Page:SermonsFromTheLatins.djvu/218

 wealth confided  to  them  by  God  on  behalf  of  His poor. They are  unjust  stewards  and  I  say  to  you, God's wrath  shall  hold  them  prisoner;  aye,  and  sell them with  their  wives  and  children  into  slavery  to  the devil till  the  last  farthing  of  restitution  has  been made. Christians, forsooth! If a  brother  or  sister be naked  and  want  daily  food  and  the  rich  man  say: " Go  in  peace,  be  ye  warmed  and  filled,"  yet  give them not  the  necessaries  of  life,  is  that  Christ's  teaching and  example? To have  the  substance  of  this world, and  to  see  one's  brother  in  need  and  to  steel one's heart  against  him,  is  that  what  Christianity means? Ah, no! for "in  this,"  says  St.  John,  "we know  the  charity  of  God,  because  He  hath  laid  down His  life  for  us,  and  we  ought  to  lay  down  not  only our  wealth,  but,  were  it  necessary,  even  our  lives  for the  brethren." Go to,  therefore,  ye  rich,  weep  and howl in  the  miseries  that  shall  come  upon  you  when your riches  shall  be  corrupted,  your  garments  moth-eaten,  your  gold  and  silver  cankered,  and  when  the rust of  them  shall  be  for  a  testimony  against  you  and shall eat  your  flesh  like  fire. You have  stored  up  to yourselves  God's  wrath,  for  the  cry  of  the  poor  you have defrauded  hath  entered  into  the  ears  of  the  Lord God of  Sabaoth. But, to  be  Christian,  must  we,  like Andrew, relinquish  all? Is mot  Philip's  hesitancy justifiable, for  what  indeed  is  the  little  we  can  afford among so  many? Oh, self,  self,  how  cunningly  it argues! "Bring hither  the  loaves  and  fishes,"  said Christ, "  and  bid  the  men  be  seated." Give according to  thy  means  and  leave  the  rest  to  Him. Give