Page:SermonsFromTheLatins.djvu/225



''"Jesus said  to  the  multitude  of  the  Jews,  Which  of  you shall  convince  Me  of  sin?  " — John viii. 46.

Ex. : I.  Christ's  usual  aspect. II. On defensive  to-day. III. Why?

I. Nature:  1. Definition. 2. The  intention. 3. Mortal and venial.

II. Malice : 1. Heaven and  hell. 2. God's  dignity. 3. Supreme good  and  evil.

III. History :  1. Fall of  angels. 2. Fall  of  man. 3. Deluge, and Sodom  and  Gomorrha.

IV. Effects on  soul :  1. Suicide. 2. Saint's  vision. 3. Cure of sin  is  death  of  Christ.

Per. : 1.  The  innocent. 2. Penitents. 3. Sinners.

Brethren, Jesus  Christ  is  presented  to  us  to-day under a  most  unusual  aspect. It was  not  the  custom of the  meek  and  humble  Saviour  to  stand  on  the defensive — to repel  a  calumny,  howsoever  vile;  an insult,  howsoever  gross;  an  injury,  howsoever  unjust. In the  strength  of  His  righteousness,  He  ignored alike the  fawning  tempter  and  the  snarls  of  the world. In the  hour  of  His  deepest  degradation  He opened  not  His  mouth. To Pilate  and  his  perjured accusers He  answered  never  a  word,  and  even  on the  march  to  Calvary  He  allowed  Himself  to  be  led as a  lamb  to  the  slaughter. No wonder  such  sublime submissiveness impressed  the  beholders — touched