"Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:7-8).
When God was about to create man, says a Jewish legend, he took into his counsel the angels that stood about his throne. "Create him not," said the angel of Justice, "for if thou doest he will commit all kinds of wickedness against his fellow men; he will be hard and cruel and dishonest and unrighteous."
"Create him not," said the angel of Truth, "for he will be false and deceitful to his brother-man, and even to thee." "Create him not," said the angel of Holiness, "he will follow that which is impure in thy sight, and dishonor thee to thy face."
Then stepped forward the angel of Mercy (God's best beloved) and said: "Create him, our heavenly Father, for when he sins and turns from the path of right and truth and holiness I will take him tenderly by the hand and speak loving words to him and then lead him back to thee."
- J.A. Clarks
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