Page:Ninety-nine homilies of S. Thomas Aquinas upon the epistles and gospels for forty-nine Sundays of the Christian year (IA ninetyninehomili00thom).pdf/75

 the fourth to be desired. The Apostle exhorts to the third: Eph. iv. 7, “ I beseech you that ye walk worthy.”

II. On the second head is to be noted the manner of walking, of which the Apostle mentions twelve ways; five of which were explained in Homily III., for the second Sunday in Lent, and seven remain to be considered here. It is known that we ought to walk “in newness of life”—(1) Casting away our former sin : Rom. vi. 4, “ We also should walk in newness of life.” (2) Subjecting the flesh to the Spirit, and living according to the Spirit : Gal. v. 16, “ Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” (3) In love, loving God and one’s neighbours: Eph. v. 2, “Walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us.” (4) Honestly, having a good conversation amongst men : 1 Thess. iv. 12, “ Walk honestly toward them that are without.” (5) In wisdom, edifying others by sweet and profitable words : Coloss, iv. 5, “ Walk in wisdom toward them that are without.” (6) In Christ, by following and imitating Him: Coloss. ii. 6, “ As ye have, therefore, received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.” (7) We ought to walk in the light, as doing nothing worthy of reproof: S. John xi. 9, “ If any man walk in the day he stumbleth not.” The holy walk in these seven paths, but the wicked in seven other ways—(1) According to the flesh, in fulfilling its desires : 2 S. Peter ii. 10, “ Them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness.” (2) According to the course of this world: Eph. ii. 2, “ Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world.” (3) In vanity, by loving the things which are vain: Eph. iv. 17, “As other Gentiles walk in the vanity of their mind.” (4) In living inordinately, and dishonestly, and dissolutely: 2 Thess. iii. 6, “ Withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.” (5) In fulfilling whatsoever desires they list. (6) By living luxuriantly in lasciviousness. (7) In gluttonies, revellings, and the like. Of these three : 1 S. Pet. iv. 3, “ So have wrought the will of the Gentiles when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries.” Those whoso walk, perish: Job. vi. 18, “The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish ;” whilst they who walk after the former ways come to the joy of eternal life, which may Christ give us. Amen.