Page:Ninety-nine homilies of S. Thomas Aquinas upon the epistles and gospels for forty-nine Sundays of the Christian year (IA ninetyninehomili00thom).pdf/99

 our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.” III. On the third head it is to be noted, that the future joys of the saints are said to consist of three things— (1) In the consolation of the Divine Presence: “ I will see you again.” S. Augustine, “ Lastly, there will be God Himself, Who will be all in all, Who will be to us salvation, honour, and glory, and joy, and every good:” Gen. xv. 1, “I am .thy exceeding great reward.” (2) In the highest exultation of heart, “ Your heart shall rejoice:” Isa. xxxv. 10, “They shall obtain joy and gladness.” (3) In the attaining of eternity: Isa. xxxv. 10, “The ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads ;” to which joy, &c.

In these words the Apostle S. James bids us be more slow in speaking than in hearing, and these considerations ought to move us to this—Firstly, the testimony of nature. Secondly, the harm of much speaking. Thirdly, the benefit of little speaking.

I. On the first head it is to be noted, that nature teaches us in a threefold way that we should rather hear, than speak. (1) Nature gave to man a double instrument of hearing, and only a single instrument of speaking, arid this in itself shows, that in a twofold degree man ought rather to hear than to speak. (2) Nature gave to very many animals the faculty of hearing, but not the faculty of speech save to the rational animal, man; so that speech ought to be rational: Coloss. iv. 6, “ Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt.” (3) Nature gave the instruments of hearing ever open, but the instruments of speech she closed by two barriers or protections: for man has his ears ever open, but his tongue closed in by his lips and teeth. The tongue is like an evil monarch, and therefore God enclosed it with many barriers: Mich. vii. 5, “ Keep the doors of thy mouth.”