Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/529

 violence, and  the  violent  take  it  by  force  I”  On  the  other  hand,  the road which  leads  down-hill  to  perdition  is  broad  and  easy,  for  unbridled wilfulness and  licence  reign  there,  each  one  going  whithersoever  his lusts and  desires  carry  him. Very many — the  luxurious  and  the  thoughtless— travel  on  that  road  to  hell,  but  very  few  pass  through  the  narrow gate of  penance  and  travel  on  the  road  of  self-denial  to  heaven. What a terrible truth  this  is!

“Beware of  false  prophets  who  come  to  you  in  the  clothing of sheep,  but  inwardly  they  are  ravening  wolves. By their  fruits you shall  know  them. Do men  gather  grapes  of  thorns,  or  figs  of thistles? Even so  every  good  tree  bringeth  forth  good  fruit,  and the evil  tree  bringeth  forth  evil  fruit. Not every  one  that  saith to me: ‘Lord,  Lord’,  shall  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  but he that  doth  the  will  of  my  Father  in  heaven,  he  shall  enter  into the kingdom  of  heaven."

Faith must  be  living.  We  must  shape  our  lives  according  to  the will and  teaching  of  God. Now faith  teaches  us  that  God  has  revealed His will  to  us  by  His  commandments,  so  that  what  we  have  to  do,  if we  wish  to  enter  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  is  to  keep  the  commandments. Not every  one  who  says:  ‘Lord,  Lord’,  shall  enter  into  the  kingdom of heaven. Not faith  alone,  nor  a confession  of  faith  by  words  only, can obtain  an  entrance  there  without  a faithful  observance  of  God’s commandments. The just  man  must  practise  good  works,  and  show thereby that  the  grace,  fear  and  love  of  God  are  in  him. “Every good tree brings  forth  good  fruit.”

False prophets  are  those  who  teach  things  concerning  faith  or morals  contrary  to  what  our  Lord  and  His  Church  teach,  and  who therefore, in  reality,  teach  unbelief,  and  are  heresiarchs,  seducers,  and