484 GOSPEL ACCORDING TO CHAP. XIII. but in the synagogues; calmly, neither wavering in any thing,nor determining aught againstthe law of Moses ; on the Sabbath also,becausethe Jews were then engaged inthe hearingof the law. CYRIL. Now thatthe Incarnationof the Word was mani festedto destroycorruptionand death,and the hatred ofthe devilagainst us, is plain from the actual events; for it follows,And beholdtherewas a woman which had a spirit of infirmity,fyc. He says spiritof infirmity,because the woman sufferedfrom the crueltyof the devil,forsakenby God because of her own crimes or for the transgressionof Adam, on account of which the bodiesof men incurinfirmity and death. But God givesthispower to the devil,to the end that men when pressed down by the weight of their adversitymight betake them to betterthings. He points out the nature of her infirmity,saying, And was bowed Basil. together,and couldin no wise liftup herself.BASIL. Because in°Hex. tue ^lea^of the brutesisbent down towards the ground and looksupon the earth,but the head of man was made erect towards the heaven, his eyes tending upward. For it be comes us to seek what isabove,and with our sightto pierce beyond earthlythings. CYRIL. But our Lord, to shew that His coming intothis world was to be the loosingof human infirmities,healedthis woman. Hence it follows,And when Jesus saw her,He called her to Him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosedfrom thineinfirmity.A word most suitableto God, fullof heavenlymajesty; forby His royalassent He dispels the disease. He alsolaidHis hands upon her,foritfollows, He laidHis hands on her, and immediatelyshe was made straight,and glorifiedGod. We should here answer,that the Divine power had put on the sacred flesh. For it was the fleshof God Himself, and of no other,as ifthe Son of Man existedapart from the Son of God, as some have falselythought. But the ungrateful ruler of the synagogue,when he saw the woman, who beforewas creep ing on the ground, now by Christ'ssingletouch made up right,and relatingthe mighty works of God, sullieshiszeal for the gloryof the Lord with envy, and condemns the mi racle,that he might appear to be jealousfor the Sabbath.