Page:Ninety-nine homilies of S. Thomas Aquinas upon the epistles and gospels for forty-nine Sundays of the Christian year (IA ninetyninehomili00thom).pdf/197

 and bear a son,” &c., Isa. vii. 12. (2) The operation of miracles, which was a sign of infinite power: “ And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book: but these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing, ye might have life through His Name,” S. John xx. 30, 31. (3) His Passion : “Then certain of the Scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from Thee. But He answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the Prophet Jonas : for as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly, so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth,” St. Matt. xii. 38-42. (4) His coming to judgment: “ All ye inhabitants of the world and dwellers on the earth, see ye, when He lifteth up an ensign on the mountains, and when He bloweth a trumpet, hear ye,” Isa. xviii. 3.

II. On the second head it is to be noted, that the great wisdom of Christ is seen in four particulars. (1) In His doctrine—i.e., in truth : “ Master, we know that Thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth,” S. Matt. xxii. 16. (2) In its depth : “ The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters”—i.e., words from the mouth of Christ are spiritual doctrine; “ and the well-spring of wisdom as a flowing brook,” Prov. xviii. 4: for so great is the abundance of word of doctrine, of this present life, the fountain of wisdom. Mystically, the “ deep waters ” refer to the Old Testament ; and the “ flowing brooks ” to the New Testament; and Christ and His Apostles unlock the mysteries of both Testaments. Again, words of wisdom wash and bedew the mind, lest it remains defiled with the spot of sin, or fails through the lack of moisture; and because certain things mystically be hid, and certain are open, they are rightly called here “ a deep water,” and a “ flowing brook.” (3) In its unity: “ The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life,” S. John vi. 63. (4) In its eternity: “ Heaven and' earth shall pass away; but My words shall not pass away,” S. Luke xxi. 33.

III. On the third head it is to be noted, that Christ is about to come in the world for four purposes. (1) To condemn the wicked: “Behold, the Lord cometh, with ten