Course 2, Chapter 22: Of union with our Lord, the new Adam, by faith, Eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh articles of the Creed

1. Which is the eighth article of the creed?

I believe in the Holy Ghost. Thus far we have seen what we are to believe in order to unite ourselves by faith to the two first persons of the Holy Trinity. The eighth article contains what we are to believe to unite us to the third person.

2. What does the eighth article of the creed teach us?

The eighth article of the creed teaches us what we are to believe of the Holy Ghost, and what he does for our sanctification. The Holy Ghost is the third person of the Holy Trinity; he proceeds from the Father and the Son, and is the same Lord and God as they are; that is, he has the same nature, the same eternity, the same power.

3. Why is he called the Holy Ghost?

He is called the Holy Ghost because he is holiness itself, and the source of all holiness.

4. What work is attributed to the Holy Ghost?

To the Holy Ghost is attributed the work of sanc/ification, because he is essentially the love of the Father and the Son; and all the graces and gifts we receive from God are an effect of his love.

5. What do you understand by the gifts of the Holy Ghost?

By the gifts of the Holy Ghost we understand certain supernatural endowments which he communicates to our souls, to aid us in securing our salvation.

6. How many are there?

There are seven, which are thus designated by the prophet Isaias: Wisdom, which makes us

relish God, and the things of God; understanding, which makes us believe and comprehend the truths of religion as far as a limited intellect can understand them; counsel, which makes us in all cases choose that which will most contribute to our salvation; fortitude, which makes us overcome the obstacles opposed to our sanctification; knowledge, which makes us discern between good and evil, and gives us an exalted idea of God and of our souls; piety, which makes us fulfil cheerfully and from a sense of religion, all our duties; fear of the Lord, which imprints on our soul a great and salutary respect for God.*

7. What is the eleventh article of the creed?

The resurrection of the body. This article teaches us that we shall all rise again.

8. Can God raise us to life again?

Yes, he can raise us to life again, because he can do all things. It will not be more difficult for him to restore our life than it was to give it to us in the first instance.

9. Is it the will of God that we should rise again?

It certainly is his will, since he has promised it, and since man is to be judged, and rewarded or punished according to his works. But man is neither the soul separated from the body, nor the body separated from the soul, but is tbe union of both body and soul together; therefore, the justice of God requires that man should rise again.

10. In what state shall we rise again?

We shall rise a«;am with the^same bodies we have on earth; some for glory, others for ignominy; but all, both good and bad, shall rise to die no more.

11. What are the qualities of the body glorious?

The bodies of the saints after the resurrection will have four principal qualities; impassibility, by which they will be incapable of feeling any inconve-

** Ninth and tenth articles of the Creed; see article on th« church.*

184 CATECHISM OF PERSEVERANCE.

r.ience or suffering; 'brightness, which will render them more brilliant than the sun, and which will be greater or less, in proportion to the merit of the saint, ocfility, which will free the body from the wei-j'lit which bears it down, and will permit the soul to carry the body whithersoever it chooses with facility and speed; lastly, sublilty, which will render the body entirely subject to the soul.