VER. 9 13. ST. LUKE. 397 and asks not as it becomes him, he does not ask. And thereforeit is,that when he does not receive,as is here promised,there is no falsehood.For so alsowhen a master says," Whoever willcome to me, he shallreceivethe gift ofinstruction;" we understand itto imply a person.going in real earnestto a master,that he may zealouslyand dili gently devote himself to his teaching. Hence too James says,Ye ask and receivenot,becauseye ask amiss,namely, James+,3. forthe sake of vain pleasures.But some one willsay,Nay, when men ask to obtain divineknowledge, and to recover theirvirtue,they do not obtain. To which we must an swer,that they sought not to receivethe good things for themselves,hut thatthereby they might reap praise. BASIL. If also any one from indolencesurrendershimselfBasil.into his desires,and betrays himself into the hands of his onst'c'• euemies,God neitherassistshim nor hears him, because by sin he has alienatedhimself from God. It becomes then a man to offerwhatever belongs to him, but to cry to God to assisthim. Now we must ask forthe Divine assistance not slackly,nor with a mind wavering to and fro,because such a one willnot only not obtainwhat it seeks,but will the ratherprovoke God to anger. For ifa man standing beforea prince has his eye fixedwithin and without,lest perchance he should be punished, how much more before God ought he to standwatchfuland trembling? But ifwhen awakened by sin you are unable to pray stedfastlyto the utmost of your power, check yourself,that when you stand beforeGod you may directyour mind to Him. And God pardons you, because not from indifference,but infirmity, you cannot appear in His presence as you ought. If then you thus command yourself,do not departuntilyou receive. For whenever you ask and receivenot,itisbecauseyour re questwas improperlymade, eitherwithout faith,or lightly, or forthingswhich are not good foryou, or becauseyou left offpraying. But some frequentlymake the objection," Why pray we? Is God then ignorant of what we have need?" He knows undoubtedly, and gives us richlyalltemporal thingseven beforewe ask. But we must firstdesiregood works,and the kingdom of heaven ; and then having de sired,ask in faithand patience,bringing into our prayers