Their returnfrom active life. The cock, a preacher. 367 do they ever return in their silent thouojhts to consider the BookVV "V Fount of hfe Itself. Of whom it is also well said, toflow - again. For did they not constantly return with anxious mind to the contemplation of God, their inward drought would doubtless dry up even their outward words of preach- ing. But while they thirst unceasingly to behold God, rivers are ever springing up, as it were, within, to flow forth with- out, in order that ihey may there derive by love the means of flowing down to us in preaching. Let it be said therefore rightly ; Wilt i/iou sendforth the lightnings, and will theygo, and will they return and say to thee. Here we are ? Thou understandest, as Myself, Who adapt My preachers, when I will, after the grace of contemplation, to the ministry of active life. And yet I ever call them back from outward good deeds, to the inward height of contemplation, in order that they may one while go forth, when commanded, to perform their tasks, and that at another they may dwell with Me more familiarly when recalled to the pursuit of meditation. They return therefore and say, ' Here we are,' because, though they may seem through their outward acts to be deficient for a little in contemplation, yet by the ardent desires which they ever kindle in their minds, they make known their presence to God, by obeying Him. For to say, ' Here we are,' is to shew that they are present by their love. It follows; Ver. 36. Who hath placed wisdom in the inwardparts of a man f or who hath given the cock understanding ? 9. Who else are designated in this place by the name of iii* the cock, but these same holy preachers, mentioned again in another way, who strive amid the darkness of this present life to announce by their preaching, as if by their notes, the approaching light? For they say ; Tfie night is far spent Rom. hut the day is at hand. Who by their voices arouse the ' * sleep of our sluggishness, exclaiming; It is now the hour ih.ii. for us to arisefrom sleep. And again; Awake, ye righteous, i Cor. and sin not. Of this cock it is written again; There be three p^o^t'o things that go well, and afourth which goeth prosperously : 29—31. a lion, the strongest of beasts, will not be afraid at tlte onset ofany ; a cock girt in the loins; and a ram, whom there is no king who can resist. For He is in this place mentioned