“Is His long-suffering ignorance ? God forbid, thou wilt say, He seeth then what we do, but He waiteth indeed and endureth, and granteth a season for repentance, and alloweth His Christ to put off the end, lest they quickly perish whom He hath redeemed. Understand well, thou sinner, thou art beheld by God. Thou canst appease Him if thou wilt. ”

(St Pacian of Barcelona, ‘Repentance’)