432 GOSPEL ACCORDING TO CHAP. XII.
ORIGEN. Literally,hereby is signifiedthe quicknessof
the Divineforesight,which reacheseventothe leastthings.
But mystically,thefivesparrowsjustlyrepresentthespiritual
senses,which have perceptionof highand heavenlythings:
beholdingGod,hearingtheDivinevoice,tastingofthebread
oflife,smellingthe perfumeofChrist'sanointing,handling
theWord ofLife. And thesebeingsoldfortwo farthings,
thatis,beinglightlyesteemedby thosewho countasperish
ing whateverisof the Spirit,arenotforgottenbeforeGod.
But God issaidtobe forgetfulofsome becauseoftheirini
quities.THEOPHYL. Or thesefivesensesaresoldfortwo far
things,thatis,the New and Old Testament,and arethere
forenotforgottenby God. Of thosewhose sensesaregiven
up to theword oflifethattheymay be fitforthe spiritual
food,the Lord isevermindful.AMBROSE. Or else; A good
sparrowisone which naturehasfurnishedwiththepower of
flying; fornaturehas givenus the graceofflying,pleasure
has takenitaway,which loadswithmeatsthe soulof the
wicked,and moulds it towards the nature of a fleshly
mass. The fivesensesof the body then,ifthey seek the
foodof earthlyalloy,cannotflyback to thefruitsofhigher
actions.A bad sparrowthereforeisone which has lostits
habitofflyingthroughthefaultofearthlygrovelling; such
arethosesparrowswhichare soldfortwo farthings,namely,
at the priceofworldlyluxury. For the enemy setsup his,
asitwere,captiveslaves,at theverylowestprice. But the
Lord,beingthefitjudgeofHis own'work,has redeemed at
a greatpriceus,His nobleservants,whom He hathmade in
His own image. CYRIL. It is His carethen diligentlyto
know thelifeofthesaints.Whence itfollows,But thehairs
ofyourheadsareallnumbered;by which He means,thatof
allthingswhichrelatetothem He hasmost accurateknow
ledge,forthe numbering manifeststhe minutenessof the
care exercised.AMBROSE. Lastly,the numbering of the
hairsisnottobe takenwithreferencetothe actofreckon
ing,but to the capabilityof knowing. Yet they are well
saidtobe numbered,becausethosethingswhich we wishto
preservewe number.
CYRIL.Now mystically,indeed,the head of a man ishis
understanding,but hishairsthethoughts,whichareopen to