(_b_) By _desire_, when, knowing that a certain course of conduct, or a certain act is contrary to the Will of God, we feel a desire, and encourage that desire to take the course, to do the act which we know is wrong. We sin by wilfully harbouring an evil thought, and by wilfully harbouring an evil wish. For instance, we may desire that someone who has injured us may meet with some accident, or not recover from some sickness. The thought of such a thing must at once be put aside, lest it should breed the wish that so it might be. (_c_) By _speech_, when knowingly words are uttered either (1) contrary to truth; (2) contrary to charity; (3) contrary to religion. 1. God is truth, and loveth truth, and all falsehood is abominable in His sight. As children of God we must seek ever to be open and truthful, avoiding evasions of the truth, and perversions of the truth, and denials of the truth. That is to say, avoiding the obligation of speaking the truth exactly when it is required; twisting the truth about so as to alter its appearance and give it a look other than it should have--a dressing up of the truth, denial of the truth, knowing what we are doing. Satan is a liar, and the father of lies. 2. Contrary to charity. We sin when we speak words that are unkind, even if they be true. We have no right to reveal what we know, and to publish abroad the infirmities, the errors, the faults of our neighbours, unless we are called upon to do so for some justifiable cause. All backbiting, slandering, evil-speaking, is inspired by the Evil One, who stirs up strife, whereas God is the God of unity. 3. Contrary to religion. We sin when we speak against God's revealed truth and His Church. But we can also sin by holding our tongues when we ought to speak. When we hear error proclaimed we are bound to stand up for the truth; not to do so is to neglect a plain duty, for God has made us all missionaries of His Gospel, soldiers in His army, to advance His kingdom by example and by precept, and we are bound by our allegiance to Him to use our best endeavours to dissipate error and remove prejudice. [Illustration] Third Thursday in Lent. _THE NATURE OF SIN._ (CONTINUED.) 1. We have seen how that we can sin against God's Commandments, by thought, and by word. We can also sin against Him by act, and by omission. We daily say, "We have offended against Thy holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; and we have done those things which we ought not to have done." We will therefore now consider sins of _commission_ and sins of _omission_.