Page:SermonsFromTheLatins.djvu/428

 of thought  he  must  have  crowded  into  those  few  moments, and  how  typical  it  all  is  of  the  deep  study  that should characterize  our  provision  for  our  future  beyond the  grave! All too  seldom  in  this  regard  do  we pause  to  ask  ourselves  the  question:  "  What  shall  I do?  "  Had  we  ahead  of  us  a  very  searching  competitive examination  for  some  coveted  position,  or  for  a title,  or  for  a  purse  of  gold,  what  labor  we  would  undergo, how  all-absorbed  in  study  would  we  be,  and oh! the anxious  days  and  the  sleepless  nights  until the contest  had  taken  place  and  the  decision  become known! See with  what  care  the  defendant,  whose  life or perhaps  some  lesser  interest  is  at  stake,  collects his facts  and  witnesses,  prepares  his  case,  argues  and cajoles and,  it  may  be,  bribes  the  jury  or  his  opponent's witnesses,  and  altogether  moves  heaven  and earth to  gain  a  favorable  verdict! All this  and  much more will  men  do  and  endure  to  obtain  an  empty  corruptible crown,  or  to  avert  a  temporary  disgrace  or misfortune  or  punishment,  and  thus  the  children  of this  world  prove  wiser  in  their  generation  than  the children of  light. For, alas! when there  is  question of our  spiritual  interests  we  rarely  can  arrive  at  any correct or  practical  conclusion. Christ has  said  that whoever wishes  to  be  His  disciple  must  deny  himself, and that  whoever  would  be  perfect  must  give  up  all to the  poor  and  coming  follow  Him;  but  with  all  that precept and  example  before  us  we  yet  cannot  bring ourselves to  say  definitely  with  the  steward:  "I know  what  I  shall  do." But he  calling  together every one  of  his  lord's  debtors,  and  producing  in