Page:HalfHoursWithTheSaints.djvu/78



Cardinal Bellarmin, Perb  Duneau,  and  St. Leo.

"Where sin  abounded,  grace  did  more  abound.  That  as  sin  hath  reigned  to death,  so  also  grace  might  reign  by  justice  unto  life  everlasting." — Romans v.  20.

[Cardinal Bellarmin  was  born  at  Monte  Pulciano  in  1542. At the age  of  eighteen  he  entered  as  novice  of  the  Society  of  Jesus.

Clement VIII. raised him  to  the  rank  of  cardinal  in  the  year  1601.

Paul V.  wishing  to  retain  him  near  him,  the  cardinal  resigned  his archbishopric and  devoted  himself  to  the  Court  of  Rome  until  the year 162 1. He died  the  same  year  at  the  novitiate  of  the  Jesuits, whither he  had  retired  from  the  commencement  of  his  serious  illness.

This learned  cardinal  has  enriched  the  Church  with  several  works.]

GOD, when  He  created  man,  gave  him  a  free-will,  and this in  so  perfect  a  way  that,  without  constraint,  without impairing his  liberty,  He  rules  him  by  His  power,  frightens him by  His  threats,  and  wins  him  by  His  blessings.

He has  an  earnest  wish  for  the  salvation  of  all,  but  He waits  for  their  consent,  for  their  co-operation. It is  to  gain them that  He  warns,  that  He  encourages  them,  that  He leads  them  on  in  so  wonderful  a  manner,  so  as  to  bring them, with  His  assistance,  to  that  happiness  which  is  their destiny.

These are  the  inventions  of  His  wisdom,  which  the  prophet Isaiah  says  that  he  will  announce  to  the  people (Isaiah xii.)

For those  who  are  reprobates,  at  one  time  He  warns them with  mildness,  at  another  time* He  encourages  them