Page:SermonsFromTheLatins.djvu/160

 Ananiases and  Saphiras  there  are  among  us,  who  pretend to  bring  their  all  and  lay  it  at  the  feet  of  Christ, and stealthily  keep  a  portion  back! How many  fain would grasp  the  prize,  and  shirk  the  toil  whereby alone it  can  be  won! How many  in  a  kind  of  grim despair turn  from  God's  vineyard,  give  up  the  race  for heaven, and  consecrate  themselves  and  all  their being to  the  service  of  the  world! And yet  they  work and run  as  hard  and  even  harder,  but  not  with  God nor for  Him;  not  in  His  vineyard  or  according  to  the rules of  His  race-course. Of them  He  says:  "  I  sent them  not  and  yet  they  ran,"  and  at  the  judgment when they  seek  reward,  He  will  answer  them:  "Amen, I  know  you  not." Love's labor  lost! for that  they loved was  false — corruptible. For years  they  braved the wear  and  tear,  the  din  and  tumult  of  the  world's market-place,  and  like  brokers  in  stocks  that  change, find in  the  end  no  gain,  or  only  gain  that  counts  for loss, as  leading  more  from  God. The devil  used  the things of  earth  to  catch  them,  as  the  fishermen use bait,  luring  them  on  with  hollow  imitations  of  real happiness, robbing  them  of  their  spoil  by  death  as soon  as  caught,  and  making  the  self-same  riches  and honors and  pleasure  serve  for  ages  as  means  to  win innumerable souls. From such  vain  toil  God  calls mankind to  labor  in  His  vineyard. " Come,"  He says,  "  all  ye  that  labor  and  are  burdened  with  the world's  heavy  yoke,  and  I  will  refresh  you.  Take upon  you  My  yoke,  which  is  sweet,  and  My  burden, which  is  light,  and  learn  of  Me  to  be  meek  and  humble of  heart  and  you  shall  obtain  here  earth's  choicest