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Moreover, as if we had been inquiring why the devil did not abide in
the truth, our Lord subjoins the reason, saying, "because the truth
is not in him." Now, it would be in him had he abode in it. But
the phraseology is unusual. For, as the words stand, "He abode not
in the truth, because the truth is not in him," it seems as if the
truth's not being in him were the cause of his not abiding in it;
whereas his not abiding in the truth is rather the cause of its not
being in him. The same form of speech is found in the psalm: "I
have called upon Thee, for Thou hast heard me, O God," where we
should expect it to be said, Thou hast heard me, O God, for I
have called upon Thee. But when he had said, "I have called,"
then, as if some one were seeking proof of this, he demonstrates the
effectual earnestness of his prayer by the effect of God's hearing
it; as if he had said, The proof that I have prayed is that Thou
hast heard me.
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