VER. 29—32. ST. LUKE. 409 virginMary, by the co-operatingpowerof the Holy Spirit, ministeredof the substanceof herfleshto the birthofthe only-begottenSon,have said,thatwe ought not to confess Him who was the Sou ofman to be trulyofthe same sub stancewith the Father. But ifthe fleshof the Word of God,who was born accordingto the flesh,isdeclaredalien tothe fleshof His VirginMother,what causeistherewhy thewomb which bare Him and the paps which gave Him suck are pronouncedblessed? By what reasoningdo they supposeHim to be nourishedby her milk,from whose seed theydeny Him tobe conceived?Whereas accordingtothe physicians,from one and the same fountainboth streams are proved to flow. But the woman pronouncesblessed not only her who was thoughtworthy to givebirthfrom herbody to theWord of God, but thosealsowho havede siredby thehearingoffaithspirituallytoconceivethesame Word, and by diligencein good works,eitherin theirown or the heartsof theirneighbours,to bring it forthand nourishit; foritfollows,But He said,Yea rather,blessed aretheythatheartheword of God, and keepit. CHKYS. In thisanswer He sought not to disown His mother,but toshew thatHis birthwould have profitedher Hoin. 44.in nothing,had shenotbeen reallyfruitfulinworks and faith.Mait But if it profitedMary nothing thatChristderivedHis birthfrom her,withoutthe inward virtueof her heart, much lesswillitavailus to havea virtuousfather,brother, orson,whilewe ourselvesarestrangerstovirtue. BEDE. But she was the mother of God, and therefore indeedblessed,inthatshewas made thetemporalminister oftheWord becomingincarnate;yet thereforemuch more blessedthatshe remainedthe eternalkeeperof the same everto be belovedWord. But thisexpressionstartlesthe wisemen oftheJews,who soughtnottohearand keep the word ofGod, but todeny and blasphemeit. 29. And when the people were gathered thick together,He began to say,This is an evilgenera tion: they seek a sign; and thereshallno sign be givenit,but the signofJonas theprophet.