GOSPEL ACCORDING TO CHAP. XI. whateverisgood forus,convictedof no offenceby our own conscience. AMBROSE. The argument then persuadingto frequent prayer,is the hope of obtainingwhat we pray for. The ground of persuasionwas firstin the command, afterwards itiscontainedin thatexamplewhich He setsforth,add ing,If a son shallask bread of any of you,willhe give him a stone? fyc.CYRIL.In thesewords our Saviourgives us a very necessarypieceof instruction.For oftentimes we rashly,from the impulseof pleasure,giveway to hurt fuldesires.When we ask any such thingfrom God, we shallnot obtainit. To shew this,He bringsan obvious examplefrom thosethingswhicharebeforeour eyes,inour dailyexperience.For when thy son asks of thee bread, thou givestit him gladly,becausehe seeksa wholesome food. But when from want of understandinghe asksfor a stonetoeat,thou givestithim not,but ratherhinderest him from satisfyinghishurtfuldesire.So thatthe sense may be, But winch of you asking his fatherfor bread, (whichthe fathergives,)willhe givehim a stone? (that is,ifhe askedit.)Thereisthe same argument alsointhe serpentand thefish;ofwhichHe adds,Or ifhe asksafish, willhefor afishgivehim a serpent?And in likemanner in theegg and scorpion,of which He adds,Or ifhe askan egg,willhe offerhim a scorpion? ORIGEN. Considerthen this,ifthe bread be not indeed thefoodofthesoulin knowledge,withoutwhich itcannot be saved,as,forexample,the wellplannedruleof a just life.But thefishistheloveofinstruction,as toknow the constitutionof the world,and the effectsof the elements, and whateverelsebesideswisdom treatsof. ThereforeGod doesnot inthe placeofbreadoffera stone,whichthedevil wishedChristtoeat,norin the placeofa fishdoes He give a serpent,which the Ethiopianseat who are unworthy to eatfishes.Nor generallyintheplaceofwhat isnourishing doesHe givewhat isnoteatableand injurious,whichrelates tothescorpionand egg. Aug.de AUG. Or by thebreadismeant charity,becausewe havea ?uaV-u••greaterdesireofit.and itisso necessarv,thatwithoutitall hv.lib.11.* ." qu.22. otherthingsarenothing,asthetablewithoutbreadismean.