CHAP. XVII. 1.Then saidHe unto thedisciples,Itisimpossible butthatoffenceswillcome ; but woe unto him, throughwhom theycome ! 2. Itwere betterfor him thata millstonewere hangedabouthisneck,and he castintothesea,than thatheshouldoffendone oftheselittleones. THEOPHYL. Because the Phariseeswere covetousand railedagainstChristwhen He preachedpoverty,He put to themtheparableoftherichman and Lazarus. Afterwards, inspeakingwithHis disciplesconcerningthe Pharisees,He declaresthem to he men who causeddivision,and placed obstaclesin the divineway. As itfollows;Then saidHe vnioHis disciples,It is impossiblebut thatoffenceswill come,that is,hindrancesto a good lifeand which is pleasingto God. CYRTL. Now there are two kinds of offences,of which the one resistthe gloryof God, but theotherserveonly to cause a stumbling-blockto the brethren.For the inventionsof heresies,and everyword thatisspokenagainstthetruth,areobstructionstotheglory ofGod. Such offenceshoweverdo not seem to be men tionedhere,but ratherthosewhich occurbetweenfriends andbrethren,as strifes,slanders,and the like.Therefore He adds afterwards,If thy brothertrespassagainstthee, rebukehim. THEOPHYL. Or, He saysthattheremust arise manyobstaclestopreachingand tothetruth,as the Phari seeshinderedthe preachingof Christ. But some ask,If itneedsbe thatoffencesshouldcome,why doesour Lord rebuketheauthorof theoffences? foritfollows,But woe to Aim throughwhom theycome. For whatsoevernecessity engendersispardonable,or deservingof pardon. But ob- VOL.ni. 2 P