SERMON LI. TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
STRAITS AND ANGUISH OF DYING CHRISTIANS WHO HAVE BEEN NEGLIGENT DURING LIFE ABOUT THE DUTIES OF RELIGION.
"Render, therefore, to Cæsar the things that are Cæsar‟s, and to God the things that are God‟s." MATT. xxii. 21.
ONE day, the Pharisees, with the malignant intention of ensnaring him in his speech, that they might afterwards accuse him before the ministers of Caesar, sent their disciples to ask Jesus Christ, if it were lawful to pay tribute to Caesar. In answer, the Redeemer, after looking at the coin of the tribute, asked: ” Whose image and inscription is this ?" Being told it was Cæsar’s, he said: ” Render then to Cæsar the things that are Cæsar‟s, and to God the things that are God‟s." By these words Jesus Christ wishes to teach us, that it is our duty to give to men what is due to them; and to reserve for him all the affections of our heart, since he created us to love him, and afterwards imposed upon us a precept of loving him. ” Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart." Miserable the man who, at the hour of death, shall see that he has loved creatures, that he has loved his pleasures, and has not loved God. "When distress cometh upon them, they will seek peace, and there will be none." (Ezech. yii. 25.) He will then seek peace, but shall not find it; for many causes of distress and trouble shall assail him. What shall these causes be? Behold, the unhappy man shall then say, first: God! I could have become a saint, but have not become one. Secondly, he shall say: Oh! that I now had time to repair the evil I have done! but time is at an end. Thirdly: Oh! that at least, in the short time which remains, I could remedy the past: but, alas! this time is not fit for repairing past evils.
First Point. God! I could have, but have not, become a saint.
1. Because, during their whole life, they thought only of pleasing God and sanctifying themselves, the
