once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the HOLY GHOST ; if they shall fall away to renew them again unto repentance, seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame."

Therefore, says the SPIRIT," hold fast that which thou hast, that no man take thy crown."

Heb. xii 15. vi. 4. 6.-Rev. iii. 11.-1 Thess. v. 19. 2 Pet. ii. 20. 21.

47. Q. Why does God command us to "hold fast" the gift of the HOLY SPIRIT in us?

A. Because, although HE GIVE it, we have “to KEEP IT unto the end."

“For we are made partakers of CHRIST, if we hold the beginning of our confidence "And he that shall endure

stedfast unto the end."

unto the end, the same shall be saved."

For GoD says to us in His Word: "That good thing which was committed unto thee, keep by the HOLY GHOST which dwelleth in thee;" and, "be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life."

Heb. ii. 6. 14.-St. Matt. x. 22. xxiv. 13.-St. Mark xiii. 13.-1 Tim. vi. 20.-2 Tim. i. 14.-Rev. ii. 10. 26.

48. Q. Do we then "work out our own salvation," ourselves?

A. Not as of ourselves, but only by the "effectual working" of the HOLY GHOST in us; for it is God that worketh in us both to will and to do, of his good pleasure." And He alone can make us perfect in every

good work to do His will, working in us that which

is well pleasing in His sight, through JESUS CHRIST."

Phil. i. 6. ii. 13.-Heb. xiii. 21.

49. Q. Seeing then, we are not able of ourselves, to do good, what means does God use in order to make us "bring forth” the fruits of the Spirit?

A. He makes use of trial and affliction; as our SAVIOUR Himself says, "every branch in Me that beareth fruit, My Father purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit."

For, "we must through much tribulation, enter into the kingdom of God."-St. John xv. 2.—Acts xiv. 22. 50. Q. Why does GoD "try and afflict" His children, in order to make them bring forth the fruits of the Spirit?

A. He tries us, "to humble us, to prove us, and to know what is in our heart, whether we will keep His commandments or no;"" that HE MAY DO US GOOD at our latter end."-Deut. viii. 2. 16.

51. Q. How does God explain, that He "tries us" in order to do us good at our latter end?

A. By the example of gold. For in like manner as gold is tried and purified from dross by fire, so is our faith, “which is much more precious than gold, which perisheth," tried and purified by the fire of affliction.

For by afflicting us, GoD crosses and breaks our own natural will; and thus, He teaches us to have no will of our own, but to do His WILL; and "HIS WILL IS, OUR SANCTIFICATION."-1 Pet. i. 2. 6. 7.-1 Thess. iv. 3.

A. It is called " obedience" to GOD, OUR FATHER.

"Shall we not be in subjection to the FATHER of Spirits and live ?" says Scripture; "as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance," but "doing the will of GOD from the heart;" and "as He who hath called you is holy, so be ye holy and in all manner of conversation;" praying earnestly "that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God."

For the world passeth away and the lust thereof, but he that doeth the will of God, abideth for ever." Heb. xii. 9.-1 Pet. i. 14. 15. 16.—Eph. vi. 6.—— Col. iv. 12.-1 John iii. 17.

53. Q. Can you tell me who “left us an example” of obedience," that we should follow his steps?"

A. Our Blessed LORD JESUS; "who, though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered," "having become obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross."

For "He came down from heaven, not to do His Own WILL, but the WILL OF HIM THAT SENT HIM," and "to finish His work." And, in His extreme agony, when, praying earnestly "that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him, He added: nevertheless

not MY WILL, but THINE, be done!"

Thus, He, our LORD, has taught us His brethren, to say to OUR FATHER, which is in Heaven, "THY

Phil. ii. 8.-Heb. v. 8. xii. 2.-St. John vi. 38. iv. 38.-St. Mark xiv. 34. 36.-St. Matt. vi. 10.Rom. xii. 2.

54. Q. Show further from Scripture, that it is through

trial that the HOLY GHOST works out in us the image of God.

A. "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you;

Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience; but let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be PERFECT and ENTIRE, WANTING NOTHING." For ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise."

"For whom the LORD loveth He chasteneth; and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth;" and He does it for "OUR PROFIT, that we might be PARTAKERS OF HIS HOLINESS."

1. Pet. i. 6. 7. 14-16. ii. 12. 13.-James i. 3. 4.Heb. xii. 3-12.—Job v. 17.—Prov. iii. 11.-Heb. x. 36. 55. Q. Could we bear our trials, and thus learn to do that perfect will of God, in our own strength?

A. Never; for "our flesh is weak ;" and our "spirit would fail," if we were left comfortless."

St. Matt. xxvi. 41.—Is, lvii. 16.-St. John xiv, 18. 56. Q. Who then, enables us to bear patiently the trials through which our faith is purified?

A. It is the HOLY GHOST, "who comforteth us in all our tribulation," and who, for that reason, is called "THE COMFORTER."-2. Cor. i. 4.—St. John xiv, 26.

57. Q.

A.

How does the HOLY GHOST "comfort us"?

Because the love of GOD is shed abroad in our hearts by the HOLY GHOST which is given to us." "So that, we rejoice in hope of the glory of GoD,"

"inasmuch as we are partakers of CHRIST's sufferings;" "if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be glorified together."

Rom. v. 2.-5.-1 Pet. iv. 13.-Rom. viii. 17.-2 Tim. ii. 11. 12.-Phil. i. 29.

58. Q. What follows from that "joy and comfort of the HOLY GHOST ?"

A. It gives us COURAGE and PATIENCE unto the end; "for which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day."

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory while we look, not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen, are temporal; but the things which are not seen, are eternal."-2 Cor. iv. 16-18. 59. Q. Whence, then, do we know the good-will of GoD toward us, in giving us of His HOLY SPIRIT?

A. For this is the will of God," says the HOLY GHOST, "even your sanctification."-1 Thess. iv. 2.2 Thess. ii. 13.-1 Pet. i. 2.

60. Q. How does God assure us of His good-will?

A. He gives us His SPIRIT as "THE EARNEST Of our inheritance."-Eph. i. 13.-2. Cor. i. 22. v. 5. 61. Q. What is an " earnest ?"

A. An

earnest" is,

66

a pledge." When a servant is hired, if he be not to live in the house for some time, the master, gives him an earnest," that is to say, a pledge," which, to the servant, is a token that the master will not change his mind, but that he looks