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ANNOTATIONS. XVIII.

8. Shal he find faith.) The Luciferians and Donatists used this place to excuse their fal from the Church, as our Adversaries now doe, saying that it was decayed in faith, when they forsooke it. To whom we answer as S. Hierom and S. Augustin answered them, that Christ saith not that there should be no faith left in earth: but by this manner of speach insinuateth, that at the later day in the great persecution of Antichrist faith should be more rare, and the faithful among so many wicked not so notorious: specially that perfect faith containing devotion, trust, and affection toward God, which our Maister so praised in certaine upon whom he wrought miracles, and by force whereof mountaines might be moved, which is rare even when the Church florisheth most.

XIX.

ND entring in, he walked through Jericho. And behold a man named Zachæus: and this was a Prince of the Publicans, and he rich. And he sought to see what he was, and he could not for the multitude, because he was litle of stature. And running before, he ″ went up into a sycomore tree that he might see him: because he was to passe by it. And when he was come to the place, looking up, saw him, and said to him: Zachæus, come downe in hast: because this day I must abide in thy house. And he in hast came downe, and received him rejoycing. And when al saw it, they murmured saying, that he turned in, to a man that was a sinner. But Zachæus standing said to our Lord: Behold the halfe of my goods, Lord, I give to the poore: and if I have defrauded any man of any thing, ″ I restore fourefold. said to him: That this day salvation is made to this house: because that he also is the sonne of Abraham. * For the Sonne of man is come to seeke and to save that which was lost. ✠

They hearing these things, he added and spake a parable, for that he was nigh to Hierusalem, and because they thought that forthwith the Kingdom of God should be manifested. He said therfore: * A certaine noble man went into a farre countrie to take to himself a Kingdom, and to returne. And calling his ten servants, he gave them ten poundes, and said to them: Occupie til I come. And his citizens hated Rh