vER.17— 24. ST. LUKE. 537
forthevoiceof thy confession.For with the mouth con
fessionis made to salvation,sincehe lightensthe load
oferror,who himselfthroweththe weightupon himself,
andshutsout the hatredof accusation,who anticipates
theaccuserby confessing.In vainwould you hide from
Him whom nothingescapes; and you may safelydiscover
whatyou know to be alreadyknown. Confessthe rather
thatChristmay intercedeforthee,the Church pleadfor
thee,thepeopleweep overthee: nor fearthatthouwiltnot
obtain;thy Advocatepromisespardon,thy Patronfavour,
thyDelivererpromisesthee the reconciliationof thy Fa
ther'saffection.But he adds,Againstheavenand beforethee.
CHRYS.When he says,Beforethee,he shewsthatthisfatherChrys.mastbe understoodas God. For God alonebeholdsallu "sup*
things,fromWhom neitherthesimplethoughtsoftheheart
canbehidden.
AUG. But whetherwas thissinagainstheaven,the same Aug.deasthatwhich isbeforethee; so thathe describedby theEv*iS.Li.a.
name of heaven his father'ssupremacy. I have sinnedV1-S3-
againstheaven,i.e.beforethe soulsof the saints;but be
foretheeintheverysanctuaryofmy conscience.
CHRYS.Or by heaven in thisplacemay be understoodChrys.Christ.For he who sinsagainstheaven,which althoughutsup'
aboveus is yet a visibleelement,isthe same as he who
sinsagainstman, whom the Son ofGod tookintoHimself
foroursalvation.AMBROSE. Or by thesewordsaresignified
theheavenlygiftsof theSpiritimpairedby the sinof the
soul,or becausefrom the bosom of hismother Jerusalem
whichisin heaven,he ought neverto depart.But being
castdown,he must by no means exalthimself.Hence he
adds,I am no more worthytobecalledthyson. And thathe
mightbe raisedup'by the meritof hishumility,he adds,
Makeme asoneofthyhiredservants.
BEDE. To the affectionof a son,who doubtsnot thatall
thingswhich are hisfather'sarehis,he by no means lays
claim,but desiresthe conditionof a hiredservant,as now
aboutto servefora reward. But he admitsthatnot even
thiscouldhe deserveexceptby hisfather'sapprobation.
GKEO.NYSS. Now thisprodigalson,the Holy SpirithasGreg.engravedupon ourhearts,thatwe may be instructedhow we u" '"'''