of martyrs and wrapping their altars in ruins. “God is a
consuming fire.” [15]
Thus are all mortals, under every hue of circumstances,
driven out of their houses of clay and, homeless wan-
derers in a beleaguered city, forced to seek the Father's
house, if they would be led to the valley and up the
mount. [20]
Seeing the wisdom of withdrawing from those who
persistently rejected him, the Stranger returned to the
valley; first, to meet with joy his own, to wash their