For He revives those who are discouraged and drooping for fear at what He has told them, by saying, that whatever happens, the Gospel must be preached in every part of the world, and that then the end will come. Do you see what a state things were in at that time, and how war was everywhere? And this at the outset, when that which is established most especially requires much peace. Now, what was this state? There is no reason why we should not recapitulate the same things. The first war was that of deceivers, for He said: _There shall arise false Christs and false prophets_; the second, that of the Romans: _You are about to hear wars_; the third was that which was to bring in famine; the fourth, that of plagues and earthquakes; the fifth, _They shall give you up to fear_; the sixth, _You shall be hated by all_; the seventh, _They shall traduce and hate each other_; hence clearly civil war; hence false Christs and false brethren; hence _Charity shall grow cold_, which is the cause of all evils without exception. Do you see how war was there in every shape, both novel and marvellous? Still, with all this and much more (for war amongst kindred was added to civil discord), the Gospel tidings took possession of the whole world. _For_, He said, _the Gospel shall be preached in the whole world_. · · · · · · · Marriages as they were and as they are. (_Homilies on St. Matthew_, lxxiii., vol. ii., p. 355.) · · · · · · ·