Page:The Life and Works of Christopher Dock.djvu/157

Rh worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. II Corinth, iv, 17, 18.

Q. 45. — As the road to eternal life is so narrow and one must enter through trial and tribulation into the kingdom of God, is it necessary daily to pray God for strength and patience?

A. — For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith, but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back into perdition, but of them that believe in the saving of the soul. Hebrews x, 36-39.

Q. 46. — Have we also to expect persecution?

A. — Because God hath loved you, it had to be thus. Without temptation thou canst not be, in order that thou mayest be established in the faith. Tobia xii, 13.

Q. 47. — Then the pious will be saved by crosses and tribulations?

A. — Just as gold is purified by fire, those who please God are approved through the fire of tribulation. Sirah ii, 5.

Q. 48. — If it is the fate of a Christian on his road to life to be tried and purified by the fire of trouble, is it a Christian's sole mission to prepare to suffer persecution?

A. — My child, if thou desirest to be God's servant, prepare thyself for tribulations. Sirah ii, 1.

Q. 49. — How must we behave in such persecution?

A. — My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. James i, 2, 3.

Q. 50. — Is such trouble and persecution sent a Christian by God solely to preserve him, or has he other enemies for Jesus' sake?

A. — These things have I spoken unto you that ye should