“Paid! Oh, when, and by whom?” “It was paid when the Saviour died upon the cross—it was paid by the eternal Son of God. He entered for us the prison of this world, He paid our debt with His own precious blood, He opened the gates of eternal life; through His merits, for His sake, we are pardoned and saved, if we have faith, true faith in that Saviour!” “This is wonderful,” said Mark, thoughtfully, as though he could yet scarcely grasp the idea. “And this faith must produce a holy life; but here is the place where I went wrong—I thought men were saved _because_ they were holy.” “They are holy because they are saved! Here was indeed your mistake, my friend. The poor debtor was not set free because he had served his benefactor, but he served him _because he was set free_! A tree does not live because it has fruit, however abundant that fruit may be; but it produces fruit _because it has life_, and good actions are the fruit of our faith!” “But are we safe whether we be holy or not?” “_Without holiness no man shall see the Lord. Every tree that beareth not good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire._” “But I feel as if I could not be holy,” cried Mark. “I tried this day to walk straight on in the narrow path of obedience to God—I tried, but I miserably failed. I gained nothing at all by trying.” “You gained the knowledge of your own weakness, my boy; you will trust less to your resolutions in future, and so God will bring good out of evil. And now let me ask you one question, Mark Dowley. When you determined to set out on your Christian pilgrimage, did you pray for the help and guidance of God’s Spirit?” Mark, in a low voice, answered, “No!” “And can you wonder then that you failed? could you have expected to succeed? As well might you look for ripe fruit where the sun never shines, or for green grass to spring where the dew never falls, or for sails to be filled and the vessel move on when there is not a breath of air. Sun, dew, and wind are given by God alone, and so is the Holy Spirit, without which it is impossible to please Him.” “And how can I have the Spirit?” said Mark. “Ask for it, never doubting but that it shall be sent, for this is the promise of the Lord: _Ask and ye shall receive, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you. If ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?_” “And what will the Spirit do for me?” “Strengthen you, increase your courage and your faith, make your heart pure and holy. _The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance._ Having these you are rich indeed, and may press on your way rejoicing to the kingdom of your Father in heaven.” “But how shall I pray?” exclaimed Mark. “I am afraid to address the Most High God, poor miserable sinner that I am.”