VER. 1— 8. ST. LUKE. 601 ousness,or by punishmenthavinglostthe opportunityof conversion.Although,ifallmen were convertedto God, therewould stillremainthe devilto be condemned at the endoftheworld. And sincethe righteousarelongingfor thisend to come,theyarenot unreasonablysaidto desire vengeance.CYRIL. Or else;Whenever men inflictinjury uponus,we must thenthinkita noblethingtobe forgetful oftheevil; but when theyoffendagainstthe gloryof God bytakingup arms againsttheministersof God'sordinance, we thenapproachGod imploringHis help,and loudlyre bukingthem who impugn His glory. AUG. Ifthenwiththemost unjustjudge,theperseveranceAug.ofthesuppliantatlengthprevailedeventothefulfilmentofutsuP- herdesire,how much more confidentoughttheyto feelwho ceasenottopraytoGod,theFountainofjusticeand mercy? And soitfollows.And theLord said,Hear what,$c. THEO- FHYL.As if He said,ifperseverancecould melt a judge defiledwith every sin,how much more shallour prayers inclinetomercy God theFatherof allmercies! But some havegivena more subtlemeaning to the parable,saying, thatthewidow isa soulthathas putoffthe oldman, (that is,thedevil,)who isher adversary,becauseshe approaches God,the righteousJudge,who neitherfears(becauseHe isGod alone)nor regardsman, forwith God thereisno respectofpersons.Upon thewidow then,or souleversup plicatingHim againstthe devil,God shews mercy,and is softenedby her importunity.Afterhavingtaughtus that we must in the lastdays resortto prayerbecauseof the dangersthatarecoming,our Lord adds,Nevertheless,when theSon of man cometh,shallHe findfaithon the earth? AUG.Our Lord speaksthisof perfectfaith,whichisseldomAug. foundon earth. See how fullthe Church of God is: were?""i. 110* thereno faith,who would enterit? Were thereperfect faith,who would not move mountains? BEDE. When the AlmightyCreatorshallappearin the form of the Son of man,so scarcewillthe electbe,thatnot so much thecries ofthefaithful,as the torporof the otherswillhastenthe world'sfall.Our Lord speaksthen as itwere doubtfully, notthatHe reallyisin doubt,but to reproveus; justas wesometimes,ina matterof certainty,mightuse thewords