intense pain, it is felt through the organs of sense. When, moreover, we reflect that this pain is to be eternal, we are at once satisfied that the punishment of the damned admits of no increase.
These are considerations, which the pastor should very frequently press upon the attention of the faithful; the truth which this Article announces, seen with the eyes of faith, is most efficacious in bridling the perverse propensities of the heart, and withdrawing souls from sin. [1] Hence we read in Ecclesiasticus: " Remember thy last end, and thou shall never sin." [2] And in deed, it is almost impossible to find one so prone to vice, as not to be capable of being recalled to the pursuit of virtue, by the reflection that the day will come when he shall have to render an account before a most rigorous judge, not only of all his words and actions, but even of his most secret thoughts, and shall suffer punishment according to his deserts. But the just man must be more and more excited to cultivate justice, and, although doomed to spend his life in want, and obloquy, and torments, he must be transported with the greatest joy, when he looks forward to that day on which, when the conflicts of this wretched life are over, he shall be declared victorious in the hearing of all men; and admitted into his heavenly country, shall be crowned with divine, and these, also, eternal honours. It becomes, therefore, the duty of the pastor to exhort the faithful to model their lives after the best manner, and exercise themselves in every practice of piety; that thus they may be enabled to look forward with greater security, to the great coming day of the Lord, and even as becomes children, desire it most earnestly.
ARTICLE VIII.
"I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY GHOST."
HITHERTO we have expounded, as far as the nature of the subject seemed to require, what regards the first and second Persons of the Holy Trinity. It now remains to explain what the Creed contains with regard to the third Person, the Holy Ghost. On this subject, also, the pastor will omit nothing that study and assiduity can effect; for on this, and the preceding Articles, error were alike unpardonable. Hence, the Apostle is careful to instruct some amongst the Ephesians, with regard to the Person of the Holy Ghost. [3] Having asked if they had received the Holy Ghost, and having received for answer, that they did not so much as know the existence of the Holy Spirit, he immediately subjoins: " In whom, therefore, were you baptised?"
