714 GOSPEL ACCORDING TO CHAP. XXII. THEOPHYL. Now thiswas saidto Peter,becausehe was bolderthan the rest,and might feelproud becauseofthe thingswhichChristhad promised. CYRIL.Or to shewthat men being as nought,(asregardshuman nature,and the pronenessofourmindstofall,)itisnotmeetthattheyshould wishto be abovetheirbrethren.Thereforepassingby all the others,He comes to Peter,who was the chiefofthem, saying,But I haveprayedforthee,thatthyfaithfailnot. Chrys. CHRYS. Now He saidnot,'I have granted,'but I have in°Mattprayed. For He speakshumbly as approachingunto His Passion,and thatHe may manifestHishuman nature.For He who had spokennot in supplication,but by authoritv, Matt. Upon thisrockI willbuildMy Church,and I urillgivethee ' thekeysofthekingdomofheaven,how shouldHe haveneed of prayerthatHe might stayone agitatedsoul? He does not say," I haveprayedthatthou deny not,"but thatthou do not abandon thy faith.THEOPHYL. For albeitthouart fora timeshaken,yetthouboldeststoredup,a seedoffaith; thoughthespirithas shed itsleavesin temptation,yetthe rootisfirm. Satanthen seekstoharm thee,becausehe is enviousofMy loveforthee,butnotwithstandingthatI have prayedforthee,thoushallfaM. Hence itfollows,'Andwhen thouartconverted,strengthenthy brethren.As ifHe says, Afterthatthou hastwept and repentedthy denialofMe, strengthenthybrethren,forI have deputedtheeto be the head oftheApostles.For thisbefitstheewho artwithMe, the strengthand rock of the Church. And thismustbe understoodnot onlyof the Apostleswho then were,butof allthefaithfulwho wereabouttobe,eventotheend ofthe world; thatnone ofthebelieversmight despair,seeingthat Peterthoughan ApostledeniedhisLord,yet afterwardsby Ina-riTriipenitenceobtainedthe high privilegeof beingtheRulerof the world. CYRIL.Marvel then at the superabundanceof the Divineforbearance:lestHe shouldcause a disciple to despair,beforethe crime was committed,He granted pardon,and againrestoredhim to hisApostolicrank,say ing,Strengthenthy brethren.BEDE. As ifto say,As I by prayerprotectedyourfaiththatitshouldnotfail,sodoyou remember tosustaintheweaker brethren,thattheydespair notofpardon. AMBROSE. Beware then ofboasting,beware