592 GOSPEL ACCORDING TO CHAP. XVII. AMBROSE. He rightlydeclaresthe delugeto have beei causedby oursins,forGod didnot createevil,but ourde- servingsfounditoutforthemselves.Let itnothoweverbe supposedthatmarriages,or againmeat and drink,arecon demned,seeingthatby theonesuccessionissustained,by the othernature,butmoderationistobe soughtforinallthings For whatsoeveris more than thisisof evil.BEDE. Novi Noah buildsthe ark mystically.The Lord buildsHis ChurchofChrist'sfaithfulservants,by unitingthem together in one,as smooth piecesof wood ; and when itisperfectly finished,He entersit: asat the day of Judgment,He who everdwellswithinHis Church enlightensitwithHis visible presence.But whilethe ark is in building,the wicked flourish,when itisentered,theyperish; as theywho revile thesaintsintheirwarfarehere,shallwhen theyarecrowned hereafterbe smittenwitheternalcondemnation. EUSEB. Having used the exampleofthe deluge,thatno one might expecta futuredelugeby water,ourLord cites, secondly,the exampleof Lot,to shew the manner ofthe destructionof the wicked,namely,thatthe wrath of God would descendupon them by firefrom heaven. BEDE. Passingby the unutterablewickednessof the Sodomites, He mentionsonly those which may be thought trifling offences,or none at all;thatyou may understandhow fearfullyunlawfulpleasuresare punished,when lawful pleasurestakento excessreceivefortheirrewardfireand brimstone. ECSEB. He doesnotsaythatfirecame down fromheaven upon thewicked SodomitesbeforethatLot went outfrom them,justas the delugedid not swallowup theinhabitants oftheearthbeforethatNoah enteredtheark; foraslongas Noah and Lot dweltwith the wicked,God suspendedHis angerthattheymight not perishtogetherwiththesinners, but when He would destroythose,He withdrewthe righ teous. So alsoat theend oftheworld,theconsummation shallnotcome beforeallthejustareseparatedfromthewicked. BEDE. For He who in themean time thoughwe seeHim not yetseesallthings,shallthenappeartojudgeallthings. And He shallcome especiallyatthattime,when He shallsee allwho areforgetfulof His judgmentsin bondagetothis