Page:Ninety-nine homilies of S. Thomas Aquinas upon the epistles and gospels for forty-nine Sundays of the Christian year (IA ninetyninehomili00thom).pdf/40

 remembered that this threefold form has likewise a threefold manifestation the "lust of the flesh" has a sensual form; the "lust of the eyes," an earthly form; the " pride of life," a devilish form. Lust makes a man sensual; avarice makes him earthly; pride makes him like the devil. Of these three, S. James iii. 15, "This wisdom descendeth, not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish." By the first, we are "conformed to this world" through gluttony and revelling; by the second, through avarice; by the third, through pride; so that they themselves will perish with the perishing world. As S. Greg. Mag. says, " He who leans upon that which is failing must of necessity come to ruin when it perishes." 1 S. John ii. 15, 17, "Love not the world." Why not?" The world passeth away and the lust thereof."

II. On the second head it is to be noted that the form of the new life is also threefold. It consists (1) in holiness of will; (2) in truth of speech; (3) in justness of deed. The first informs the heart; the second, the mouth; the third, the hands. Of the first, Eph. vi. 6, 7, "Doing the will of God from the heart, with good will." Of the second, Eph. iv. 25, "Putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour." Of the third, Gal. vi. 10, "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men." Of these three, Eph. v. 9, "For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, and righteousness, and truth " in " goodness " of heart, in "righteousness" of deed, in "truth" of speech. The form of goodness makes us angelical, since by goodness man became like unto the angels. The form of righteousness makes us celestial; by righteousness we are likened unto the saints. The form of truth makes us divine; by truth we are made like unto God. Of these three, Rom. xii. 1, "Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God." Living by faith, Heb. x. 38, "The just shall live by faith." "Holy," which is cleansed. "Acceptable to God," through the truth, for God is truth.

III. On the third head it is to be noted that the " will of God" is threefold. Firstly, "good;" secondly, "acceptable;" thirdly, "perfect." This is to be understood in many ways, but chiefly in three. 1. In a moral sense, the will of God was "good" in creating; "acceptable" in recreating; "perfect " in glorifying. " Good " in giving the gifts of nature; " acceptable" in giving the gifts of grace; " perfect " in the