Page:Ninety-nine homilies of S. Thomas Aquinas upon the epistles and gospels for forty-nine Sundays of the Christian year (IA ninetyninehomili00thom).pdf/184



The Apostle in this Epistle exhorts us to three things. Firstly, to the avoiding of sin : “ That ye may be sincere.” Secondly, to all love: “ Filled with the fruits of righteousness.” Thirdly, to the possession of a right intention: “ With the glory and praise of God.”

I. On the first head it is to be noted, that three commands are given. (1) That we should seek after purity of mind: “ That ye may be sincere.” “ Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God,” S. Matt. v. 3. (2) That we should avoid doing injury to our neighbours: “Without offence: giving no offence in anything,” 2 Cor. vi. 3. (3) That we should persevere in both courses : “ Till the day of Christ,” i.e.y till after death; when the day of man is ended the day of Christ begins. “ He that endureth to the end shall be saved,” St. Matt. x. 22. The Gloss, treats of this under the word “ sincere without the works of corruption, either towards ourselves or our neighbours, and to persevere in this course till the day of Christ.

II. On the second head it is to be noted, that the Apostle likewise gives three commandments. (1) He exhorts to rectitude of mind: “ The fruits of righteousness.” S. Anselm defines justice to be that rectitude of will which is preserved for its own sake. (2) To the having a delight in that which is good: “ Being filled with the fruits of righteousness; which are love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance,” Gal. v. 22, 23. (3) To the having perfection in good,' “being filled:” “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect,” S. Matt. v. 48.

III. On the third head it is to be noted, that three rewards flow from a right intention, for our every action ought to have its eye of intention guarded in respect to God. (1)