Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/400

 The father’s  blessing  established  the  houses  of  the  children,  but the mother’s  curse  rooteth  up  the  foundation.”

“Despise not  a man  in  his  old  age,  for  we  also  shall  become old. Despise not  the  discourse  of  them  that  are  ancient  and  wise; but acquaint  thyself  with  their  proverbs. Praise not  a man  for  his beauty, neither  despise  a man  for  his  look. The bee  is  small among flying  things,  but  her  fruit  hath  the  chiefest  sweetness. Be in  peace  with  many,  but  let  one  of  a thousand  be  thy counsellor.”

“Nothing can  be  compared  to  a faithful  friend,  and  no  weight of gold  and  silver  is  able  to  countervail  the  goodness  of  his fidelity. If thou  wouldst  get  a friend,  try  him  before  thou  takest him, and  do  not  credit  him  easily. For there  is  a friend  for  his own occasion,  and  he  will  not  abide  in  the  day  of  thy  trouble. A lie is  a foul  blot  in  a man. In nowise  speak  against  the  truth, but be  ashamed  of  the  lie  in  thy  ignorance.”

“Let not  the  naming  of  God  be  usual  in  thy  mouth,  and meddle not  with  the  names  of  Saints. A man that  sweareth  much shall be  filled  with  iniquity,  and  a scourge  shall  not  depart  from his house. Before thou  hear,  answer  not  a word,  and  interrupt  not others in  the  midst  of  their  discourse. Hast thou  heard  a word against thy  neighbour,  let  it  die  within  thee,  trusting  that  it  will not burst  thee. Hedge in  thy  ears  with  thorns; hear  not  a wicked tongue; and  make  doors  and  bars  to  thy  mouth.”

“Melt down  thy  gold  and  silver,  and  make  a balance  for thy words. Flee from  sin  as  from  the  face  of  a serpent. All iniquity is  like  a two-edged  sword;  there  is  no  remedy  for  the wound thereof. Observe the  time  and  fly  from  evil. He that  loveth danger shall  perish  therein,  and  he  that  toucheth  pitch  shall  be defiled  with  it  In  every  work  of  thine  regard  thy  soul  in  faith, for this  is  the  keeping  of  the  commandments. In all  thy  works remember thy  last  end,  and  thou  shalt  never  sin.”

The fifteenth  promise  of  the  Messias  (through  Malachias)  is  of  great importance for  the  Catholic  faith,  since,  as  the  Council  of  Trent  in union  with  the  Fathers  of  the  Church  teaches,  it  contains  a most  clear prophecy of  the  unbloody  Sacrifice  of  the  New  Testament,  or,  in  other words, of  the  most  holy  Sacrifice  of  the. Mass. Let us  examine  what it is  that  God  promised  by  the  mouth  of  the  prophet  Malachias.