Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/526

 we have  to  thank  for  body  and  life,  food  and  drink,  dwelling  and raiment.

Confidence in  God.  Are  we,  then,  to  take  no  thought  for  the  things of this  life,  such  as  food  and  clothing? Yes; we  must,  according  to our  abilities,  provide  for  them,  but  we  are  not  to  be  over-anxious,  and must trust  in  the  goodness,  wisdom  and  power  of  God. We must  work, but we  must  also  pray;  for  all  our  efforts  will  be  quite  useless  without the blessing  of  God.

Care for  our  salvation  must  be  our  chief  concern  as  Christians. Before everything  else  we  must  try  to  attain  to  the  kingdom  of  heaven, i. e.  to  save  our  souls,  and  for  this  end  we  must  live  in  the  grace  of God  and  strive  ceaselessly  after  His  “justice”. A true love  of  ourselves demands this  of  us,  for  our  soul  is  more  precious  than  our  body,  and we ought  to  seek  its  interests  first.

Covetousness, or the  worship  of  mammon.  He  who  “serves”  mammon is the  man  who  fondly  considers  the  gaining  and  increasing  of  riches  to be  the  greatest  business  of  life,  and  neglects  the  worship  of  God  and the care  of  his  own  soul,  not  even  shrinking  from  such  sins  as  theft, usury and  perjury,  if  they  will  enable  him  to  add  to  his  wealth.

The right  use  of  worldly  possessions  consists  in  using  them  for  God and in  the  practice  of  good  works. Holy men,  such  as  Abraham,  Job and Tobias,  possessed  great  riches,  but  they  were  not  slaves  to  them. On the  contrary,  they  made  their  wealth  serve  them,  and  expended  it in  the  service  of  God  and  their  neighbour.

Good works.  All  good  works,  such  as  works  of  piety,  mortification and brotherly  love,  are  treasures  laid  up  in  heaven. When we  die,  we must  leave  all  earthly  things,  even  our  very  bodies,  behind  us: only  our good works  will  go  with  us,  and  procure  for  us  a favourable  judgment.

Perform this  very  day  some  good  work  of brotherly  love!

“Be ye  merciful,  as  your  Father  also  is  merciful;  give,  and it shall  be  given to  you. With the  same  measure  that  you  shall mete withal,  it  shall  be  measured  to  you  again. As you  would that men  should  do  to  you,  do  ye  also  to  them.