VER. 28—33. ST. LUKE. 519 THEOPHYL. For we ought not tolaya foundation,i.e.begin tofollowChrist,and not bringthe work to an end,as thoseof whom St.John writes,That many ofHis discipleswent back-John6, ward.Or by the foundationunderstandthe word ofteaching, asforinstanceconcerningabstinence.There isneed therefore oftheabove-mentionedfoundation,that the buildingup of ourworks be established,a tower of strengthfrom the faceof Ps.60,3. theenemy. Otherwise,roan is laughed at by thosewho see him,men as wellas devils.GREG. For when occupiedin good Greg.ubi works,unlesswe watch carefullyagainstthe evilspirits,we sup' findthoseour mockers who are persuading us to evil. But anothercomparison isadded proceedingfrom the lessto the greater,in order that from the leastthingsthe greatestmay beestimated.For itfollows,Or what king,goingto make war againstanother king,sittethnot down first,and consulteth whetherhe be ablewith ten thousandto meet him thatcometh againsthim with twenty thousand? CYRIL. For we fightEPh.6, againstspiritualwickednessin highplaces; but therepresses12' upon us a multitude alsoof other enemies,fleshlylust,the lawofsinragingin our members, and variouspassions,that is,a dreadfulmultitudeof enemies. AUG. Or the ten thou sandof him who is going to fightwith the king who has twenty,signifythe simplicityof the Christianabout to con tendwith the subtletyof the devil. THEOPHYL. The king issiureigningin our mortal body ; but our understandingRom.c, alsowas created king. If then he wishes to fightagainst sin,lethim considerwith his whole mind. For the devils arethesatellitesof sin,which being twenty thousand,seem tosurpassin number our ten thousand,because that being spiritualcompared to us who are corporeal,they are come to havemuch greaterstrength. AUG. But as with respect to the unfinishedtower, He Aug.alarmsus by the reproachesof thosewho say,The man began" 6up' tobuild,and was not abletofinish,so with regardto the king withwhom the battlewas to be,He reprovedeven peace,add ing,Or else,whiletheotheris yet a greatway off,he sendeth an ambassage,and desirethconditionsof peace ; signifying thatthosealsowho forsakea)lthey possesscannot endure from the devilthe threatsof even coming temptations,and make peace with him by consenting unto him to commit