Page:Ninety-nine homilies of S. Thomas Aquinas upon the epistles and gospels for forty-nine Sundays of the Christian year (IA ninetyninehomili00thom).pdf/134



Every rational creature longs for glory, because such an one was created for glory; and therefore the Apostle in these words points out where true glory can be found; and he points out here two kinds of glory—an unreal and a live glory.

I. On the first head, it is to be noted, that there is (1) a false glory in temporal riches—“And boast themselves in the multitude of their riches,” Psa. xlix. 6. (2) A vain glory— “ Wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire,” Psa. x. 3 ; that is, he glories in earthly dignities. “ Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might,” Jer. ix. 23. (3) There is also a foolish glory in pleasures ; for it is foolish to glory in mortal meats—“ She that liveth in pleasure is dead,” 1 S. Tim. v. 6. (4) An evil glory in wickedness—“ Why boasteth thou thyself in mischief?” Psa. lii. 1. The first glory tendeth to poverty— “ The rich man shall lie down, but he shall not be gathered; he openeth his eyes, and he is not” (Job xxvii. 19). The second ends in ignominy—“ Their glory shall fly away like a bird,” Hosea ix. 11. The third is changed into the anguish of grief—“ How much she hath glorified herself and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow gave her,” Rev. xviii. 7. The fourth into eternal torment—“ Upon the wicked He shall rain snares, fire and brimstone,” &c., Psa. xi. 6. “ For their worm shall not die, neither shall their tire be quenched,” Isa. lxvi. 24.

II. On the second head, it is to be noted that true glory consists (1) in our knowledge of the Lord—“Let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth