Drains of gold

New Zealand Tablet, 15 October 1908, Page 3

Drains of gold

TO THE SACKED HEART. O Sacred "Heart, by sinners so forsaken ! O Heart that pleads with God in heaven above ! Within my heart some little" spark awaken Of Thy undying..,love ! O Sacred Heart, by sinners so neglected ! O Heart that strives our wayward souls to win ! Give me again the grace so oft rejected To tiiumph over sin. O Sacred Heart, but just a little longer ! O patient Heart, br. patient with me still ! Until my heart has purer grown, and stronger My sin-enfeebled will. O Sacrtd Heart, ere yet my life has faded, Work Thou a miracle of grace in me — That I may choose the way so oft evaded, The way that leads to Thee. _^~

— Sacred Heart Review.

Human laws may, to an extent, check crime; they can never make a people virtuous because they deal only with external manifestations. They cannot reach the seat of virtue and vice. Besides, eliminating God, what motive exists for obeying laws? Conscience? Without God, conscience is a meaningless word. . General good as' altruism? This, in. -its last analysis, is only marked selfishness, which is often better subserved by violation than by observance /of laws. Penalties? " Escape is easy. Moreover, mere fear does not elevate men to the dignity. of virtuous citizens, but degrades them into-dangerous slaves", who only wait till might can be wrenched from existing authority" to wreak terrible vengeance. Atheism can furnish no worthy or sufficient motive for obeying the laws, but,acknowledgment of and reverence for God and recognition of the consequent truth of religion, of the" spiritual and * responsibility of future inevitable eternal rewards or punishments, give solid foundation to- the right of authority a sufficient and worthy motive for .obedience to the law's meaning to conscience, which postulates the recognition of a supreme Lord and Lawgiver, who is infinitely wise, just, and powerful, to whom vigorous and inevitable account must- be rendered and who will reward or punish according to -desert! .