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