VEB. 7—10. ST. LUKE. 681
He impliesthen thatthe leastpartof faithcan do great
things.But though the Apostlesdid not transplantthe
mulberrytree,do notthouaccusethem ; forour Lord said
not,You shalltransplant,but,You shallhe ableto trans
plant.But theydidnot,becausetherewas no need,seeing
thattheydid greaterthings.But some one willask,How Hom.
doesChristsay,thatitisthe leastpartof faithwhich cana&™oT'
transplanta mulberrytreeor a mountain,whereasPaulsays=.13,2.
thatitisallfaithwhichmoves mountains? We must then
answer,thattheApostleimputesthemovingofmountainsto
allfaith,notasthoughonlythewholeoffaithcoulddo this,
butbecausethisseemed a greatthingtocarnalmen on ac
countofthevastnessofthebody.
BEDE.Or ourLord herecomparesperfectfaithtoa grain
ofmustardseed,becauseitislowlyinappearance,butfervid
inheart.But mysticallyby themulberrytree,(whosefruit
andbranchesare red with a blood-redcolour,)is repre
sentedtheGospelofthe cross,which,throughthe faithof
theApostlesbeinguprootedby theword of preachingfrom
theJewishnation,inwhich itwas kept as itwere in the
linealstock,was removed and plantedin the sea of the
Gentiles.AMBROSE. Or thisissaidbecausefaithkeepsout
theuncleanspirit,especiallysincethenatureofthetreefalls
inwiththismeaning. Forthefruitofthemulberryisatfirst
whiteinthe blossom,and beingformedfrom thencegrows
red,and blackensas itgetsripe. The devilalsohavingby
transgressionfallenfrom the white flowerof the angelic
natureand the brightbeamsof hispower,growsterriblein
theblackodourof sin. CHRYS. The mulberrymay be also
comparedtothe devil,foras by the leavesof the mulberry
treecertainworms arefed,sothe devil,by theimaginations
whichproceedfrom him, is feedingforus a neverdying
worm;but thismulberrytreefaithisableto pluckout of
oursouls,and plungeitintothedeep.
7.But which of you, having a servantplowing
orfeedingcattle,willsay unto him by and by,when
heiscome from thefield,Go and sitdown tomeat?
8.And willnot rathersay unto him,Make ready