Page:SermonsFromTheLatins.djvu/565

 to be  saved,  it  would  still  be  true  on  the  judgment day that  "  many  were  called  but  few  were  chosen."

Brethren, to-day's  parable  is  the  most  marvellous piece of  history  ever  written,  recounting  with  equal exactness events  of  the  past  and  future,  summing  up in  a  few  words  the  religious  history  of  centuries,  inculcating the  soundest  moral,  and  teaching  the  deepest dogmatic  truths,  refuting  errors  ages  before they had  arisen. How truly  did  the  Jews  say  of Christ:  "Never  did  man  speak  as  this  man!" He exhibits to  us  His  mercy,  ever  foremost,  but  His  justice, too,  glancing  over  mercy's  shoulder  ready  to strike  after  the  days  of  forbearance. He teaches, moreover, that  not  every  man  who  says  "Lord, Lord,"  shall  be  saved,  but  he  who  doeth  the  will  of the  Father,  he  shall  be  saved. A firm  faith,  an  abiding hope,  an  ardent  charity,  these,  together  with  an humble  bearing  and  a  docile  mind,  are  the  chief  requisites for  the  ideal  Christian  who  would  fain  be  not only as  one  called  of  God,  but  also  as  His  chosen friend in  the  kingdom  of  heaven.