Eci 34, 17

but in temptation God will praise from God.
keep him, and deliver him To me it is a very small 1 C4,3
thing to be judged by you or

from evils.

The soul of him that fear- by any man's day; but eth the Lord is blessed. neither do I judge my own

Eci 34, 19- The eyes of the Lord are self.

20

Eci 40, 27

Is 33, 6

upon them that fear Him, Fear the Lord and serve 1 K 12,24
He is their powerful pro- Him in Truth and with your
tector, and strong stay, a whole heart, for you have
defence from the heat, and seen the great works He
a cover from the sun at hath done among you.
noon. A preservation from Behold the fear of the J6 28,28
stumbling, and a help from Lord, that is wisdom and
falling: He raiseth up the to depart from evil is under-
soul, and enlighteneth the standing.

eyes, and giveth health, and The fear of the Lord is Ps 18, 10
life, and blessing.
holy, enduring for ever and

There is no want in the ever.

fear of the Lord, and it Fear the Lord, all ye Ps 33, 10 needeth not to seek for Saints: for there is no want

help.

The fear of the Lord is
His treasure.

to them that fear Him.

His soul shall dwell in Ps 24, 13 good things: and his seed of shall inherit the land.

Is 8, 13-14 Sanctify the Lord Hosts Himself: and let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread. And He shall be a sanctification to you.

Eci 12, 13

Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is all man.

He hath blessed all that Ps 113,13 fear the Lord, both little and great.

Blessed are all they that Ps 127,1 fear the Lord; that walk in His ways.

[The Lord] will do the Ps 144,19 Ecl 9, 1-2 There are just men and will of them that fear Him: wise men, and their works and He will hear their

1 C4,4

1 C 4,5

are in the Hand of God; prayer, and save them.

and yet man knoweth not The Lord taketh pleasure Ps 146,11
whether he be worthy of in them that fear Him: and
love or hatred :-But all in them that hope in His
things are kept uncertain mercy.
for the time to come.

The fear of the Lord is Pv9,10 the beginning of wisdom.

I am not conscious to myself of anything, yet am I not hereby justified; but He that judgeth me is the Lord. The fear of the Lord is Eci 1, 11Judge not before the time: honour, and glory, and glad- 12, 16, 19, until the Lord come, Who ness, and a crown of joy.- 22, 27 both will bring to light the The fear of the Lord shall hidden things of darkness, delight the heart, and shall and will make manifest the give joy, and gladness, and counsels of the hearts and length of days.-The fear of then shall every man have the Lord is the beginning of

By the fear of the Lord Pv 16, 6 men depart from evil.

wisdom, and was created have patience even unto His
with the faithful in the Visitation.

womb, it walketh with Because of unbelief they Ro 11,20chosen women, and is known were broken off.

But thou

with the just and faithful.-standest by faith; be not
It shall go well with him high-minded, but fear.-For
that feareth the Lord, and if God hath not spared the
in the days of his end he natural branches, fear lest
shall be blessed.-The fear perhaps He also spare not
of the Lord is a crown of thee.

21

wisdom, filling up peace and He that thinketh himself 1 C 10, 12
the fruit of salvation.-The to stand, let him take heed
fear of the Lord driveth out lest he fall.
sin.

I chastise my body, and 1 C 9, 27 Eci 2,7- Ye that fear the Lord, bring it into subjection, lest 10, 18, 20-wait for His mercy and go perhaps when I have

21

Ro 8, 16

Ro 8, 3539

not aside from Him, lest ye preached to others I myself
fall.-Ye that fear the Lord, should become a castaway.

believe Him: and your Who shall not fear Thee, Ap 15, 4
reward shall not be made O Lord, and magnify Thy
void.-Ye that fear the Name? For Thou only art
Lord, hope in Him; and Holy.

27

mercy shall come to you for In the fear of the Lord is Pv 14,26-
your delight.-Ye that fear confidence of strength, and
the Lord, love Him, and there shall be hope for His
your hearts shall be enlight- children.-The fear of the
ened. They that fear the Lord is a fountain of life, to .
Lord will not be incredulous decline from the ruin of death.
to His Word: and they that Strive to enter by the Lu 13, 24
love Him will keep His narrow gate.
Way. They that fear the Wide is the gate that lead-
Lord, will prepare their eth to destruction, and many
hearts, and in His sight will there are who go in thereat.
sanctify their souls.-They I feared all my works, Jb 9, 28
that fear the Lord keep His knowing that Thou didst not
commandments, and will spare the offender.

7. THE FIRM CONFIDENCE OF THE JUST.
The Spirit Himself giveth-But in all these things we
testimony to our spirit that overcome because of Him
we are the sons of God.

Who shall separate us from
Shall

the love of Christ?

1. Tribulation?

2. Or distress?

3. Or famine ?

4. Or nakedness?

5. Or danger ?
6. Or persecution?
7. Or the sword ?

that hath loved us.-For I
am sure that neither death
nor life nor any other crea-
ture shall be able to separate
us from the love of God
which is in Christ Jesus.

Mt 7, 13

Do manfully, and be of Dt 31, 6 good heart: fear not, nor be ye dismayed at their sight: for the Lord thy God He

Himself is thy Leader, and Saviour: my God will hear
will not leave thee nor for- me.
sake thee.

