Page:Ninety-nine homilies of S. Thomas Aquinas upon the epistles and gospels for forty-nine Sundays of the Christian year (IA ninetyninehomili00thom).pdf/176



The Apostle in this Epistle admonishes us to circumspection of walking, and he places circumspection itself in three qualities. Firstly, that we should walk discreetly: "Not as fools, but as wise.” Secondly, with quickness: “ Be not drunk with wine.” Thirdly, humbly: “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father, in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

I. On the first head, the manner of our walking, it is to be noted, that discretion in walking is seen in three ways. (1) In the election of the things which are to be done : “ But as wise.” (2) In the comparison of the things which are selected: “ Redeeming the time.” (3) In inclining towards the proper end : “ Understanding what the will of the Lord is.”

II. In the second place, that despatch in walking consists in two things. (1) In the fear of hindrances: “Be not drunk with wine.” (2) In the indwelling of that which is better : “But be ye tilled with the Spirit.”

III. In the third place, that the humility of spiritual walking consists in two things. (1) In relation to God : “ Giving thanks. unto God,” &c. (2) In relation to one’s neighbour: “Subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. You see by this how we ought to walk circumspectly.” The Apostle exhorts us in these words that we should walk cautiously in this way of injustice for three reasons. (1), Because we walk in the midst of snares : “Thou art going in the midst of snares, and walking upon the arms of them that are grieved,” Ecclus. ix. 20. (2) Because we walk in the midst of robbers: “As troops of robbers wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way by consent,” Hosea vi. 9. “ His troops come together, and raise up their way against me,” Job xix. 12. (3) Because we walk in the midst of pits: “ And the vale of Siddim was full of slime pits,” Gen. xiv. 10. “Fear, and the pit, and the snare are