vER.5—8. ST. LUKE. 673 ajustawardreceivesa crown from God ; as itfollows,Of a truthI say untoyou,thatthispoor widow hath castin more,§c. BEDE. For whateverwe offerwith an honest heartiswellpleasingto God, who hath respectunto the heart,notthe substance,nor doesHe weigh the amount of thatwhichisgivenin sacrifice,but of thatfrom which itis taken;as it follows,For allthesehave castin of their abundance,but she allthat she had. CHRYS. For God Chrys. regardednot thescantinessoftheoffering,buttheoverflow--m°^'' ingoftheaffection.Almsgivingisnotthebestowinga few«aHeb. thingsout of many, but itisthatof the widow emptying herselfof her whole substance.But ifyou caunotofferas muchasthewidow,atleastgiveallthatremainsover. BEDE. Now mystically,the richmen who casttheirgifts intothetreasurysignifytheJews puffedup withthe right eousnessof the law; the poor widow,the simplicityof the Churchwhichiscalledpoor,becauseithas eithercastaway thespiritofpride,or itssins,as iftheywereworldlyriches. Butthe Church isa widow,becauseher Husband endured deathforher. She casttwo mitesintothetreasury,because inGod'ssight,inwhosekeepingarealltheofferingsof our works,she presentsher gifts,whetherof loveto God and herneighbour,or of faithand prayer. And theseexcelall theworks of the proud Jews,fortheyof theirabundance castintotheofferingsofGod, inthattheypresumeon their righteousness,but the Church castsin allher living,for everythingthathathlifeshebelievestobe thegiftof God. THI:OPiIYI,.Or the widow may be takento mean any soul bereftas itwere of her firsthusband,the ancientlaw,and notworthytobe unitedto theWord of God. Who brings toGod insteadofa dowry faithand a good conscience,and soseemstooffermore thanthosewho arerichinwords,and aboundin themoralvirtuesoftheGentiles. 5. And as some spake of the temple,how itwas adornedwithgoodlystonesand gifts,He said, 6. As forthesethingswhich ye behold,the days willcome, in the which thereshallnot be leftone stoneupon another,thatshallnotbe thrown down. VOL. III. 2 X