VER. 8— 12. ST. LUKE. 435 EUSEB.He rightlydeclaresthisthreatening,inorderthatnone shouldrefuseto confessIlim by reasonof thepunishment, whichisto be deniedby the Son ofGod, tobe disownedby Wisdom,to fallaway from life,to be deprivedoflight,and toloseeveryblessing; but allthesethingsto sufferbefore God theFatherwho isinheaven,and theAngelsofGod. CYRIL.Now they who deny are firstindeedthosewho intimeof persecutionrenouncethe faith.Besidesthese, therearehereticalteachersalso,and theirdisciples.CHRYS. Thereare othermodes alsoof denyingwhich St.Paul de scribes,saying,Theyprofessthattheyknow God,butinworksTit.1,16. theydenyHim. And again,If anyprovidenotfor hisown,iTim. andspeciallyfor thoseofhisown house,he hathdeniedthe5,S' faith,and isworsethanan infidel.Also,Fleefrom covetous-Col.5,3. ness,whichisidolatry.Sincethentherearesomany modes ofdenial,itisplainthattherearemany likewiseofconfession, whichwhosoeverhas practised,shallhearthatmost blessed voicewithwhichChristgreetsallwho have confessedHim. Butmark theprecautionofthewords. For in theGreek he says,Whosoevershallconfessin Me, shewingthatnotby his own strength,butby theaidofgracefromabove,a man con fessesChrist.But ofhim who denies,He saidnot" inMe," butMe. For though beingdestituteof gracehe denies,he isneverthelesscondemned,becausethe destitutionisowing tohim who isforsaken,or he isforsakenforhisown fault. J'.riiK.But lestfrom what He says,thatthosewho have deniedHim aretobe denied,itshouldbe supposedthatthe conditionofallwas alike,thatis,bothofthosewho denyde liberately,and thosewho deny from infirmityor ignorance, He immediatelyadded,And whosoevershallspeaka word againsttheSon ofMan, itshallbeforgivenhim. CYRIL.But ifour Saviourmeans toimply,thatifany injuriousword is spokenby us againsta common man, we shallobtainpardon ifwe repent,thereisno difficultyin the passage,forsince God isby naturemerciful,He restoresthosewho arewilling torepent.But ifthewordsarereferredtoChristhow ishe nottobe condemned who speaksa word againstHim ? AMBROSE.Trulyby theSon ofMan we understandChrist, Who by theHoly Spiritwas bornofa virgin,seeingthatHis onlyparenton earthistheVirgin.What then,istheHoly