How will the Bridegroom wash away her defilements?

“But, she says, I am a sinner and unclean. Let not this trouble you, I am a physician. I know my vessel, I know how it was perverted. It was formerly a vessel of clay, and it was perverted. I remodel it by means of the laver of regeneration and I submit it to the action of fire. For observe: He took dust from the earth and made the man; He formed him. The devil came, and perverted him. Then the Lord came, took him again, and remolded, and recast him

1012 St. Jerome, Epistle 22.1 (NPNF II/6:22).

1013 St. Caesarius of Arles, Sermon ‘On the call of Blessed Abraham’ 81.3 (FOTC 47:5).

1014 St. John Cassian, Conferences 3.6 (NPNF II/11:321ff).

1015 St. John Chrysostom, Homily 2 on Eutropius (NPNF I/9:259).

in baptism, and He suffered not his body to be of clay, but made it of a harder ware. He subjected the soft clay to the fire of the Holy Spirit. He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. He was baptized with water that he might be remodeled, with fire that he might be hardened. Therefore the Prophet speaking beforehand under divine guidance declared You shall dash them in pieces like vessels of the potter (Ps. 2:9).”¹⁰¹⁶