fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith;
henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that
day," 2 Tim. 4:7 & 8. And to the Corinthians he wrote "We
must all appear before the judgmen-seat of Christ, that
every one may receive the things done in his body, according
to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad," 2 Cor.
5:10. For where there are wages there is merit. The Lord said
to Abraham: "Fear not, Abraham, I am thy shield and thy
exceeding great reward," Gen 15:l. And Isaiah says: "Behold,
his reward is with him, and his work before him," Isa. 40:10;
and, chapter 58:7, 8: "Deal they bread to the hungry, and thy
righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord
shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall gather thee
up." So too the Lord to Cain: "If thou doest well shalt thou
not be accepted?" Gen. 4:7. So the parable in the Gospel
declares that we have been hired for the Lord's vineyard, who
agrees with us for a penny a day, and says: "Ca11 the
laborers and give them their hire," Matt 20:8. So Paul,
knowing the mysteries of God, says: "Every man shall receive
his own reward, according to his own labor," I Cor. 3:8. 6.
Nevertheless, all Catholics confess that our works of
themselves have no merit, but that God's grace makes them
worthy of eternal life. Thus St. John says: "They shall walk
with me in white; for they are worthy," Rev. 3:4. And St Paul
says to the Colossians, 1:12: "Giving thanks unto the
Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the
inheritance of the saints in light."