longer children of sin, but children of God, and heirs of eternal life.
Thus we begin our spiritual existence, and commence to walk in the
narrow way. But not all who are baptised go on leading a holy life.
It does not follow that because we are born again we shall be saved.
We have been made God's children, but we may become prodigals, and
leave our Father's House. We have been made heirs of everlasting
salvation, but we may forfeit our inheritance. What we need is
strength to keep on the right way, to persevere to the end, to resist
the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil. Now think
specially about Confirmation. All of you will admit that we are very
weak creatures. No one here will dare to say that he is strong enough
by himself to keep on the right way. No one here will deny the truth
of those words, "We are not sufficient of ourselves to think anything
as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God." Well, if we are
naturally weak, we need special strength and help, just as a new-born
babe requires care, food, warmth, to keep it alive. We want strength
to keep our souls, our spiritual nature, alive. Confirmation is one
very important means by which this strength, this grace of God, is
given to us. In Confirmation, God the Holy Ghost, who gave us life,
makes us strong to live such a life here that we may abide with God,
and continually dwell with Him hereafter. Surely there is no one
amongst us unwise enough to say--I do not need this strength, I am
strong enough by myself. But there are some here, perhaps, who will
tell me that they do need strength, that they do want the help of the
Holy Spirit, and that they can obtain that strength without being
confirmed. They will tell me that they do not hold with rites and
ceremonies, and that God can give us His grace without them. Yes, God
_can_, but God will not. God will give us help in His own way, not in
our way. He has ordained certain channels, as I have already told you,
by which His grace comes to us, and by them only. There are some who
say--"I do not see the need of Sacraments." Then why did God ordain
Baptism, and order His disciples to baptise all nations? Why did
Jesus, on the night of His betrayal, ordain the Sacrament of the Lord's
Supper, and command His disciples--"Do this, in remembrance of Me?"
Others, again, will say--I do not see the use of Confirmation, it is
only a ceremony. Why then has the Church, from the earliest