486 GOSPEL ACCORDING TO CHAP. XIII. faiththe daughterof Abraham, he thoughtunworthytobe loosedfrom thechainof herinfirmity.ThereforeHe adds, And oughtnot thiswoman, beinga daughterof Abraham, whom Satanhas bound,lo,theseeighteenyears,to be loosed from thisbond on the sabbath-day?The rulerpreferred thatthiswoman shouldlikethe beastsratherlookupon the earththan receiveher naturalstature,providedthatChrist was notmagnified.But theyhad nothingto answer;they themselvesunanswerablycondemned themselves.Hence it follows,And when He had said thesethings,allHis adversarieswere ashamed. But the people,reapinggreat good from His miracles,rejoicedat the signswhich they saw,asitfollows,And allthepeoplerejoiced.For theglory of His works vanquishedeveryscruplein them who sought Him not withcorrupthearts. Greg. GREG. Mysticallytheunfruitfulfigtreesignifiesthewoman faEvan*'thatwas D0wed down. For human natureof itsown will rushesintosin,and asitwould not bringforththefruitof obedience,has lostthe stateof uprightness.The same fig treepreservedsignifiesthewoman made upright.AMBROSE. Or thefigtreerepresentsthe synagogue; afterwardsinthe infirmwoman therefollowsasitwerea figureoftheChurch, whichhavingfulfilledthemeasureof thelaw and the resur rection,and now raisedup on highin thateternalresting place,can no more experiencethe frailtyof our weak in clinations.Nor couldthiswoman be healedexceptshehad fulfilledthelawand grace.For intensentencesiscontained theperfectionofthelaw,and inthenumber eightthefulness Greg.ut of the resurrection.GREG. Or else;man was made on the8up' sixthday,and on the same sixthday were alltheworksof theLord finished,but thenumber sixmultipliedthreetimes makes eighteen.Becausethen man who was made on the sixthday was unwillingto do perfectworks,but beforethe law,underthelaw,and atthebeginningofgrace,was weak, Aug. the woman was bowed down eighteenyears. AUG. That 'which the threeyearssignifiedin the tree,the eighteen didinthewoman, forthreetimessixiseighteen.But she was crookedand couldnot look up,forinvain she heard Greg.ut thewords,liftup yourhearts.GREG. For everysinnerwho thinkethearthlythings,not seekingthosethatareinheaven