to us when He created hell, whereby He will prevent us from being wicked (St. John Chrysost.).

II. Will the pains of all the damned be equal?

No; for each one shall have to suffer in proportion to his sins, and to the ill use he has made of the graces bestowed upon him.

'As much as she' (the city of Babylon) ‘hath glorified herself, and lived in delicacies, so much torment and sorrow give ye to her' (Apoc. xviii. 7). 'Unto whomsoever much is given, of him much shall be required' (Luke xii. 48).

12. Will all those who are condemned to eternal hellfire be condemned by their own fault?

Yes; for all men may be eternally happy, provided they will avail themselves of the abundant graces which God gives them.

'God will have all men to be saved, for there is one mediator of God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a redemption for all' (1 Tim. ii. 4-6). 'Before man is life and death; that which he shall choose shall be given him' (Ecclus. xv. 18).

13. What do you understand by the Four Last Things' of man?

I understand by the four last things Death, Judgment, Hell, and Heaven.

14. Of what use is the frequent remembrance of the four last things to us?

It is, as the Holy Ghost testifies, an effectual means to avoid sin, and consequently to escape eternal damnation.

'In all thy works remember thy last end, and thou shalt never sin' (Ecclus. vii. 49).

15. With what word do we conclude the Apostles' Creed?

With the word 'Amen,' which means 'So it is,' or 'So be it.'

16. Why do we conclude the Apostles' Creed with this word?

In order to declare that we firmly believe all that is

contained in the twelve Articles of the Creed, and that we are determined to live according to this belief, and to die in it.

Application. Often consider, especially at the hour of temptation, this serious truth: Once lost, lost for ever'; or this one: 'Momentary joy brings on eternal pain, but short pain eternal joy'; and these words of Jesus Christ: The kingdom of Heaven suffereth vioience, and the violent bear it away' (Matt. xi. 12).

PART II.

ON THE COMMANDMENTS.

CHAPTER I.

THE COMMANDMENTS IN GENERAL AND THE CHIEF COMMANDMENT OF CHARITY.

1. To obtain eternal salvation is it sufficient that we believe all that God has revealed?

No; we must also keep His commandments: If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments' (Matt. xix. 17).

'Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of Heaven; but he that doth the will of my Father who is in Heaven, he shall enter into the kingdom of Heaven' (Matt. vii. 21).

2. But are we able to keep the Commandments of God? Yes, with the assistance of God's grace, which He refuses to no one who asks for it.

'His commandments are not heavy' (1 John v. 3). 'My yoke is sweet, and my burden light' (Matt. xi. 30).

3. How do we know that we are able to keep the Commandments?

We know it, 1. Because God inflicts eternal punishment upon those who break them; and 2. Because there have been at all times Saints who faithfully observed them.

1. And that servant who knew the will of his lord, and did not according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes' (Luke xii. 47). 2. It is written of Zachary and Elizabeth: 'And they were both just before God, walking in all the commandments and justifications of the Lord without blame' (Luke i. 6).

4. Is there one chief Commandment that includes all the others?

Yes; the Commandment of Charity-i.e., the Commandment of the love of God and of our neighbor.

5. How is this Commandment of Charity expressed? It is expressed in these terms: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind, and with thy whole strength. This is the greatest and the first Commandment. And the second is like to this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself' (Mark xii. 30, 31; Matt. xxii. 37-40).

§ 1. On the Love of God.

6. What is the love of God?

It is a virtue infused by God into our soul, by which we give ourselves up with all our heart to Him, the Sovereign Good, in order to please Him by fulfilling His will, and to be united with Him.

7. What qualities must our love of God have?

It must be, 1. Supernatural; 2. Sovereign; and 3. Active.

8. When is our love supernatural'?

Our love is supernatural when, with the help of God's grace, we love Him as we know Him, not only by our reason, but by our faith.

'Now the end of the commandment is charity, from a pure heart, and a good conscience, and an unfeigned faith. From which things some going astray, are turned aside unto vain babbling' (1 Tim. i. 5, 6). ‘My just man liveth by faith; but if he withdraw himself, he shall not please my soul' (Heb. x. 38). By faith we know God, not only as the Creator of the world, and the Giver of all natural goods, which we can likewise perceive by our reason; but also as the Author and Giver of the supernatural graces and benefits; as the most merciful Father, who has most graciously adopted us, and has given His own Son, in order to save us, to sanctify us, and make us one day eternally happy in the kingdom of His glory.

9. When is our love of God 'sovereign'?

Our love of God is sovereign when we love Him more than all other things, so that we are willing to lose all rather than separate ourselves from Him by sin.

‘I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor things present, nor things to come, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God' (Rom. viii. 38, 39). This degree of love, by which we are ready to lose all, rather than commit a grievous sin, is absolutely necessary to salvation; but this is not the highest degree. For a higher degree is this, when we are not only determined not to commit any grievous sin, but not even the least sin; and there is a higher degree still, when we are resolved always to do what is most perfect, or most pleasing to God.

10. When is our love 'active'?

Our love is active when we do what is acceptable to God; that is, when we keep His Commandments.

'He that hath my Commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me' (John xiv. 21). This is the charity of God, that we keep His Commandments' (1 John v. 3).

II. Why must we love God?

We must love God, 1. Because He is the sovereign and most perfect Good; 2. Because He has loved us first, and has bestowed innumerable blessings upon us in soul and body; and 3. Because He commands us to love Him, and promises us eternal salvation as a reward for it.

12. When is our love of God 'perfect'?

Our love is perfect when we love God on account of His Infinite goodness; that is, when we love Him above. all things, because He is both infinitely good in Himself, and infinitely good to us.

'Let us therefore love God, because God first hath loved us' (1 John iv. 19). Of this perfect love it is said: 'He that abideth in charity, abideth in God, and God in him'; and, 'Every one that loveth is born of God' (1 John iv. 16, 7).—Example: Mary Magdalen: 'Many sins are forgiven her, because she hath loved much' (Luke vii. 47).