Page:Ninety-nine homilies of S. Thomas Aquinas upon the epistles and gospels for forty-nine Sundays of the Christian year (IA ninetyninehomili00thom).pdf/100

 II. On the second head it is to be noted, that a threefold evil comes through much speaking—(1) The evil of sin : Prov. x. 19, “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin.” (2) The evil of punishment: Ecclus. xx. 8, “ He that useth many words shall hurt his own soul.” (3) The evil of infamy : Prov. xviii. 13, “ He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.” Of these three: S. James iii. 6, “ The tongue is a world of iniquity;” behold the first. “The tongue is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison behold the second. “ The tongue among our members defileth the whole body behold the third.

III. On the third head it is to be noted, that a threefold advantage flows to him who hears much and speaks little— (1) The good thing of grace: Ecclus. xxxii. 9, “Hear in silence, and for thy reverence good grace shall come unto thee.” (2) The good thing of wisdom : Ecclus. vi. 34, “ If thou wilt incline thine ear thou shalt receive instruction, and if thou love to hear thou shalt be wise.” (3) Happiness and tranquillity of mind: Prov. xxi. 21, “Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles,” &c.

In these words three things are laid down, concerning which the Holy Spirit will reprove the world. Firstly, He will reprove of sin, because men ought not to commit it. Secondly, of righteousness, because men ought to perform it. Thirdly, of judgment, because men ought to fear it.

I. On the first head it is to be noted, that sin is to be avoided for many reasons, but chiefly for three great evils which it brings to man—(1) Because it places man here in many miseries : Prov. xiv. 34, “ Sin is a reproach to any people.” (2) Because it deprives man of eternal glory : Isa. xxvi. 10, “In the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the Lord.” (3) Because it leads man to eternal punishment: S. Matt. xxv. 46, “These shall go away into everlasting punishment.”

II. On the second head it is to be noted, that righteousness