Page:SermonsFromTheLatins.djvu/189

 dian's first  concern,  therefore,  is  to  awake  his  charge from sin. You remember  how  St.  Peter,  bound  with two chains,  was  kept  in  prison  to  be  executed  on  the morrow, and  how  his  angel  guardian  came  in  a  flood of light,  and  woke  him  up,  and  knocked  away  his  fetters, and  set  him  free. Peter is  there  a  figure  of  a sinner  chained  to  his  sin  by  long  habit  and  presumption of  God's  mercy,  and  entirely  oblivious  of  his doom. Then comes  his  angel  guardian,  rousing him, giving  him  light  to  see  his  folly,  and  strength  to shake  off  his  lethargy,  and  lo! there is  joy  in  heaven over one  more  sinner  doing  penance. The angel's next  anxiety  is  to  keep  his  ward  away  from  all  the persons, places,  and  things,  that  might  effect  relapse. We read  that  Lot,  a  just  man,  lived  amid  the  wickedness of  Sodom  and  that  his  angel  came  and  bade  him flee and  not  dare  look  back,  for  so  alone  could  he escape  the  fire  and  brimstone  soon  to  shower  on  that fated city. Lot hesitated  to  obey,  and  then  the  angel seized him  and  forced  him  out  the  walls. Oh how many times  God's  angel  has  to  warn  the  penitent; to force  him  by  disease  or  poverty  away  from the occasions  and  companions  of  his  former  sinful life! And when  the  penitent,  disobeying,  still  looks back, how  often  is  the  sweetness  of  escape  turned  to salty  bitterness! Thirdly, the  angel  labors  to  have his convert  persevere. The prophet  Elias  on  his way to  Mount  Horeb  to  see  and  speak  with  God,  was overcome with  weariness,  and  turning  aside  fell  fast asleep, but  an  angel  roused  him  up  and  giving  him to eat  said:  "  Get  thee  on,  a  long  way  is  still