644 GOSPEL ACCORDING TO CHAP. XIX. asGod,but ratherforbadethosethatblamedthem,sobear ingwitnesstoHimselfconcerningthegloryoftheGodhead. Hence it follows,He answeredand saidunto them,I tell you,iftheseshouldhold theirpeace,thestoneswouldim mediatelycryout. THEOPHYL. As ifHe said,Not without causedo men praiseMe thus,but beingconstrainedby the mightyworkswhichtheyhave seen. BEDE. And so atthe crucifixionof onrLord,when His kinsfolkwere silentfrom fear,the stonesand rockssang forth,whileafterthatHe gave up the ghost,the earthwas moved, and the rocks were rent,and the gravesopened. AMBROSE. Nor isit wonderfulthatthestonesagainsttheirnatureshouldchaunt forththepraisesof the Lord,whom His murderers,harder than the rocks,proclaimaloud,thatis,the multitude,ina littlewhileabouttocrucifytheirGod, denyingHim intheir hearts,whom with theirmouths theyconfess.Or perhaps itissaid,because,when theJews werestrucksilentafterthe lPet.2,s.Lord'sPassion,the livingstones,as Petercallsthem,were abouttocryout. ORIGEN.When we alsoaresilent,(thatis, when theloveofmany waxethcold,)the stonescryout,for God can from stonesraiseup childrento Abraham. AM BROSE.Rightlywe readthatthe crowdspraisingGod met Him atthedescentofthemountain,thattheymightsignify thatthe works of the heavenlymysteryhad come to them from heaven. BEDE. Again,when ourLord descendsfrom the mount of Olives,the multitudedescendalso,because sincethe Author of mercy has sufferedhumiliation,itis necessarythatallthosewho need His mercy shouldfollow His footsteps. 41. And when He was come near,He beheldthe city,and wept overit, 42. Saying,If thou hadstknown, even thou,at leastin thisthy day,the thingswhich belongunto thy peace! but now theyarehidfrom thineeyes. 43. For the days shall come upon thee,that thineenemies shallcasta trenchabout thee,and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,