III. How grievous the offence they commit, who scandalize the little ones of Christ! " It were better," says Christ, " that a millstone were hanging about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea." (Matt, xviii. 6.) Beware, therefore, of inducing any one to sin by your example, for the offended majesty of God "will require his blood at thy hand." (Ezech. iii. 18.)
FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
Christ your Lord.
"Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve Him only." (Deut. vi. 13.)
I. " No man can serve two masters." (Matt. vi. 24.) God is our only true and lawful Lord; " I am the Lord," He says by Isaias, " and there is no other." (xlv. 18.) " All souls are Mine: as the soul of the father, so also, the soul of the son is Mine." (Ezech. xviii. 4.) No master has so perfect a right to his servant as God has to you. You belong to Him under the titles of creation, preservation, and redemption; you belong to Him too by voluntary subjection in baptism. Rejoice that your Lord and Master is so exalted and so powerful, for as St. Ambrose remarks, " It is an honor to be a servant to an exalted
II. Dominion over a thing infers the right of disposing
of that thing, as the proprietor thinks proper. Reflect
how often you have violated this right, that God possesses over you, by not permitting Him to dispose of
you as He pleases. Worse than this, you have frequently
stood in open rebellion to Him, by your sins. Oh how
often have you embraced the interests of the Devil, His
