430 GOSPEL ACCORDING TO CHAP. XII.
But whateverthingsthe Phariseesplottedtogether,were
afterwardsdivulgedand heard in the lightof the Gospel,
the greatHerald,the Holy Spirit,presidingoverthe souls
oftheApostles.
4. And I sayunto you My friends,Be not afraid
of them thatkillthe body,and afterthat have no
more thattheycan do.
5. But I willforewarnyou whom ye shallfear:
Fear Him, which afterHe hath killedhath power to
castintohell; yea,I sayunto you,Fear Him.
6. Are not fivesparrowssold fortwo farthings,
and not one ofthem isforgottenbeforeGod ?
7. But even the very hairsof your head are all
numbered. Fear not therefore: ye areofmore value
than many sparrows.
AMBROSE. Sinceunbeliefspringsfrom two causes,either
from a deeply-seatedmaliceor a sudden fear;lestany one
from terrorshouldbe compelledto deny the God whom
he acknowledgesin his heart,He welladds,And I say
unto you My friends,Be not afraidof them thatkillthe
body,8fc.CYRIL.For itisnot absolutelytoeveryone that
thisdiscourseseems to apply,but to thosewho loveGod
Rom.8, with theirwhole heartto whom itbelongsto say, Who
shallseparateusfrom theloveofChrist? But theywho are
not such,are tottering,and readyto falldown. Moreover
John15,our Lord says,Greaterlovehath no man than this,thata
man laydown hislifefor hisfriends.How then isitnot
most ungratefulto Christnot to repay Him what we re
ceive? AMBROSE. He tellsus also,thatthatdeathis not
terribleforwhich at a farmore costlyrateof interestim
mortalityistobe purchased.
CYRIL.We must thenconsiderthatcrowns and honours
are preparedforthe laboursof thoseupon whom men are
continuallyventingforththeirindignation,and tothem the
deathofthebody isthe end of theirpersecutions.Whence
He adds,And afterthishave nothingmore thattheycan do.
BEDE. Theirrage then isbut uselessraving,who castthe