Of the efficacy of these graces in the renovation of the human heart, a striking testimony is related in the account which St. Cyprian gives in his book to Donatus of the change. which he experienced in himself, when he received the sacrament of baptism.

It is clear, that the ministers of Christ not only an nounced his law to men, enjoining the belief of h's revealed doctrines, and the observance of his holy precepts; but that they imparted to them the blessings of sanctification, in the remission of sins, and the communication of the graces of the Holy Ghost, through the channels of the sacra ments, which they were empowered and commissioned to administer. By the effect of these graces, the minds of the believers in Christ were filled with a heavenly light, to confirm and perfect in them the knowledge of the sublime truths of the Christian revelation; and their wills were strengthened with a supernatural fortitude, to enable them to overcome the sinful inclinations of corrupt nature, and to persevere in the steady practice of Christian virtue. Thus, by the grace of Christ, powerful remedies were applied to the evils caused by sin; the darkness of religious ignorance was dispelled by the light of faith; the corruption of immorality was corrected by the sanctity and efficacy of the Christian law; man was restored to the favour of God, and was raised to a lively hope of eternal glory.

men

The source from which all these blessings flowed was the great sacrifice of atonement, that was offered on the altar of the cross. All mercy and grace are derived to from the satisfactions and merits of Christ. salvation in any other: for there is no other name under There is not heaven given to men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts iv, 12.) Hence the Apostles not only made Christ crucified the constant theme of their preaching, but they continually exhibited, according to the institution of Christ, the mystery of his death, in the celebration of the Eucharistic sacrifice, which they daily offered, and which they introduced, together with baptism and other ritual institutions, into all places, wherever they established Christianity. AS OFTEN AS you shall eat this bread, and drink the chalice, you shall SHEW THE DEATH OF THE LORD until he come. (1st Cor. xi, 26.) By the continued oblation of this victim, which was once

immolated on the cross in a bloody manner, a pure and acceptable worship was every where offered to God, and the abundant waters of divine grace were poured forth from the fountains of the Saviour, for the sanctification of the souls of men. By this was verified the prediction, which the Lord announced by the prophet Malachy: From the rising of the sun, even to the going down, my name is great among the Gentiles, and in every place there is sacrifice, and there is offered to my name a clean oblation: for my name is great among the Gentiles, saith the Lord of Hosts. (Mal. i, 11.)

By the diffusion of the light and grace of Christianity, the moral face of the earth was renewed; a new race of men was formed; a new spiritual creation rose from the darkness and chaos of infidelity. Those, who had received the doctrines and precepts of the law of Christ, young and old, Greeks and barbarians, appeared to be enlightened with heavenly wisdom, and exhibited such purity in their moral conduct, and perfection in virtue, as the world had never. witnessed before. They were all of one mind, united in the belief and profession of the same Christian doctrines. They were of one heart, united in the most perfect bond of supernatural charity, and in the common participation of the same spiritual blessings. They were disengaged in their affectious from all inordinate attachment to the things of the world; and so disinterested, that they often shared their temporal goods with their brethren in faith. Their conversation and affections were in heaven. So firmly were they attached to the faith of Christ, so deep and sincere was their sense of the truth and importance of the doctrines and mysteries of the Christian religion, that they would deliberately suffer the loss of all their temporal possessions, and endure the most excruciating torments with patience and fortitude, rather than deny their faith, or renounce their hope of eternal glory. Thousands of such innocent and virtuous heroes have astonished the world, and borne a glorious testimony to the divinity of the Christian religion.

PART IV.

THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, THE DEPOSITARY AND DISPENSER OF THE MYSTERIES OF CHRISTIANITY.

CHAPTER I.

THE FORMATION AND NATURE OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST.It consists of two Classes-Of the Ministers of Christ teaching and governing-and of the Faithful who are taught and governed.-The Church of Christ to be propagated over all Nations, and to continue through all Ages.-The Government of the Church constituted in the form of a Kingdom.-The guardianship and dispensation of all the Doctrines, Precepts, and Mysteries of the Christian Religion were committed, by Christ, to the Ministry, which he established in his Church.Consequently it is by the Ministry of the Church of Christ, that all Nations are to be instructed in the true knowledge of the Faith and Law which Christ delivered to his Apostles.

