Page:SermonsFromTheLatins.djvu/186

 law of  Nature,  and  the  divine  and  human  laws  are  as three  walls,  or  rather  a  trench,  a  moat,  and  battlement, thrown  round  the  soul  to  guard  her  from  her enemies. The innumerable  benefits  bestowed  on  her are as  so  many  chains  of  steel,  binding  the  soul  to God,  while  the  law  of  Christian  charity,  "  Love  thy neighbor  as  thyself,"  makes  all  the  world  her  champion. But men  are  weak  and  oftentimes  corrupt  and traitorous, and  so,  lest  man  should  fail  in  duty  to  his fellow man,  and  robbers  steal  the  treasure,  God  posts a guard  of  angels  of  sure  fidelity  and  matchless strength. How precious  must  that  treasure  be  that God doth  guard  so  jealously! What lofty  dignity  is man's!  Christ  said:  "  Despise  ye  not  even  the  lowliest of  My  little  ones,  for  I  say  to  you  their  angels are  ever  gazing  on  the  face  of  My  Father  who  is  in heaven." The humblest  child  is  as  a  princeling  to his  heavenly  Father,  and  always  has  his  guard  and tutor by  his  side. Not only  to  one  but  to  many  of His  angels  has  God  intrusted  us,  for  besides  the individual guardian  of  each  soul,  there  is  another  for each parish,  city,  state,  and  nation — an  angelic hierarchy. Thus the  prophet  Daniel  speaks  of  the angels of  the  Jews„  the  Greeks  and  Persians. Besides, St.  John  in  the  Apocalypse,  writing  to  the Asiatic Bishops,  styles  them  the  seven  angels  of  the Church in  Asia,  and  Christ,  concerning  John  the Baptist, quotes  the  words  of  Malachias:  "  Behold  I send  My  angel  before  thy  face  who  shall  prepare  thy way  before  thee." Bishops, pastors,  therefore,  and preachers of  the  word  of  God,  as  well  as  parents  and