722 GOSPEL ACCORDING TO CHAP. XX11. wisein work,saying,Father,ifThou be willing,removethis cupfrom Me. He saithnot the words,If Thou wilt,as if ignorantwhetheritwas pleasingto theFather. For such knowledgewas notmore difficultthan theknowledgeof His Father'ssubstance,which He aloneclearlyknew, according John10, to John, As theFatherknowethMe, evenso have I known theFather. Nor saysHe this,asrefusingHis Passion.For He who rebukeda disciple,who wished topreventHis Pas- Matt.16,sion,so as evenaftermany commendations,tocallhim Sa tan,how shouldHe be unwillingto be crucified? Consider thenwhy itwas so said. How greata thingwas itto hear thattheunspeakableGod, who passesallunderstanding,was contenttoentertheVirgin'swomb, tosuckhermilk,and to undergo everythinghuman. Since then thatwas almost incrediblewhichwas aboutto happen,He sentfirstindeed Prophetsto announce it,afterwardsHe Himself comes clothedin the flesh,so thatyou couldnotsupposeHim to be a phantom. He permitsHis fleshto endureallnatural infirmities,to hunger,to thirst,to sleep,to labour,to be afflicted,to be tormented; on thisaccountlikewiseHe re fusesnot death,thatHe might manifesttherebyHis true humanity. AMBROSE. He saysthen,If Thou will,removethiscup from Me, as man refusingdeath,as God maintainingHis own decree.BEDE. Or He begs the cup to be removed from Him, not indeedfrom fearof suffering,but fromHis compassionfor the firstpeople,lestthey shouldhaveto drinkthe cup firstdrunk by Him. ThereforeHe saysex pressly,not,Remove from Me thecup,but thiscup,thatis, the cup of theJewish people,who can have no excusefor theirignorancein slayingMe, havingtheLaw and thePro phetsdailyprophesyingofMe. Dion.de DION. ALEX. Or when He says,Let thiscuppassfromMe, c.7. ' itisnot,letitnot come toMe, forunlessithad comeit couldnot passaway. Itwas-thereforewhen He perceived italreadypresentthatHe began to be afflictedand sorrow ful,and as itwas closeathand,He says,Let thiscuppass; forasthatwhichhas passedcan neitherbe saidnottohave come noryet to remain,so alsothe Saviourasksfirstthat thetemptationslightlyassailingHim may passaway. And