Page:TheYoungMansGuide.djvu/75

 fatuus, and  if  you  follow  it,  it  will  surely  injure you, and  lead  you  at  last  to  the  fire  of  hell. Therefore be  on  your  guard  against  dangers  to faith. And what  are  they? On the  present occasion I  will  only  mention  three.

4. Be  on  your  guard  against  doubts  of  the Faith. If such  doubts  present  themselves,  do not  dwell  upon  them,  but  pray  in  all  simplicity, and with  humility  of  heart:  "O  my  God,  I believe  this  .  .  .  because  Thou  hast  said  it,  for Thou  art  the  eternal  Truth." And should  these doubts continue  to  torment  you,  mention  them in all  confidence  to  your  confessor  or  director, and you  will  receive  good  advice  and  instruction; you  will  be  told  how  to  get  out  of  your difficulty. But if  fresh  doubts  regarding  matters of faith  are  suggested  to  you  by  unbelievers,  the solution of  which  you  fail  to  see,  answer  simply: "I am  not  able  to  explain  this  matter  to  your satisfaction,  but  of  one  thing  I  am  quite  certain: God  can  not  err,  nor  can  the  Church  which  He guides.  Consult  a  priest;  he  will  give  you  the necessary  explanation  of  the  point  in  question."

5. In  the  second  place,  avoid  the  society  of those  who  speak  against  the  Faith  and  sneer  at religion,  the  sacraments,  and  ceremonies. If they are  persons  in  your  own  class,  acquaintances to  whom  you  can  speak  plainly,  break  the conversation off  abruptly  and  say:  "That  will do,  leave  off  talking  this  rubbish,  and  speak  of something  more  sensible  ";  otherwise  contrive to turn  the  conversation  to  some  other  topic, after defending  your  faith  in  a  quiet  but  resolute manner, as  well  as  you  can. He who  possesses a ready  tongue  can,  in  circumstances  such  as these,  completely  baffle  the  scoffer  and  make