I. God gives us many external aids to help us in our spiritual life parents, teachers, education, books, sermons and even the ordinary incidents of life. These are some times in a broad sense called graces. But besides these we need an inward aid from God to accompany the outward one and make it profitable. This is Grace, strictly so called, and this is the efficient power in our lives. St. Paul therefore says: "I have planted, Apollo watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he that planted is anything, nor he that watered, but God who giveth the increase" (1 Cor. iii. 6, 7). Actual grace, or the grace that accompanies our good actions, is a transient movement of supernatural influence, which enlightens the understanding and strengthens the will, directing us towards some good action and helping us in its performance. It includes an anticipating or "pre-venient" grace, which precedes our demand and is not dependent on our will, and a subsequent assistance which enables us to give effect to the previous one after we have entertained it and corresponded to it. Grace is not an exercise of omnipotence breaking down all opposition and forcing the will; it is the breathing of a gentle wind of persuasion, which we can act upon or reject as pleases us. Watch for the movements of the Spirit of God, and be careful never to thrust them aside. Do not expect them to compel you and save you the pangs of self-sacrifice. You have to act and do violence to yourself before the strength of grace is revealed in you.
II. Scripture impresses on us most frequently the insufficiency of our own good-will and actions by themselves, and the all-importance of divine grace. Our Lord says: "As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abide in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you the branches . . . without Me you can do nothing" (John xv. 4, 5). St. Paul adds: "God who is rich in mercy . . . hath quickened us together in Christ (by whose grace you are saved) . . . for by grace you are saved through faith; and this not of yourselves, for it is the gift of God; not of works, that no man may glory. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus in good works" (Eph. ii. 4-10). And again: "Not that we are sufficient to think anything of ourselves as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God" (2 Cor. iii. 5). Human nature is like an engine of intricate construction with its numerous and well-adjusted parts, adapted to give motion to a hundred smaller machines; but all its elaboration is dead and useless until the fire is kindled and the steam rushes through the cylinders, to start and maintain with regularity the numerous motions of every piston and wheel. Man with his wonderful organization and powers is dead and useless if he seek his motive power elsewhere than in the grace of God. Never attempt anything without asking divine aid.
III. The graces of action, whether stimulating it or carrying it on, are poured upon us incessantly by God, and in many different forms. Creatures are often the vehicle of God's action; we ought to see Him and hear Him in all of them. Lower nature, mankind, especially God's favoured servants, the events of life, are not only manifestations of God to our intelligence but aids to holy actions. An object or an occurrence may suggest some vivid thought of our sin-fulness and misery, of God s greatness and goodness, of the vanity of the world, or of the transcendent importance of the future life. Or we feel some impulse springing up casually or causelessly, whispering to us to do some act of worship towards God, penance for our sins, benevolence towards our neighbour. The chief use of our present surroundings, whether agreeable or painful, is to speak to us of the supernatural and forward our salvation. "The invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen" (Rom. i. 20). Seek out this meaning in all things.
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