Page:Ninety-nine homilies of S. Thomas Aquinas upon the epistles and gospels for forty-nine Sundays of the Christian year (IA ninetyninehomili00thom).pdf/146



The very kind way in which the Schoolman have been received, “Advent Homilies” of the great has induced the Translator to issue another portion of that, which he one day hopes may be formed into a complete work. It has been the wish of some that the outlines of S. Thomas might be expanded for them, and so be made ready for their use. To do this would be not only to tamper with what ought to be preserved entire with all care, but it would destroy the great merit and value of these suggestive skeletons, which, opening so many different trains of thought, leave it to the preacher’s own judgment to enlarge upon them, according to his learning, ability, and peculiar cast of mind. It will be very often found that a third portion of one Homily will afford quite sufficient material for the formation of such a sermon as is suitable to our times. The thorough investigation of the three divisions of one section, often leads to more telling and satisfactory results than can be obtained from the partial development of each of the leading heads.