ing hand. Therefore, I say, the unbeliever — the neglecter of religion — is infinitely baser than the betrayer of his country.
Brethren, your irreligious relative will tell you this picture is overdrawn. " I am not as bad as that," he says, " I admit all but a few of the truths of religion. With one or two exceptions the commandments of God and the Church are all right. But have not I the right to worship God in my own way? " The right to pick and choose in religion — to worship God as you please! Most decidedly not! What manner of citizen, soldier, or servant would that be who should decide with himself what laws and commands he would obey, which violate? God did not consult you and me whether He should create and redeem us or not; and the duties and obligations arising from creation and redemption are not for us to criticise but to fulfil. The religion that accepts only half the truth and does only what it feels like doing, is like worshipping God and robbing our neighbor; or helping our neighbor and despising God. It is as bad, aye worse than no religion, because in the sight of God it adds insult to injury. For God has sworn that sooner shall the heavens fall than one iota of His religion be changed, and St. Paul warns us that even were an angel from heaven to preach us a gospel other than that of Christ crucified let him be anathema.
Brethren, let me prove to you the picture is not overdrawn, by taking it from life. This irreligious relative of yours, what is his condition? His soul ani-
