VER. 9 13. ST. LUKE. 399 Opposed to whichishardnessof heart,which He compared to a stone. But by the fishissignifiedthe beliefininvi siblethings,eitherfromthewatersofbaptism,or becauseit istakenout of invisibleplaceswhichthe eye cannotreach. Becausealsofaith,thoughtossedaboutby thewavesofthis world,is not destroyed,itisrightlycompared to a fish,in oppositiontowhich He hasplacedtheserpenton accountof the poisonof deceit,which by evilpersuasionhad itsfirst seed in the firstman. Or,by the egg isimdcrslnoilhope. For the egg is the young not yet formed,but hoped for throughcherishing,opposedto which He has placedthe scorpion,whose poisonedstingisto be dreadedbehind; as the contraryto hope isto lookback,sincethe hopeofthe futurereachesforwardto thosethingswhich are before. AUG. What great thingsthe world speaksto thee,and roarsthem behind thy back to make thee look behindIi O uncleanworld,why clamourestthou! Why attemptto turnHim away ! Thou wouldestdetainHim when thou art perishing,what wouldestthouifthou wertabidingforever? Whom wouldestthou notdeceivewithsweetness,when bit terthoucanstinfusefalsefood? CYRIL.Now from the examplejustgivenHe concludes, If thenye beingevil,(i.e.havinga mind capableofwicked ness,and not uniform and settledin good,as God,)know how togivegood gifts; how much more shallyour heavenly Father? BEDE. Or, He callsthe loversof the world evil, who givethosethingswhichtheyjudge good accordingto theirsense,which are alsogood in theirnature,and are usefulto aidimperfectlife.Hence He adds,Know how to givegood giftsto your children.The Apostleseven,who by themeritof theirelectionhad exceededthe goodnessof mankind in general,are saidtobe evilin comparisonwith Divinegoodness,sincenothingisof itselfgood but God alone. But thatwhichisadded,How much more shallyour heavenlyFathergivetheHoly Spiritto them thataskHim, forwhich Matthew has written,willgivegood thingstothem thatask Him, shews thatthe Holy Spiritisthefulnessof God'sgifts,sincealltheadvantageswhicharereceivedfrom the graceof God's giftsflowfrom that source. ATHAN. Now unlessthe Holy Spiritwere ofthe substanceofGod,