Page:AceticLibraryV2PreparationForDeath.djvu/253

 lost. " The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2 S. Peter iii. 9.) But He wishes us to ask Hun for the grace which is necessary for our salvation, seeing that, on the one hand, we are not able to keep the Divine commands, and to save ourselves, without the actual help of the Lord; and, on the other hand, He will not, ordinarily speaking, give us His grace unless we ask for it. Therefore the Fathers of old said,that God does not impose impossible precepts upon us, seeing that He either gives us relative and efficient grace to observe them, or else He gives us the grace to ask Him for that efficient grace. S. Augustine teaches, that, excepting the primary graces, such as the call to faith or to repentance, the other graces, and especially the grace of final perseverance, God does not grant, except to those who pray for them. " It holds good that some things God grants without prayer, as the beginning of faith; whilst others have been prepared only for those who pray, such as final perseverance."

From this, theologians conclude, with S. Basil, S. Augustine, S. Chrysostom, S. Clement of Alexandria, and others, that prayer is absolutely necessary as a means for adults; therefore, without prayer it is impossible for any one to be saved. And this, says the most learned Lessius, ought to be held as an article of faith, " That prayer is necessary for the salvation of adults,, as is gathered from the Scriptures."

Holy Scripture is plain upon this subject: " Men ought always to pray." (S. Luke xviii. i.) " Pray that ye enter not into temptation." (S. Luke xxii. 40.) "Ask, and ye shall receive." (S. John xvi. 24.) " Pray without ceasing." (i Thess. v. 17.) Now these words, "men ought," "to pray," "ask," according to the general opinion of divines, with that of S. Thomas also, imply a precept which is binding under pain of grievous sin, particularly in three cases: I. When a man is living in a state of sin; 2. When he is in danger of death; and 3. When he is in great danger of sinning. And divines then generally teach, that he who has not prayed for one month, or two months at the most, cannot be excused from having committed