Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/635

 external temptations,  and  never  be  turned  from  what  is  right  by  any difficulties or  persecutions.

The greatest  loss.  “What  will  it  profit  a man  if  he  gain  the  whole world and  suffer  the  loss  of  his  own  soul?”  It  would  profit  a man nothing if  he  possessed  all  the  power,  honour  and  riches  that  it  was possible for  him  to  have,  and  injured  his  soul  thereby. All sin,  and especially mortal  sin,  does  injury  to  the  soul. If, therefore,  a man  could gain the  whole  world  by  committing  one  mortal  sin,  would  it  be  of any  profit  to  him? None at  all,  for  death  would  take  all  his  possessions from him,  and  he  would  then  be  punished  for  ever  in  hell.

Once lost, for  ever  lost!  “Or  what  can  a man  give  in  exchange for his  soul?”  What  can  he  do  or  give  to  redeem  his  soul  from  hell? Nothing! Once a man’s  soul  is  lost,  it  remains  lost,  and  nothing  can redeem it  from  everlasting  damnation. The care  of  our  soul  is  our one important  business  in  life,  “the  one  thing  needful”.

The necessity  of  grace.  Grace  “draws”  us,  by  enlightening  us  and awakening in  us  a desire  for  salvation;  but  it  does  not  compel  us. God leaves  us  at  perfect  liberty  either  to  obey  or  resist  the  attractions of grace.

The resurrection  of  the  body. On  the  last  day  our  Lord  Jesus Christ will  raise  to  life  the  bodies  of  the  dead  (Eleventh  article  of the  creed).

Life everlasting (Twelfth  article  of  the  creed).

The law  of  Jesus  is  sweet  and  easy  1. because the  purport  of  it is  love,  and  love  makes  all  duties  light  and  pleasant;  2. because Jesus does not  merely  impose  duties  on  us,  but  helps  us  by  His  grace  to fulfil  them; 3. because Jesus  has  gone  before  us,  showing  us  an  example. He Himself  has  done  everything  which  He  requires  us  to  do,  and  that in the  most  perfect  manner,  as,  for  example,  showing  love  to  our  enemies. His law  is  sweet  and  easy  4. because an  exceeding  great  reward  is promised  to  us  if  we  obey  it,  namely,  peace  and  joy  of  heart  on  earth, and inconceivable  glory  and  happiness  in  heaven.

Gentleness and  humility  are  especially  taught  us  by  the  example  of our  Lord  Jesus. The sins  contrary  to  these  virtues  are  the  two  capital sins of  anger  and  pride.

Devotion of  the  Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus.  Our  Lord  Himself  directs us to  His  Sacred  Heart  and  invites  us  to  imitate  its  virtues  of  love, mercy, gentleness,  humility,  obedience,  patience, fortitude  &amp;c. The Heart of  Jesus  is  the  model  of  all  virtues  and  the  fountain  of  all  grace, and must  therefore  be  loved  and  adored  by  all  who  love  Jesus. The Feast of  the  Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus  is  kept  on  the  Friday  [in  some places, on  the  Sunday]  after  the  Octave  of  Corpus  Christi.