Page:Ninety-nine homilies of S. Thomas Aquinas upon the epistles and gospels for forty-nine Sundays of the Christian year (IA ninetyninehomili00thom).pdf/96

 My Body.” (2) His Blood to drink: S. Matt. xxvi. 27, 28, “ Drink ye all of it; for this is My Blood.” (3) His soul as the price of our redemption: 1 S. John iii. 16, “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us.” S. John x. 15, “I lay down My life for the sheep.”

III. On the third head it is to be noted, that there are three effects of goodness. (1) To harm no one: 2 Cor. vi. 3, “Giving no offence in anything.” (2) To bear injuries patiently: Rom. xii. 17, “Recompense to no man evil for evil.” (3) To give self or substance willingly for others: 1 S. John iii. 16, “We ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” It is for these three reasons that the sheep are called holy—as injuring no one, as suffering evil cheerfully, and as giving up themselves and their possessions for the use of men ; and they who are so the sheep shall doubtless come to the fold of Christ, which is the Kingdom of Heaven: S. Matt. xxv. 33, 34, “ He shall set the sheep on His right hand ......... Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom,” &c. To which kingdom may we be brought. Amen.

Four things are noted in these words. Firstly, abstinence from fleshly lusts is pointed out, “abstain from fleshly lusts.” Secondly, the necessity for such abstinence, “which war against the soul.” Thirdly, honest conversation is enjoined, “ having your conversation honest.” Fourthly, the benefit of a good conversation is added, “ that whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.”

I. On the first head it is to be noted, that there are three kinds of lusts from which the Scripture commands us to abstain. (1) Worldly lusts. (2) Hurtful and unprofitable lusts. (3) Carnal lusts. Firstly, the lusts of the world are the desires of worldly honours: Titus ii. 11, 12, “ The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,