Ps 4,4

The Lord will hear me
If armies in camp should when I shall cry unto Him.
stand together against me, Christ Jesus our Lord.-Ep 3,11-12
my heart shall not fear. If In Whom we have boldness

a battle shall rise up against and access with confidence
me, in this will I be confident. by the faith of Him.
The Lord God is my
I know Whom I have be- 2 Ti 1, 12
Helper, therefore am I not lieved: and I am certain that
confounded: therefore have He is able to keep that which
I set my face as a most hard I have committed unto Him
rock, and I know that I shall against that day.

not be confounded.-He is Much peace have they thatPs 118,165
near that justifieth me: who love Thy law, and to them

will contend with me?-Be- there is no stumbling-block.

:

hold, the Lord God is my Our glory is this, the testi- 2 C 1, 12
Helper who is he that shall mony of our conscience.
condemn me?
I will greatly rejoice in Is 61,10
It is good to confide in the the Lord, and my soul shall
Lord, rather than to have be joyful in my God; for He
confidence in man.
hath clothed me with the
Have confidence in the garments of Salvation; and
Lord with all thy heart, and with the robe of justice He
lean not upon thy own pru- has covered me.

dence.
How great is the multitude Ps 30, 20
Blessed be the man that of Thy sweetness, O Lord,
trusteth in the Lord, and the which Thou hast hidden for
Lord shall be his confidence. them that fear Thee!
I will look towards the
Lord, I will wait for God my which hath a great reward.

Do not lose your confidence, He 10, 35

8. THE VAIN PRESUMPTION OF THE WICKED.

Eci 5, 3-6 Say not: How mighty I No evil shall come upon us.
am? who shall bring me I shall have peace, and Dt 29, 19
under for my deeds? for God will walk on in the naughti-
will surely take revenge.-ness of my heart.

Mi3, 11

Say not: I have sinned, and Come, let us take wine, Is 56, 12
what harm hath befallen and be filled with drunken-
me? for the Most High is a ness: and it shall be as to-
patient Rewarder.-Be not day, so also to-morrow, and
without fear about sin for- much more.

given, and add not sin upon Say not: God will have Eci 7, 11
sin.-Say not: The mercy of respect to the multitude of
the Lord is great, He will my gifts, and when I offer to
have mercy on the multitude the Most High God, He will
of my sins.
accept of my offerings.

They leaned upon the
O God, I give Thee thanks Lu 18, 11
Lord, saying: Is not the that I am not as the rest of
Lord in the midst of us? men, extortioners, unjust,

1 C 10, 12

Jb 21, 12

Jo 3,9

Ac 8, 22

adulterers, as also is this thee.
publican.
The hope of the wicked is w5, 15
Let him that thinketh as dust, which is blown away
himself to stand take heed, with the wind; and as a thin
lest he fall.
froth, which is dispersed by
They take the timbrel and the storm; and a smoke that
the harp, and rejoice at the is scattered abroad by the
sound of the organ. They wind; and as the remem-
spend their days in wealth, brance of a guest of one day
and in a moment they go that passeth by.
down to hell.

Destruction and unhappi- Ps 13, 2
Who can tell if God will ness are in their ways;
turn, and forgive?
and the way of peace they
Do penance, and pray to have not known. There is
God, if perhaps this thought no fear of God before their
of thy heart may be forgiven eyes.

PART III.

ON MERIT.

MERIT is the value of a supernatural work, or the claim which it has upon God for reward. If the claim be based on the equality between the work and the reward, and on the promise of God to attach the reward to the work, then the merit is said to be "de condigno." But if equality between work and reward, or the promise of God to reward, be wanting, then the merit is said to be "de congruo" only; in other words, there is no claim upon God's Justice, but there is something to move God to confer the reward out of His exceeding liberality.

That a work be meritorious "de condigno," certain conditions are required on the part of the agent, on the part of the work itself, and on the part of God the Rewarder. On the part of the agent it is required that he should be (1) in statu viæ, (2) in a state of grace. On the part of the work, it is required that the work should be (1) free, (2) good, (3) supernatural as to its principle and as to its motive. On the part of God, in order

that such works should be "in actu secundo" meritorious, God's promise to reward them is necessary. That a work be meritorious " de congruo" it is necessary that it should be (1) performed by one who is "in statu viæ,” (2) free, (3) good and of the supernatural order; but it is not necessary that the agent should be in a state of grace.

We conclude with a few words on the object of merit ; or the supernatural gifts which may be merited.

And first as to actual grace as an object of merit: (a) The first actual grace is altogether gratuitous, aud can be merited neither "de condigno " nor "de congruo." (b) Other actual graces can be merited neither "de condigno nor "de congruo infallibili," but they can be merited "de congruo fallibili,” and they can also be infallibly obtained by those who constantly and duly pray for them.

د,

As to habitual grace: (a) The sinner cannot merit sanctifying grace "de condigno," but (b) he can merit it "decongruo." (c) The just man can merit “de co1 digno" the increase of sanctifying grace, but (d) he can merit neither " de condigno" nor "de congruo infallibili " final perseverance, though he can merit the same de congruo fallibili.”

66

As to glory: The just man can "de condigno" merit glory and also the increase of glory both accidental and essential.

" for

As to meriting for others: (a) No one can merit "de condigno" for others any supernatural gift whatever, but (b) the just man can merit "de congruo others, whatever he can merit for himself, and, in addition, he can merit for others first grace.

To merit for another it is necessary that the good work should be specially offered for that purpose.

It is well to remember that, when the just man merits “de congruo" for another, the reward due to