578 GOSPEL ACCORDING TO CHAP. XVII. serve,that necessityitselfderivesitsbirth from free-will. For our Lord, seeing how men cling to evil,and put forward nothing good, spoke with referenceto the con sequenceof those thingswhich are seen,that offencesmust needs come ; just as ifa Physician,seeinga man usingan unwholesome diet,should say,It isimpossiblebut thatsuch a one should be sick. And thereforeto him that causes offencesHe denounces woe, and threatens punishment, saying,It were betterfor him that a millstonewere hanged about his neck,and he castintothe sea,fyc. BEDE. Thisis spoken accordingto the custom of the provinceof Palestine; for among the ancientJews the punishment of thosewho were guiltyof the greatercrimes was that they shouldbe sunk intothe deep with a stonetiedto them ; and in truth it were betterfor a guiltyman to finishhis bodilylifeby a punishment however barbarous,yet temporal,than forhis innocent brother to deservethe eternaldeath of his soul. Now he who can be offendedis rightlycalleda littleone; for he who is great,whatsoeverhe is witnessof,and how greatsoeverhis sufferings,swerves not from the faith.As far then as we can without sin,we ought to avoid giving offenceto our neighbours. But if an offenceis takenat the truth,itisbetterto letthe offencebe,than thattruth should be abandoned. CHRYS. But by the punishment of the man who offends,learnthe reward of him who saves. For had not the salvationof one soul been of such ex ceeding care to Christ,He would not threaten with such a punishment the offender. 3. Take heed to yourselves; If thy brothertres pass againstthee,rebuke him ; and if he repent, forgivehim. 4. And ifhe trespassagainsttheeseven timesin a day,and seventimesin a day turn againto thee, saying,I repent; thou shaltforgivehim. AMBROSE. After the parable of the rich man who is tormented in punishment,Christadded a commandment to giye forgivenessto those who turn themselves from their