492 GOSPEL ACCORDING TO CHAP. XIII. that the birdsof the air restedon itsbranches,by which it might be supposed that there would be many who would obtainthe restof salvation.And becauseone had asked the questionforall,the Lord does not answer him individually, as itfollows,And He saidunto them,Striveto enterin at the Basil.in straitgate. BASIL. For as in earthlylifethe departurefrom int.240. right is exceeding broad, so he who goes out of the path which leads to the kingdom of heaven, findshimself in a int.2*1. vast extent of error. But the right way is narrow, the slightestturning asidebeing fullof danger,whether to the rightor to the left,as on a bridge,where he who slipson eithersideisthrown intothe river. CYRIL. The narrow gate alsorepresentsthe toilsand suf feringsof the saints.For as a victoryin battlebearswitness to the strengthof the soldiers,so a courageousendurance of Chrys. labours and temptationswillmake a man strong. CHRYS. inMatt. What then is thatwhich our Lord says elsewhere,My yoke Matt.n, iseasy,and my burden islight? There isindeed no contra diction,but the one was saidbecauseof the natureof tempt ations,the other with respectto the feelingof those who overcame them. For whatever is troublesometo our nature may be considered easy when we undertake it heartily. Besides also,though the way of salvationis narrow at its entrance,yet through it we come into a largespace,but Greg. on thecontrarythe broad way leadethtodestruction.GREG. c so Now when He was about to speak of the entrance of the narrow gate,He saidfirst,strive,forunlessthemind struggles manfully,the wave of the world is not overcome, by which the souliseverthrown back again intothe deep. CYRIL. Now our Lord does not seem to satisfyhim who asked whether thereare few thatbe saved,when He declares the way by which man may become righteous. But itmust be observed,that it was our Saviour'scustom to answer those who asked Him, not accordingas they might judge right,as oftenas theyput to Him uselessquestions,but with regard to what might be profitableto His hearers. And what advantagewould ithave been to His hearersto know •whetherthere should be many or few who would be saved. But it was more necessaryto know the way by which man may come to salvation. Purposely then He says nothing