Page:Ninety-nine homilies of S. Thomas Aquinas upon the epistles and gospels for forty-nine Sundays of the Christian year (IA ninetyninehomili00thom).pdf/160

 earned by perseverance alone: “ He that endureth to the end shall be saved,” S. Matt. x. 22.

III. On the third head it is to be noted, that for two reasons we ought to expect God alone to be our reward. (1) Because He alone is the true reward: “I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward,” Gen. xv. 1. S. Augustine says, that God will be the reward of all in all, because He will be to us life and salvation, strength and plenty, honour and glory, peace and joy, and all good things. (2) Because He will be an eternal reward: “ This is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent,” S. John xvii. 3. IV. On the fourth head it is to be noted, that humility, in three ways, preserves man in good. (1) By defending him from his enemies : “ The Lord preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and He helped me,” Psalm cxvi. 6. (2) By promising increase of grace: “ God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble,” S. James iv. 6. (3) By leading man to eternal glory: 11 Honour shall uphold the humble in spirit,” Prov. xxix. 23. To which honour may we, &c.

The Gloss, says that Christ, having given thanks, teaches us to give thanks for three benefits. Firstly, for corporeal benefits. Secondly, for spiritual benefits. Thirdly, for eternal benefits. I. On the first head it is to be noted, that we ought to give thanks for corporeal benefits, for three reasons. (1) Because He ordained that they should be in the gift of nature: “ Giving thanks always for all things unto God