5!28 GOSPEL ACCORDING TO CHAP. XV. wisdom of God appeared in man. For the candle is a light in an earthen vessel,but the lightin an earthen vesselis the Godhead in the flesh. But the candle being lit,it erertit follows,Arid disturbsthe house. Because verilyno sooner had His Divinityshone forththrough the flesh,than allour conscienceswere appalled. Which word of disturbancedif- everrit fersnot from thatwhich isread in othermanuscripts,sweeps, because the corrupt mind if it be not firstoverthrown through fear,is not cleansedfrom itshabitualfaults. But when the house is broken up, the piece of silveris found, for itfollows,And seeksdiligentlytillshefind it; fortruly when the conscienceof man isdisturbed,the likenessof the Creatorisrestoredin man. Greg. GREG. NAz. But the pieceof silverbeingfound,He makes x\v\6. ^le heavenly powers partakersof thejoy whom He made the ministersof His dispensation,and so itfollows,And when she hath found it,she callstogetherherfriendsand neighbours. Greg.in GREG. For the heavenlypowers arenigh unto Divinewisdom, ut°sop. inasmuch as they approach Him through the grace of con tinual vision. THKOPHTL. Either they are friendsas per forming His will,but neighbours as being spiritual;or perhaps His friendsare all the heavenly powers, but His neighbours those that come near to Him, as Thrones, Cherubims, and Seraphims. Grtg.lib. GREG. NYSS. Or else; thisI supposeiswhat our Lord sets deVirgin.beforeus in the search afterthe lostpieceof silver,thatno advantage attachesto us from the externalvirtueswhich He callspiecesof silver,although allof them be ours,as longas that one is lacking to the widowed soul,by which in truth it obtainsthe brightnessof the Divine image. Wherefore He firstbidsus lighta candle,thatisto say,the divineword which brings hidden thingsto light,or perhaps the torchof repentance. But in his own house,that is,in himselfand his own conscience,must a man seek forthe lostpieceof ilver,thatis,the royalimage, which isnot entirelydefaced, but ishid under the dirt,which signifiesitscorruptionofthe flesh,and thisbeing diligentlywiped away, that is,washed out by a well-spentlife,that which was sought for shines forth. Thereforeought she who has found itto rejoiceand tocallto partakeof herjoy the neighbours,(thatis,the com