592 GOSPEL ACCORDING TO CHAP. XVII.
AMBROSE. He rightlydeclaresthe delugeto have beei
causedby oursins,forGod didnot createevil,but ourde-
servingsfounditoutforthemselves.Let itnothoweverbe
supposedthatmarriages,or againmeat and drink,arecon
demned,seeingthatby theonesuccessionissustained,by the
othernature,butmoderationistobe soughtforinallthings
For whatsoeveris more than thisisof evil.BEDE. Novi
Noah buildsthe ark mystically.The Lord buildsHis
ChurchofChrist'sfaithfulservants,by unitingthem together
in one,as smooth piecesof wood ; and when itisperfectly
finished,He entersit: asat the day of Judgment,He who
everdwellswithinHis Church enlightensitwithHis visible
presence.But whilethe ark is in building,the wicked
flourish,when itisentered,theyperish; as theywho revile
thesaintsintheirwarfarehere,shallwhen theyarecrowned
hereafterbe smittenwitheternalcondemnation.
EUSEB. Having used the exampleofthe deluge,thatno
one might expecta futuredelugeby water,ourLord cites,
secondly,the exampleof Lot,to shew the manner ofthe
destructionof the wicked,namely,thatthe wrath of God
would descendupon them by firefrom heaven. BEDE.
Passingby the unutterablewickednessof the Sodomites,
He mentionsonly those which may be thought trifling
offences,or none at all;thatyou may understandhow
fearfullyunlawfulpleasuresare punished,when lawful
pleasurestakento excessreceivefortheirrewardfireand
brimstone.
ECSEB. He doesnotsaythatfirecame down fromheaven
upon thewicked SodomitesbeforethatLot went outfrom
them,justas the delugedid not swallowup theinhabitants
oftheearthbeforethatNoah enteredtheark; foraslongas
Noah and Lot dweltwith the wicked,God suspendedHis
angerthattheymight not perishtogetherwiththesinners,
but when He would destroythose,He withdrewthe righ
teous. So alsoat theend oftheworld,theconsummation
shallnotcome beforeallthejustareseparatedfromthewicked.
BEDE. For He who in themean time thoughwe seeHim
not yetseesallthings,shallthenappeartojudgeallthings.
And He shallcome especiallyatthattime,when He shallsee
allwho areforgetfulof His judgmentsin bondagetothis