VER. 17—24. ST. LUKE. 535 21.And the son said unto him, Father,I have sinnedagainstheaven,and in thy sight,and am no moreworthy tobe calledthy son. 22.But the fathersaidto hisservants,Bring forth thebestrobe,and put iton him ; and put a ringon hishand,and shoeson hisfeet: 23.And bringhitherthe fattedcalf,and killit; andletus eat,and be merry: 24.For thismy son was dead,and isaliveagain; he was lost,and is found. And they began to be merry. GREG. NYSS. The younger son had despisedhis fatherGreg. when firsthe departed,and had wasted his father'smoney. j^81''eno Butwhen in courseof time he was broken down by hardship,cat. havingbecome a hired.servant,and eating the same food withthe swine,he returned,chastened,to hisfather'shouse. Hence itis said,And when he came to himself,he said,How many hiredservantsofmy father'shave bread enough and to spare,but I perish with hunger. AMBROSE. He rightlyre turnsto himself,because he departed from himself. For he who returnsto God restoreshimselfto himself,and he who departsfrom Christrejectshimselffrom himself. AUG. Aug.de But he returned to himself,when from those things which £UtBi"v•• withoutunprofitablyenticeand seduce,he brought back hisqu.33. mindto the inward recessesof hisconscience. BASIL.There are three differentdistinctkinds of obedi ence. For eitherfrom fearof punishment we avoideviland areservilelydisposed; or looking to the gain of a reward we perform what is commanded, like to mercenaries; or we obeythe law for the sake of good itselfand our loveto Him who gave it,and so savour of the mind of children. AMBROSE. For the son who has the pledge of the Holy Spiritin hisheart seeks not the gain of an earthlyreward, but preservesthe right of an heir. These are also good Matt.20, husbandmen,to whom the vineyardisletout. They abound *'• notinhusks,but bread. AUG. But whence could he know Aug. thiswho had that great forgetfulnessof God, which existsubi8UP-