Page:Ninety-nine homilies of S. Thomas Aquinas upon the epistles and gospels for forty-nine Sundays of the Christian year (IA ninetyninehomili00thom).pdf/190

 Jesus Christ taught us four ways which are greatly profitable. (1) The way of penitence: “ Enter ye in at the strait gate. because strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it,” S. Matt. vii. 13, 14. “Jesus began to preach and to say, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” S. Matt. iv. 17. (2) The way of wisdom: “ I have taught thee in the way of wisdom, I have led thee in right paths. When thou goest thy steps shall not be straitened, and when thou runnest thou shalt not stumble. Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go,” Prov. iv. 11-14, Gloss. The actions of equity when they begin seem to be confined, but when they advance they seem already from habit to be spacious, and because in base action they labour earnestly they find a stumbling-block in the middle of the course; because suddenly, when they do not foresee, they are seized for punishment. (3) The way of obedience : “Make me to understand the way of Thy precepts,” Ps. cxix. 27. “A new commandment give I unto you, That ye love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another,” S. John xiii. 34, 35. “Yet I shew unto you a more excellent way. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal,” 1 Cor. xii. 31, xiii. 1. “ He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths,” Isa. ii. 3.

III. On the third head it is to be noted, that Christ is no respecter of persons in four particulars. (1) In justifying : “ Then Peter opened his mouth and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth Him and worketh righteousness is accepted with Him,” Acts x. 34, 35. (2) In teaching: “ And teachest the way of God in truth.” (3) In punishing: “ There is no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without law, shall also perish without law. the doers of the law shall be justified,” Rom. ii. 11-14. (4) In rewarding:'“Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.Knowing that your Master also is in heaven: neither is there respect of persons with Him,” Eph. vi. 8, 9.