vER.54—57. ST. LUKE. 471 55.And when ye seethesouthwind blow,ye say, Therewillbe heat; and itcometh to pass. 56.Ye hypocrites,ye can discernthe faceof the skyand of the earth; but how is itthat ye do not discernthistime? 57.Yea, and why even of yourselvesjudgeye not whatisright? THEOPHYL.When He spoke about preaching,and called ita sword,His hearersmay havebeentroubled,not knowing whatHe meant. And thereforeour Lord adds,that as men determinethe stateof theweatherby certainsigns,so oughttheytoknow His coming. And thisiswhat He means bysaying,When ye seea cloudriseoutof thewest,straight way ye say,There cometha shower. And when ye seethe southwind blowing,ye say,There willbe heat,fyc.As if He says,Your words and works shew Me to be opposedto you. Ye may thereforesupposethatI came not to give peace,butthestormand whirlwind.For I am a cloud,and Icome outof thewest,thatis,from human nature; which hasbeenlong sinceclothedwiththe thickdarknessof sin. Icame alsoto send fire,thatis,to stirup heat. For I am thestrongsouthwind,opposedto the northerncoldness. BEDE.Or,they who from the change of the elementscan easilywhen theylikepredeterminethestateof theweather, mightiftheywishedalsounderstandthetimeof ourLord's comingfrom the words of the Prophets. CYRIL.For the prophetshave inmany ways foretoldthemysteryof Christ; itbecamethem therefore,iftheywere wise,to stretchtheir prospectbeyond to the future,nor willignoranceof the timeto come availthem afterthe presentlife.For there willbewind and rain,and a futurepunishmentby fire; and thisissignifiedwhen itissaid,A showercometh. It became themalsonottobe ignorantofthetimeofsalvation,thatis, thecomingof the Saviour,throughwhom perfectpietyen teredintotheworld. And thisismeant when itissaid,Ye iaythattherewillbeheat. Whence itfollowsincensureof them,Ye hypocrites,ye can discerntheface of thesky and theearth,buthow isitthatye do notdiscernthistime?