VSR. 41 44. ST. LUKE. 647 mirth;and henceitfollows,But now aretheyhidfrom thine eyes.ORIGEN. But ourJerusalemisalsoweptover,because aftersinenemiessurroundit,(thatis,wickedspirits,)and casta trenchround itto besiegeit,and leavenot a stone behind; especiallywhen a man afterlongcontinency,after yearsofchastity,isovercome,and enticedby the blandish mentsof the flesh,has losthisfortitudeand hismodesty, and hascommittedfornication,they willnot leaveon him one stoneupon another,accordingto Ezekiel,His formerEzek.is, righteousnessI willnotremember. GKEG. Or else; The evilspiritslaysiegetothesoul,asitGreg. goesforthfrom the body,forbeingseizedwith the loveofP°^'89- thefleshtheycaressitwith delusivepleasures.They sur rounditwitha trench,becausebringingallitswickedness whichithas committedbeforethe eyesof itsmind, they closeconfineitto the company of itsown damnation,that beingcaughtintheveryextremityoflife,itmay seeby what enemiesitisblockaded,yet be unableto findany way of escape,becauseitcan no longerdo goodworks,sincethose whichitmight once have done itdespised.On everyside alsotheyinclosethe soulwhen itsiniquitiesriseup before it,not onlyindeed but alsoinword and thought,thatshe whobeforeinmany ways greatlyenlargedherselfinwicked ness,shouldnow attheend be straitenedeveryway injudg ment. Then indeedthe soulby the veryconditionof its guiltislaidprostrateon theground,whileitsfleshwhichit believedto be itslifeisbid to returnto dust. Then its childrenfallin death,when allunlawfulthoughtswhich onlyproceedfrom it,areinthelastpunishmentof lifescat teredabroad. These may alsobe signifiedby the stones. Forthecorruptmind when toa corruptthoughtitaddsone morecorrupt,placesone stoneupon another.But when the soulisledtoitsdoom,thewholestructureof itsthoughtsis rentasunder. But thewickedsoulGod ceasesnot tovisit withHis teaching,sometimeswith the scourgeand some timeswith a miracle;thatthe truthwhich itknew not it may hear,and though stilldespisingit,may returnpricked totheheartin sorrow,or overcomewith merciesmay be ashamedattheevilwhichithasdone. But becauseitknows notthetime of itsvisitation,at the end of lifeitisgiven