Page:Ninety-nine homilies of S. Thomas Aquinas upon the epistles and gospels for forty-nine Sundays of the Christian year (IA ninetyninehomili00thom).pdf/140



The Apostle treats of three things in these words. Firstly, he treats of the faith of the Saints, “ Such trust have we.” Secondly, he shews on whose account there is this trust, “ Through Christ.” Thirdly, he shews in whom the Saints have trust, “ To God-ward.” Remark that this trust is twofold—good and evil.

I. The good trust is of the Saints or of the good men ; hut the evil trust is the confidence of had men or of sinners. But the trust of the good, as gathered from the text, consists in seven things. (1) In the fear of God, Prov. xiv. 26, “In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence.” (2) In prayer, 1 Chron. xvii. 25, Vulg., “Thy servant hath found confidence to pray before thee.” 1 S. John iii. 21, “Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God; and whatsoever we ask we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.” (3) In consecration of himself to God, Job xi. 14-18, “If iniquity be in thy hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles, for then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot, yea, thou shalt be stedfast and shall not fear; because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away, and thine age shall be clearer than the noon-day; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning. And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety: also thou shalt lie down and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee.” (4) In bountiful almsgiving, Tobit iv. 12, “Alms shall be a great confidence before the Most High God.” (5) In the keeping of the Divine law, Prov. xxii. 17-19, “Bow down thine ear and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge; for it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee: they shall