THE religion of Christ was rapidly propagated, and its blessings were widely diffused over the whole world, by the preaching and ministry of the Apostles, and of their apostolic co-operators and successors. Of those, who received and professed the faith, and submitted to the law of Christ in every country, a great society was formed. This society was held together, by the uniform belief and profession of the same revealed doctrines; by the common participation of the same sacraments and heavenly blessings; and by the respectively subordinate subjection of all its members to one supreme spiritual authority. This society, spread over all

nations, constitutes the CHURCH, or kingdom of Christ, on earth.

In the church there are two distinct general classes: one, of the ministers of Christ teaching his doctrines, administering his sacraments, and governing the faithful by spiritual authority; the other, of the people taught and believing the doctrines of faith, receiving the sacraments of Christ, and submitting to the spiritual jurisdiction of the sacred ministry, established by him for their instruction, sanctification, and government.

The spiritual powers of the ministers of the church were all derived from Christ: they are a participation of the prophetic, sacerdotal, and regal powers, which, as man, Christ exercised when on earth, and which he still continues to exercise, in and by his ministers. In fact, he sent them to continue the work, for which his Father sent him. For Christ said to his Apostles, As the Father hath sent me, I also send you. (John xx, 21.)

To the ministers of his church Christ gave the commission to teach his doctrines and precepts to ali nations. Go, TEACH all nations......teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I have commanded you. (Matt. xxviii, 19, 20.) PREACH the gospel to every creature. (Mark xvi, 15.) He that heareth you, heareth me. (Luke x, 16.) Hence St. Paul said, God indeed hath set some in the church: first, Apostles; secondly Prophets; thirdly, Doctors...are all Apostles? are all Prophets? are all Doctors? (1st Cor. xii, 28, 29.) He gave some Apostles, and some Prophets, and others some Pastors and Doctors. For the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the Mini try, for the edifying of the body of Christ, until we all meet in the unity of fuith. (Eph. iv, 11, 12, 13)

To these same ministers, to whom he gave the commission to teach, Christ also gave power to impart to all nations the graces of sanctification, by the administration of the sacraments, which he instituted for that effect. Teach all nations, BAPTIZING them. (Matt. xxviii, 19.) Hence St. Peter said to the Jews: Do penance and BE BAPTIZED each one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, FOR THE REMISSION OF YOUR SINS. (Acts ii, 38.) To his ministers Christ said, Receive ye the Holy Ghost; whose sins YOU SHALL forgive, they are forgiven them. (St. John, xx. 22, 23.) Hence

Of the efficacy of these graces in the renovation of the human heart, a striking testimony is related in the account which St. Cyprian gives in his book to Donatus of the change which he experienced in himself, when he received the sacrament of baptism.

It is clear, that the ministers of Christ not only announced his law to men, enjoining the belief of his revealed doctrines, and the observance of his holy precepts; but that they imparted to them the blessings of sanctifica tion, in the remission of sins, and the communication of the graces of the Holy Ghost, through the channels of the sacraments, which they were empowered and commissioned to administer. By the effect of these graces, the minds of the believers in Christ were filled with a heavenly light, to confirm and perfect in them the knowledge of the sublime truths of the Christian revelation; and their wills were strengthened with a supernatural fortitude, to enable them to overcome the sinful inclinations of corrupt nature, and to persevere in the steady practice of Christian virtue. Thus, by the grace of Christ, powerful remedies were applied to the evils caused by sin; the darkness of religious ignorance was dispelled by the light of faith; the corruption of immorality was corrected by the sanctity and efficacy of the Christian law; man was restored to the favour of God, and was raised to a lively hope of eternal glory.

The source from which all these blessings flowed was the great sacrifice of atonement, that was offered on the altar of the cross. All mercy and grace are derived to men from the satisfactions and merits of Christ. There is not salvation in any other: for there is no other name under heaven given to men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts iv, 12.) Hence the Apostles not only made Christ crucified the constant theme of their preaching, but they continually exhibited, according to the institution of Christ, the mystery of his death, in the celebration of the Eucharistic sacrifice, which they daily offered, and which they introduced, together with baptism and other ritual institutions, into all places, wherever they established Christianity. AS OFTEN AS you shall eat this bread, and drink the chalice, you shall SHEW THE DEATH OF THE LORD until he come. (1st Cor. xi, 26.) By the continued oblation of this victim, which was once