Page:SermonsFromTheLatins.djvu/488

 ence between  the  fate  of  Judith  and  that  of  Jacob's daughter,  Dina. Judith for  a  noble  end  braved  the dangers of  the  Assyrian  camp  and  the  horrid  orgies of Holofernes's  court,  studying  the  while  to  make herself incomparably  lovely  for  the  accomplishment of her  design,  yet  God  so  kept  her  going  forth  and abiding there  that  she  returned  to  Bethulia  victorious and  unstained. But Dina,  when  her  father pitched his  tent  in  a  new  land,  Dina  would  fain steal forth  to  see  the  women  of  that  country — how they looked,  what  finery  they  wore,  and  presently that innocent  dove  falls  into  the  clutches  of  a  rapacious hawk  and  returns  to  her  father  robbed  of  her virginity — irreparably dishonored. God will  protect us  amid  dangers  that  seek  us,  but  when  we  seek the dangers  God  leaves  us  to  ourselves. Consider David, that  man  fashioned  after  God's  own  heart. He permits  himself  to  gaze  from  his  window  on  the beauty of  Bethsabee,  and  immediately,  abandoned  by God,  he  plunges  into  adultery  and  homicide. If one clasp a  reptile  to  his  breast  he  must  not,  if  bitten, expect sympathy  from  God  or  man,  for:  "Who," says Scripture,  "who  will  pity  an  enchanter  struck by  a  serpent?" It is  a  remarkable  fact  that  whenever God  forbids  a  thing  He  also  forbids  its  near occasions. Thus our  first  parents  were  forbidden not only  to  eat  the  fruit,  but  even  to  touch  it. The Israelites were  forbidden  not  only  to  adore  idols,  but even to  possess  them,  the  Nazarites  were  forbidden not only  to  drink  wine  but  to  eat  the  grape. Christ, too, when  reaffirming  the  commandments,  forbade