But the gifts, which justify and endear us to God, are not alone common: " graces gratuitously granted," such as knowledge, prophecy, the gifts of tongues and of miracles, and others of the same sort, [1] are common, also, and are granted even to the wicked; not, however, for their own, but for the general good; for the building up of the Church of God. Thus, the gift of healing is given, not for the sake of him who heals, but for the sake of him who is healed. In fine, every true Christian possesses nothing which he should not consider common to all others with himself, and should, therefore, be prepared promptly to relieve an indigent fellow-creature; for he that is blessed with worldly goods, and sees his brother in want, and will not assist him, is at once convicted of not having the love of God within him. [2] Those, therefore, who belong to this holy communion, it is manifest, enjoy a sort of happiness here below, and may truly say with the Psalmist: " How lovely are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! my soul longeth and fainteth for the courts of the Lord. Blessed are they who dwell in thy house, O Lord!" [3]
ARTICLE X.
"THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS."
THE enumeration of this amongst the other Articles of the Creed, is alone sufficient to satisfy us, that it conveys a truth, which is not only in itself a divine mystery, but also a mystery very necessary to salvation. We have already said that, without a firm belief of all the Articles of the Creed, Christian piety is wholly unattainable. However, should a truth, which ought to bring intrinsic evidence to every mind, seem to require any other authority in its support; enough that the Redeemer, a short time previous to his ascension into heaven, " when opening the understanding of his disciples, that they might under stand the Scriptures," bore testimony to this Article of the Creed, in these words: " It behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise again from the dead the third day, and that penance and remission of sins, should be preached, in his name, unto all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." [4] Let the pastor but weigh well these words, and he will readily perceive, that the Lord has laid him under a most sacred obligation, not only of making known to the faithful, whatever regards religion in general, but also of explaining, with particular care, this article of the Creed. On this point of doctrine, then, it is the bounden duty of the pastor to teach that, not only is "forgiveness of sins" to be found in the Catholic Church, as Isaias had foretold in these words: " The
