VER. 35— 38. ST. I.UKE. 717 handsunder hispupils,carefullysupportsthem, but afterward frequentlywithdrawing hishand, bidsthem help themselves, nayeven letsthem sink a little; so likewisedid Christdeal withHis disciples.At the beginningtrulyHe was presentto them,givingthem most richlyabundance of allthings; as it follows,And theysaid unto Him, Nothing. But when itwas necessaryforthem to shew theirown strength,He withdrew fromthem fora littleHis grace,bidding them do something ofthemselves; as it follows,Bat now he that hath a purse, thatis,wherein to carrymoney, lethim take it,and likewise hisscrip,thatis,to carryprovisionsin. And trulywhen they had neithershoes,nor girdle,nor staff,nor money, they never sufferedthe want of any thing. But when He allowedthem purseand scrip,they seem to sufferhunger, and thirst,and nakedness. As ifHe said to them, Hithertoallthings have beenmost richlysuppliedto you, but now I would have you alsoexperiencepoverty,thereforeI hold you no longer to the former rule,but I command you to get purse and scrip. Now God might even to the end have kept them in plenty, but for many reasons He was unwilling to do so. First thatthey might impute nothing to themselves,but acknow ledgethatevery thing flowed from God ; secondly,thatthey might learn moderation; thirdly,thatthey might not think toohighlyof themselves. For thiscause whileHe permitted them to fallinto many unlocked for evils,He relaxedthe rigourof the former law,lestitshould become grievousand intolerable. BEDE. For He does not trainHis disciplesin the same rule oflife,in time of persecution,as in the time of peace. When He sentthem to preach,He orderedthem to take nothingin the way, ordainingin truth,thathe who preachesthe Gospel should liveby the Gospel. But when the crisisof death was at hand, and the whole nation persecutedboth the shepherd and theflock,He proposesa law adapted to the time,allowing them to take the necessariesof life,untilthe rage of the persecutorswas abated,and the time of preachingthe Gospel had returned. Herein He leavesus alsoan example,thatat times when a just reason urges,we may intermitwithoutAug. blame somewhat of the strictnessof our determination.AUG. F™,^U By no inconsistencythen of Him who commands, but by thelib.xx»- o.77.