that is, that we are to render to Him the service He has a right to in virtue of these titles, or, in other words, that we are to pay Him the tribute of supreme homage, that is, the homage of adoration, which, according to St. Augustine and all other divines, we pay Him by Faith, Hope, Charity, and Religion.

Hence infer that the few words of your text, "I am the Lord thy God, thou shalt not have strange Gods before me," present at once four distinct subjects, namely Faith, Hope, Charity and Religion; and proceed to announce, that Faith, as being first in order, will be the present subject, in treating which you will consider, in the first place, the necessity and advantages of Faith, secondly, what Faith is, and, in the third place, how Faith is acquired, preserved, and exercised.

[A few words to invite attention, with a short invocation.]

BODY OF THE SUBJECT.

1. The necessity and advantages of Faith; and first, its necessity.

In proof of the necessity of Faith, quote Mark, xvi. 14; John, vi. 40; John, viii. 24; 1 Cor. i. 21; Heb. x. 38, xi. 6; explaining, in each case, that the word to believe is the same as having Faith, or acting according to Faith, and proceed to lay down the doctrine of the Council of Trent, teaching, that Faith is “the beginning of Salvation, the foundation and root of all justification," (Sess. vi., chap. viii.), and that "without Faith no one has ever been justified." (Ibid. chap. vii.) Explain what justification is; and say that as a tree cannot bring forth fruit without being rooted in the ground, and as a house cannot stand without a foundation, so there can be no fruits of justification, nor even justification itself, without Faith.

In proof of the advantages of Faith, quote various

passages from Heb. xi., Matt. ix. 2, xv. 28, viii. 10, ix. 29: adding that it is Faith, that distinguishes the Christian from the pagan, the true children of the Church from the infidel and the heretic, and that in its power and efficacy it has conquered the world, (Heb. xi. 33; 1 John, v. 4).

N.B.-These proofs of the necessity and advantages of Faith to be interspersed with sentimental words here and there, such as words of admiration, thanksgiving, petition, &c., as also compassion for heretics and infidels.

2. What Faith is. Define it, and explain the terms of the definition, pointing out distinctly the object of Faith, the motive of Faith, and the certainty of Faith, stating the distinction of habitual and actual Faith of explicit and implicit Faith, of internal Faith and the external profession of it, giving in each case the necessary explanations. After which insist, first, on the necessity of Faith, at least of internal Faith, in an adult in mortal sin, to obtain forgiveness; secondly, the obligation of making Acts of Faith sometimes; thirdly, the necessity of believing explicitly, and therefore of knowing, certain articles of Faith, namely, the principal mysteries.

[Here explain this as necessary, necessitate medii, for adults, and inculcate the obligation of parents to have their children taught these mysteries, as soon as they come to the use of reason.]

Fourthly, the obligation sometimes of making open profession of our Faith, stating the occasions, that may occur for this obligation, and laying down, that it can never be lawful, on any account, to deny outwardly by word or act the true Faith.

3. How Faith is acquired, preserved and exercised.

U

First, how it is acquired. To show this, explain that Faith is a supernatural Virtue, (explain the term), that it is infused into the soul by the grace of Baptism, and takes effect in the infant, as he comes to the use of reason, by the actual belief he becomes capable then of eliciting in the truths of Faith.

[Illustrate this by fuel of any kind, which has in itself the property of producing fire, which property, however, remains concealed till a torch, or something of the kind, is applied. So, likewise, the habit of Faith infused into the soul of the infant, as he is baptised, remains concealed, till it is called into activity by the torch of Faith being applied to it, in the truths of Faith being proposed to its mind.]

With regard to those, who have not been baptised in infancy, and have grown up in heresy or infidelity, or, who may have fallen away from the true Faith, the mercy of God is always ready to come to their aid, since "He wishes all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth." (1 Tim. ii. 4.)

How, in the second place, we are to preserve our Faith. We must avoid all occasions to the contrary, such as reading heretical and infidel books, taking part in the religious worship or practices of heretics. We must also avoid all places and systems of education dangerous to Faith.

As to the exercise of our Faith. This we do by frequent Acts of Faith, by reading good books, and more especially, by living according to Faith, so that the principles and motives, by which we are governed in all we undertake or do, be in accordance with our Faith, as also by open profession of it, as occasion may require (quoting Luke, xii. 8, 9).

CONCLUSION.

Conclude with words of thanksgiving for the gift of the true Faith, and exhort to give up our lives rather than surrender a particle of our Faith.

Consult Theology on the Virtue of Faith; Council of Trent, and Catechism of the Council; and Bishop Hay on the Commandments of God.

SECOND DISCOURSE ON

THE FIRST COMMANDMENT OF GOD.

ON HOPE.

"We are saved by Hope."-Rom. viii. 24.

INTRODUCTION.

[Refer to previous instruction, with a brief recapitulation of the heads, and announce present subject, after which bespeak attention and invoke a blessing.]

BODY OF THE SUBJECT.

1. Define Hope, reserving the explanation of the terms, and proceed to state the grounds or motives of Hope, as follows:-

1st. God's Omnipotence, shown from the creation, conservation, and government of the universe.

2ndly. His infinite goodness and mercy, which incline Him to look with compassion upon our wants and miseries, and bestow His mercies and favours upon us. (Quote some appropriate and striking texts from "Concordance," under titles "Misereor" and "Misericordia." Show His mercies

especially to sinners. (Quote two or three texts to this purpose, and examples in the Gospel.) His mercy and goodness as to our corporal and temporal necessities, shown from the miraculous cures related in the Gospel. (Mark, vi. 55, 56.)

3rdly. The promises of eternal life, and the means of obtaining it, so distinctly and repeatedly made by God in several parts of the Sacred Scripture. (Quote some of them.)

4thly. Not only are we permitted, but we are commanded, to hope in God, and as we should offend against His divine veracity in refusing to believe Him, so in refusing to hope in Him would we offend against His divine power, goodness, and mercy, as also His fidelity to His promises.

2. In what does Hope consist?

Repeat definition and explain the terms Virtue, Supernatural, we hope, eternal life, and the graces necessary for obtaining it. This is the primary object of our hope, allowing us, however, to hope also for temporal blessings, as secondary objects, subordinate to the former.

3. Conditions of Hope.

Ist. Firm, excluding all doubt as to the power, goodness, and mercy of God, and merits of our Redeemer, consequently leaving no ground of despair. (Explain Despair.)

2ndly. Humble, as regards ourselves. We can never know, except by special revelation, if we be worthy of love or hatred, and we are required to work out our salvation in fear and trembling to the end, that we must guard against presumption. (Explain Presumption.)

N.B. Under each of the above Motives elicit sentiments of Admiration, Thanksgiving, Congratulation, Consolation, &c.

4. Means of exercising and strengthening our Hope.-1st, Prayer; 2ndly, frequent Acts of Hope, especially in all our difficulties, trials, and miseries.

CONCLUSION.

Conclude with a cursory review of the motives, thanking and praising God for His goodness, &c.

Consult Theology, on the Decalogue; the Council of Trent, and Catechism of the Council; also Bishop Hay on the Commandments of God.