Page:SermonsFromTheLatins.djvu/187

 pedagogues, are  by  reason  of  their  office,  angel guardians. Behold then  the  vast  array  of  visible  and invisible forces  God  has  marshalled  in  the  cause  of righteousness  and  our  soul's  salvation! How happens it,  you  ask,  that,  notwithstanding,  many  souls are lost? Ah, the  devil  has  his  angels  too,  and  he hath  given  them  charge  over  us,  to  drag  us  down,  if possible,  into  sin  and  hell. Angels of  darkness  invisible and  visible  too,  for  every  foul  blasphemer  and perverter of  mankind  is  Satan's  accredited  agent, even though  he  believes  and  tries  to  prove  that  devils do not  exist. God in  His  wisdom  permits  such things to  be  to  prove  us  and  enhance  our  heavenly reward. But while  He  merely  tolerates  the  devil and his  works,  the  whole  activity  of  the  guardian angels is  by  God's  express  command. Not but  that the angels  are  right  eager  for  the  work,  for  loving God, they  love  God's  images,  our  souls,  for  whom He died,  and  ardently  desiring  our  salvation,  they closely guard  us  in  all  our  ways. Along the  steep and rocky  path  of  life,  by  awful  precipices  and  over yawning chasms,  up  the  narrow  way  of  virtue,  they lead us  heavenward. Ah, how  many  times  we  have stumbled, aye,  and  fallen! How often  had  our  fall been final  were  not  God's  sweet  angel  there  to  lend  a helping  hand! The way  of  life  is  hard,  and  for  the most part  tiresome,  but  for  the  just  man  doubly  so. The wicked  ship  their  oars  and  give  themselves  to carousal  and  debauch  while  drifting  toward  the  cataract, but  the  virtuous  must  pull  up-stream  and  strain incessantly. There is  no  pause  or  break  in  our  life's