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 followed by  an  uprising  on  the  part  of  all  nature against man. His flesh  is  no  longer  subject  to  his reason and  will;  his  appetites  become  inordinate,  his inclinations, evil. The beasts  of  the  field  and  the birds of  the  air  array  themselves  against  him. Earth, water, fire  and  air  conspire  for  his  destruction  by  the thousand and  one  dangers  peculiar  to  each. See our exiled parents  crushed  under  this  avalanche  of  woes, hear them  wailing  like  lost  souls  over  the  body  of murdered  Abel;  behold  the  fleeing  Cain,  with  the brand upon  his  brow,  an  outcast  on  the  face  of  the earth— consider all  these  miseries  and  the  numberless times  that  history  has  repeated  itself  since  then, and let  the  whole  be  an  answer  to  your  question: What is  the  malice  of  one  mortal  sin?

Brethren, history  has  repeated  itself. Consider the Deluge. " All  flesh,"  says  the  Scripture,  "  had corrupted  its  way  upon  the  earth  and  the  whole earth  was  filled  with  iniquity." What a  breach  of filial  respect  would  that  be  that  could  cause  a  fond father to  regret  ever  having  given  being  to  his child! "Yet God,"  says  the  Scripture,  "repented Him  of  ever  having  made  man,  and  proceeded  to destroy  him." Imagine that  awful  scene. At the  beginning of  the  forty  days'  downpour  men  looked  on with  indifference,  then  with  surprise,  then  with  horror. Presently there  was  a  mad  rush  and  struggle for the  highest  places,  but  slowly  the  water  envelops even the  highest. The mother  dies  holding  aloft  her babe; the  lover  perishes  in  a  vain  effort  to  save  his beloved; the  family  clasps  hands,  sobs  farewell  and