Page:SermonsFromTheLatins.djvu/487

 posite cannot  be  admitted,  viz.,  that  we  can  pass  from vice to  virtue  instantly. " Facilis  descensus  Averni," sang the  Pagan  poet. No effort  is  required  to  tumble down  the  mount,  but  long  and  arduous  is  the return climb. Or is  your  reckless  confidence  based on God's  power  to  save? Brethren, remember  this, that God  never  uses  extraordinary  means  to  save  a man  who  has  at  his  disposal  and  neglects  means  ordinary but  sufficient. This is  the  true  meaning  of the  proverb  that  God  helps  those  who  help  themselves. It is  only  in  cases  of  absolute  necessity  that God accords  us  supernatural  aid. Thus the  Magi were led  to  Bethlehem  by  the  star,  but  though  on their  return  they  were  obliged  to  follow  previously untrodden ways,  yet  the  star  most  probably  failed  to reappear. So, too,  though  Christ  raised  Lazarus from the  dead,  still  the  bystanders  were  bidden  to  remove the  stone  from  off  the  tomb  and  loose  the bands from  his  hands  and  feet;  and  though  the  angel knocked the  fetters  from  Peter's  limbs,  yet  to  Peter himself was  left  the  donning  of  his  clothes. True, God preserved  the  three  young  men  in  the  fiery furnace, and  the  infant  Moses  adrift  upon  the  Nile, and Daniel  in  the  lions'  den,  but,  mark  you,  in  these and similar  cases,  the  dangers  did  not  result  from personal caprice. He hath  given  His  angels  charge over us  to  keep  us  in  all  His  ways — the  ways  of  God and righteousness. If, however,  we  rashly  brave  the clefted rocks  and  yawning  chasms  of  temptation  we must  not  expect  the  hands  of  the  Lord  or  His angels to  bear  us  up. There is  a  remarkable  differ-