GotVs care/or the ' eijfjs' left in the dust. 437 spiritual life, that they no longer lie torpid on the earth ; Book but changed into living birds, raise themselves by contem *- plation, that is, by theil^ flight, to heavenly objects? But we must observe, that in these words not only is the wicked conduct of hypocrites reprobated, but the pride of even good teachers, if any has crept in, is also kept down. For when the Lord says of Himself, that He Himself warms the forsaken eggs in the dust ; He certainly plainly indi- cates, that He Himself works inwardly by the words of a teacher, Who, even without the words of any man, warms whom He will, in the cold of the dust. As if He openly said to teachers ; Tliat ye may know that I am He, Who work by you when speaking, behold, when I will, I speak even without you to the hearts of men. When the thoughts then of teachers have been humbled. His discourse proceeds to describe a hypocrite, and, with what folly he is stupified, is pointed out still more fully by the doings of the ostrich. For it follows ; Ver. 15. She forgetteth that the foot may crush them^ or that the beast of thefield may break them. 16. What is understood by ' foot,' but the passing over of xi. active work ? What is signified by the 'field,' but this world ? Of which the Lord says in the Gospel, But the field is ^/<eMat.i3, world. What is expressed by the ' beast,' but the ancient enemy, who, lying in wait for the spoils of this world, is dail}^ satiated with the death of men ? Of which it is said by the Prophet, the Lord promising; No evil beast shall^^-^^i pass through it. The ostrich, therefore, deserting her eggs, forgets that the foot may crush them ; because, namely, hypocrites abandon those whom they beget as their children in conversation\ and care not at all, lest the examples of evil i al. ' in doings should lead them astray, when deprived of either the ^j^^J^^f^" earnestness of exhortation, or of the care of discipline. For see next did they love the eggs, which they produce, they would ^^^^* doubtless be afraid, lest any one should crush them by pointing out evil doings. This foot Paul was fearing for his weak disciples, as for eggs which he had laid, when he said. Many ualk, of whom I told you often, but now I tcllFhil.3, you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of * Christ. And again, Beware of dogs ; beware ofevil workers, ih. 2.