Page:TheYoungMansGuide.djvu/173

 to your  mind. He has  placed  a  special  sentinel at  the  door  of  your  heart,  the  voice  of conscience. Only follow  cheerfully  when  it calls,  and  all  will  be  well. For the  important matter is  to  obey  your  conscience.

3. "But,"  you  hear  people  say,  "it  is  impossible to  obey  the  Church  in  everything." Yet the  Saviour  has  declared  definitely  and decidedly : "He  that  will  not  hear  the  Church, let  him  be  to  thee  as  the  heathen  and  publican." Thus we  must  hear  the  Church  and  obey  her; therefore it  must  be  possible  to  do  so,  since God commands  nothing  which  is  impossible. He makes  that  possible  which  would  be impossible  to  our  unaided  powers;  nay  more, He even  renders  it  easy  with  the  help  of  His grace. St. Paul  testifies  to  this  truth  when he says:  "I  can  do  all  things  in  Him  who strengtheneth  me"  (Phil.  iv.  13).

4. Especially  are  objections  raised  to  the laws of  the  Church  concerning  marriage; people say,  for  instance:  "But  there  are many  mixed  marriages  which  are  perfectly happy;  the  Church  is  therefore  much  too severe  when  she  warns  her  children  so  strongly and  persistently  against  contracting  such unions."

To this  I  answer  in  the  first  place:  If  the so-called happiness  to  be  found  in  mixed marriages must  be  purchased  at  the  cos  of the  Protestant  bringing  up  of  the  children, it is  much  too  dearly  bought;  and  however great it  may  appear  in  the  eyes  of  the  world,