Page:SermonsFromTheLatins.djvu/172

 of them,  every  day  unconsciously  doing  acts  of  goodness that  will  touch  you  to  the  heart. Therefore, I say,  the  sinner  is  not  as  bad  as  he  appears. Let the occasion arise,  give  him  but  the  chance,  and  he  will show you  the  highest  proof  of  love  by  giving  his  life for his  brother. Therefore also,  I  say,  it  is  probable that the  majority,  even  of  sinners,  are  saved,  for "Charity," saith  the  Lord,  "  covereth  a  multitude  of sins."

If this  becomes  probable  from  a  study  of  the  sinner, it  becomes  almost  certain  from  a  study  of  the Saviour. " I  come,"  He  says,  "  not  to  save  the  just, but  sinners.  I  come  that  they  may  have  life  and  have it  more  abundantly.  I  desire  not  the  death  of  the sinner,  but  that  he  be  converted  and  live." Will Christ's mission  be  a  failure? Will the  ruling  passion of the  Sacred  Heart  be  thwarted? Will Christ's mystical  body,  which  they  are,  be  mostly  lost? No; every phase  of  the  sweet  Saviour's  character  answers, No! "  His  burden  is  light,  and  His  yoke  is  sweet  " — a loving,  a  forgiving  father — not  an  exacting  tyrant. " For  one  cup  of  water,"  He  says,  "  given  in  My name,  I  will  give  you  eternal  life." Oh, how  gentle and loving  He  was  when  dealing  with  sinners! How He ate  and  drank  and  mingled  with  all  that  He might  save  all! You remember  when  He  was refused admission  to  the  Samaritan  town,  and  James and John  would  have  called  down  fire  from  heaven to consume  it,  how  gently  Christ  rebukes  them. " You  know  not,"  He  says,  "  of  what  spirit  you  are, for  the  Son  of  man  came  not  to  destroy  souls  but  to