Page:Ninety-nine homilies of S. Thomas Aquinas upon the epistles and gospels for forty-nine Sundays of the Christian year (IA ninetyninehomili00thom).pdf/185

 That we may believe that every good tiling, as if from the fount of all good, comes from Him through Jesus Christ: “ Of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace ; for the Law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ,” S. John i. 16, 17. “ Without Me ye can do nothing,” S. John xv. 5. (2) That we should make God to be praised and honoured in all our actions : “ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father, which is in heaven,” S. Matt. v. 16. (3) That the reward of eternal glory may be given to us for our desire to work: “ Unto the glory and praise of God.” “ Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, &c.... Where thieves do not break through and steal,” S. Matt. vi. 19, 20.

Morally, by the servant is understood any sinner against whom God will be angry in the judgment, and whom He will deliver over to eternal torments. Whence three things are to be noted in these words. Firstly, the just indignation of God against the reprobates: “ His lord was wroth.” Secondly, the severe condemnation of sinners: “Delivered him to the tormentors.” Thirdly, the duration of this same damnation: “ Till he should pay all that was due unto him.”

I. On the first head it is to be noted, that there are four classes of men with whom God will be angry in the judgment. (1) Against those who despise the law of God: “ Because they have cast away the law of the Lord of Hosts, and despised the Word of the Holy One of Israel, therefore is the anger of the Lord kindled against His people, and He