5. Possibly too thou art come on another
pretext. It is possible that a man is wishing to pay court to a
woman, and came hither on that account S. Ambrose on the
119th Psalm, Serm. xx. § 48, speaks of some who pretended
to be Christians in order to marry one whose parents would not give her
in marriage to a heathen.. The remark applies in like manner to
women also in their turn. A slave also perhaps wishes to please
his master, and a friend his friend. I accept this bait for the
hook, and welcome thee, though thou camest with an evil purpose, yet as
one to be saved by a good hope. Perhaps thou knewest not whither
thou wert coming, nor in what kind of net thou art taken. Thou
art come within the Church’s nets Matt. xiii. 47.: be taken alive, flee not: for
Jesus is angling for thee, not in order to kill, but by killing to make
alive: for thou must die and rise again. For thou hast
heard the Apostle say, Dead indeed unto sin, but living unto
righteousness Rom. vi. 11, 14.. Die to thy
sins, and live to righteousness, live from this very day.