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 of charity  by  laying  down  his  life  for  God  and  the brethren. Previous to  His  coming  they  had  been weak and  timid  men;  Peter  had  trembled  at  the  voice of a  maid  and  thrice  denied  his  Lord,  and  the  whole band was  hiding  for  fear  of  the  Jews,  but  now,  as  the plastic clay  is  by  fire  hardened  into  enduring  brick, so the  Apostles  by  the  fire  of  divine  love  were  made suitable to  be  the  foundations  of  the  Church  of  God. They who  before  shrank  from  ridicule  and  insult, now rejoiced  that  they  were  found  worthy  to  suffer persecution and  torture  and  death  for  the  name  of Jesus.

Brethren, it  matters  little  whether  or  not  we  be learned,  whether  or  not  we  be  eloquent,  whether  or not  we  be  miracle-workers,  but  it  is  a  matter  of  supreme importance  that  we  possess  a  goodly  measure of love  for  God  and  our  neighbor. " God  is  love," says St.  John,  and  his  meaning  is  that  charity  is  of  all the most  characteristic  gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  the most infallible  indication  of  His  indwelling  presence, the stem  which  produces  and  supports  all  the  other gifts and  fruits  of  the  Holy  Ghost. But how  are  we to  know  whether  or  not  we  possess  this  precious gift? Brethren, the  natural  outcome  of  charity  is  an ideal  Christian  life,  but  probably  as  sure  indications as any  other  of  its  presence  are  fortitude  and  patience. "True charity  casteth  out  fear,"  as  we  have seen it  do  in  the  case  of  the  Apostles. When you  saw your neighbor  offending  against  the  laws  of  his  conscience and  of  God,  did  you  admonish  him? No. Why not? Because you  feared  his  displeasure. Ah!