480 GOSPEL ACCORDING TO CHAP. XIII. the Church ; yet they who were the firstout of Israelwhom a branch of a stronger nature bore,under the shadow of the law and the cross,in the bosom of both,stainedwith a doublejuiceafterthe example of a ripeningfig,surpassed allothers in the grace of most excellentfruits;to whom itis said,You shallsitupon twelvethrones. Some however think the figtree to be a figurenot of the synagogue, but of wickedness and treachery;yet these differin nothing from what has gone before,except that they choose the genus insteadof the species. BEDE. The Lord Himself who establishedthe synagogue by Moses, came born in the flesh,and frequentlyteaching in the synagogue,sought for the fruitsof faith,but in the heartsof the Phariseesfound none; thereforeit follows, And came seekingfruiton it,and found none. AMBROSE. But our Lord sought,not because He was igno rantthatthe figtreehad no fruit,but that He might shew in a figurethatthe synagogue ought by thistime to have fruit. Lastly,from what follows,He teachesthatHe Himself came not beforethe time who came afterthreeyears. For so itis said,Then said he to the dresserof the vineyard,Behold, thesethreeyearsI come seekingfruiton thisJigtree,and find none. He came to Abraham, He came to Moses, He came to Mary, that is,He came in the sealof the covenant,He came in the law, He came in the body. We recogniseHis coming by His gifts;at one time purification,at another sauctification,at anotherjustification.Circumcisionpurified, the law sanctified,gracejustified.The Jewish people then could not be purifiedbecausethey had not the circumcisionof theheart,but of the body; nor be sanctified,becauseignorant of the meaning of the law,they followedcarnalthingsrather than spiritual;nor justified,becausenot working repentance fortheiroffences,they knew nothing of grace. Rightlythen was thereno fruitfound in the synagogue,and consequently itisorderedto be cut down ; foritfollows,Cut itdown, why cumberethittheground? But the mercifuldresser,perhaps meaning him on whom the Church isfounded,foreseeingthat anotherwould be sentto the Gentiles,but he himselftothem who were of the circumcision,piouslyintercedesthat itmay not be cut off; trustingtohiscalling,thatthe Jewish people