of the seven capital sins is, and not a particular thought, word, or deed, in which an offence against the law of God may be committed, and which presents the correct idea of sin. However, say you will conform with the popular mode of expression, and adopt the words of the Catechism in designating these vices, as the seven capital sins. They are as follows: Pride, &c. Behold the sources from which all our sins take their origin! Oh! if we could dry up these sources within us, or if we could stem the torrents of iniquity they incessantly send forth, unless we resist them, what a happiness! &c. We shall, therefore, enter with all earnestness, in God's holy name, upon the consideration of these several capital sins, begging of Him Who is the God of all holiness, and in Whose eyes every sin is an abomination, that He will aid us by His grace, &c. After which, state that Pride being the first of the seven capital sins, it is to be the subject of your present discourse. 8. Luxury to be omitted in the series. After Covetousness, which you will recapitulate in the usual way, you will say: it would be according to the order of the instructions in which you are engaged, to treat next in order the vice of Luxury or Lust, but that you will, for the present, pass it over, reserving it for its proper place amongst the Commandments of God, and that you will proceed to the subject next following, namely, the sin of Anger. [Then a few words to invite attention, and a short invocation.] Consult Theology, "De Vitiis in Specie"; also Bishop Hay's "Devout Christian," chap. xx.; Guillet's "Projets d'Instructions," lxix, and following instructions; "Challoner's Meditations," Oct. 8th, and following days. ON THE OBSERVANCE OF THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD IN GENERAL. "If thou wilt enter into life, keep the Commandments.”—MATT. xix. 17. INTRODUCTION. Relate briefly the passage, to which the text refers, and observe, that, like the young man spoken of, every one is naturally desirous of happiness, and therefore we are all to take as addressed to ourselves the words: "If thou wilt enter into life," &c. Proceed to say, that the Commandments of God should be our constant study, in order to regulate our lives according to them, adding that, proposing to treat of these Divine precepts in a series of instructions, it will be important beforehand to make some reflections in a general sense on our obligation to observe them. [Invite the attention of your audience, and invoke the Divine blessing.] BODY OF THE SUBJECT. Motives for observing God's Commandments. First motive. Repeat the text, and say: Our first motive for observing the Commandments of God results from our relations to Him, as our Creator, and Sovereign Lord. Develop these two points, showing His claims to the service of our entire being, and arguing, that as the sovereigns of this world have a right to rule their subjects, and issue laws for their observance, how much more does this right belong to God. (Quote Deut. xxxii. 18; Job, x. 10; Jer. xviii. 6.) [Appeal according to the motive.] Second motive. Repeat text again, and say: Our second motive for observing God's Commandments, is presented by His infinite goodness to us, and the obligation of gratitude on our part arising therefrom. Quote 1 Cor. iv. 7., and enumerate the chief benefits in the order of nature and grace we have received, and constantly receive, from God. Complain and lament how ungrateful man is in return for these benefits. (Quote Isai. i. 2, 3; Mal. i. 6; Jer. ii. 12.) Third motive. Repeat again, your text and state: The third motive for observing God's Commandments, is that our salvation depends on our doing so. (Quote Matt. xxv. 11; ibid. vii. 21; iii. 10; v. 19, &c. Deut. xxx. 15, 16, 19.) Fourth motive. The solemn and terrific manner, in which He gave His Commandments. Narrate the chief circumstances, Exod. xix., xx., and observe, that these terrible manifestations were for all times to come, and should serve to enforce the Commandments on mankind at the present day, as much as when He delivered them to Moses. Lament, therefore, the insensibility of mankind in making light of the lightnings and thunders, in the midst of which God Almighty gave these Commandments to mankind. 2. In what manner are the Commandments of God to be observed? Ist. With exactness: observing them all, the lesser as well as the greater. (Fames, ii. 10; Deut. i. 18; Matt. v. 19.) 2ndly, With fervour: taking them to heart with the desire of pleasing God, and fulfilling His Divine will in accomplishing them. (Ps. cxviii. 4, 32, 127 ; 2 Mach. i. 3; John iv. 34; v. 30; vi. 38, &c., &c.) 3rdly. In a state of grace. Observe, that even in a state of mortal sin one is still bound to observe the Commandments, and the acts he performs in their observance are good in the sight of God, and conducive to the sinner's reconciliation with God. Nevertheless, to earn reward for the world to come we must be in a state of grace. Point out the distinction between acts morally and supernaturally good, and acts that are meritorious of reward hereafter; after doing which, re-affirm the condition of being in a state of grace. 3. The means of observing the Commandments. First means: the Divine assistance, (John, xv. 4; 2 Cor. iii. 5). Observe, that this assistance is always. granted us, so that God never allows us to be tempted beyond our strength, (1 Cor. x. 13). Hence we should constantly beg of God the grace to observe His Holy Commandments. Second means: good will on our part, or our co-operation, (Ps. cxviii. 106). Third means: frequent consideration of the Commandments, and comparing our lives with them (Deut. vi. 6, et seq. Ps. cxviii. 47). Inculcate the duty of parents to teach their children the Commandments as soon as they are able to learn them, and recommend the recital of them at family night prayers. CONCLUSION. Recapitulate, exhort, and end by placing forcibly before the audience, that if they live in the observance of God's Commandments, heaven is open to them with its neverending happiness on leaving this world; but that if they neglect them, their departure out of life will be their entrance into hell, to suffer amongst devils and damned souls for all eternity. Consult "Challoner's Meditations," Guillet's "Projets d'Instructions," xxxviii. Inst.; Bishop Hay's "Devout Christian," vol. 1, chap. ii. FIRST DISCOURSE ON THE FIRST COMMANDMENT OF GOD. ON FAITH. .... "I am the Lord thy God ... Thou shalt not have strange Gods before me."-EXOD. xx. 2, 3. INTRODUCTION. Refer to previous announcement of a series of Instructions on the Ten Commandments of God, and observe, that, as an introduction to the series, the last discourse treated of the Commandments in general, setting forth, in the first place, the motives for observing them, in the second place, in what their proper observance consists, and finally the means necessary for the proper observing of them; after which a few words to express a hope that so important a subject has made a deep and lasting impression; and proceed to say, that you now enter on the Commandments in detail, and that of course you begin with the first, observing, with the Catechism of the Council of Trent, that this Commandment is the first, not only by being so in order, but still more by its being the greatest of all the Commandments. Quote Catechism, Part iii. ch. xiv., noticing that this teaching of the Council is in accordance with the words of our Divine Lord (Matt. xxii. 38, which quote); and go on to say, that the Almighty in proclaiming Himself to be OUR LORD, AND OUR GOD, in the first Commandment, prescribes thereby, that we are to act towards Him as OUR LORD AND OUR GOD, |