuser of his own wicked ways, that God might
remit his guilt; for it is written, "I said that I will confess of myself
my iniquity to the Lord, and You forgave the wickedness of my heart." He
bore to Christ a blameless testimony, and reproved the Jewish want of love to
God, and condemned the sentence of Pilate: "for This Man, he says, has
done nothing that is hateful." O how beautiful is this confession! how
wise the reasonings, and how excellent the thoughts! He became the confessor of
the Savior's glory, and the accuser of the pride of those who crucified Him.
What reward therefore did he receive? Of what honors was he counted worthy? Or
what benefit did the thief gain who was the first to profess faith? He lit upon
a treasure worth the having: he became rich unexpectedly, and possessed of
every blessing: he won the inheritance of the saints, and to have his name
written above, in heaven: he was in the book of life who was bearing the
sentence of death, and is numbered with the dwellers in the city that is above.
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