Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/81

 “Others do  the  same  thing."  Sinners  often  speak  thus  in  excuse for  themselves.  But  the  Deluge  teaches  us  that  such  words  avail  nothing with  God.  Sin  remains  sin,  and  mortal  sin  remains  mortal  sin,  whether committed  by  few  or  many.  When  everybody  was  wicked,  as  in  the days  of  Noe,  everybody  was  punished.  At  the  Last  Day  we  shall  not be  judged  according  to  the  opinions  and  easy-going  principles  of  the world,  but  according  to  the  holy  Commandments  of  God  and  of  His Church.

The fortitude  of  Noe. Among  all  his  other  virtues  we  must  admire this the  most. He remained  virtuous  in  the  midst  of  a corrupt  world, and did  only  that  which  was  pleasing  to  God. The wicked  people around him  did  all  in  their  power  to  lead  him  astray. They mocked him, because  he  did  not  do  as  they  did;  but  he  did  not  let  himself be moved  to  do  evil. He firmly  resisted  the  attractions  of  the  wicked world, and  remained  true  to  what  was  right.

Noe's love  of  his  neighbour. For  a hundred  and  twenty  years  he laboured  for  the  salvation  of  the  souls  of  his  fellow-creatures,  who  were walking on  the  road  to  ruin. His love  of  his  neighbour  was  real, practical, and  entire.

The Ark  a type  of  the  Catholic  Church. All  those  who  were  in the  ark,  were  saved  from  death:  whosoever  is  a true  child  of  the Catholic Church,  will  be  saved  from  everlasting  death. There was  only one ark  of  safety:  so  is  there  only  one  true  Church  in  which  there  is salvation. The ark  was  designed  and  built  according  to  God’s  directions; so was  the  Church  founded  by  our  Lord. The ark  did  not  sink  amid the storms  of  the  Deluge,  being  protected  and  guided  by  God;  even so the  Catholic  Church  does  not  sink  amid  the  storms  of  persecution, being invisibly  protected  and  governed  by  God  the  Holy  Ghost.

The Last  Judgment.  The  terrors  of  the  Deluge  are  a type  of  the Last Day,  for  our  Lord  has  said  (Mat.  24,  37):  “As  in  the  days  of Noe,  so  shall  also  the  coming  of  the  Son  of  man  be”  (i.  e.  when  He comes  again  to  judge  the  world). Great were  the  fear  and  lamentation when the  Deluge  broke  forth,  but  greater  far  will  be  the  terror  felt at the  approach  of  the  Last  Day. “There shall  be  then  great  tribulation such as  hath  not  been  from  the  beginning  of  the  world  until  now” (Mat. 24,  21). And yet  many  men  behave  about  the  Last  Judgment precisely as  those  of  Noe’s  time  behaved  about  the  Deluge,  passing their lives  in  frivolity,  and  fearing  nothing. The very  same  thing  which happened to  these  last  will  happen  to  them. The men  of  Noe’s  time would not  listen  to  his  warnings:  they  scoffed  at  him  and  refused  to believe  in  the  judgment  that  was  to  overtake  them. But when  the Flood came,  and  certain  destruction  lay  before  them,  they  cursed  their folly and  frivolity,  and  bitterly  envied  Noe’s  safety  in  the  ark. So will it be  with  men  when  the  Last  Day  comes. “Then will  they  say  within themselves, repenting  and  groaning  for  anguish  of  spirit:  These  are