The New York herald., 1871-01-02

Saviour Jesus Christi The reverend speaker said
that at this particular the Church throughout
the wsrld was engaged In contemplating the sub
lime mystery Of the incarnation OF the Son OF Cod
the great plan Of ear salvation and the relation
which we as creatures have 70 the eternal Word
made flesh. A proper understanding Of this was
THE SOURCE OF ALL CHRISTIAN JOY.
neglect OF the doctrines Of salvation was the
cause Of religious errors, inndety and indifference
to the viii OF God. The Creator foresaw that His
creatures would abuse their free will and cut them
selves on from the supernatural blessings they
destined to enjoy. The angels rcbelled, and their
fate was sealed beyond hope. Man fell, too, from
original Justice; but he was consoled from the be-
ginning with the hope OF redemption-that grand
scheme by which erring creatures were to be
reclaimed through the gratitude OF the
Lord himself-a gratuity not only in the
glvinR, but In It's application 1t true that God
might have forgiven the sin OF disoDedience and
blotted out the transgression OF our nrsJ parents
out He was not pleased to do this. lie proceeded
according 10 the strict law Of justice. Who among
His creatures could offer to God condign satisfaction
for our infinite guilt and who was to atone for the
SINS commlttedf Evidently 1t was beyond the power
ofman. In His nnnite wisdom He ordained that Deity
himself should become the representative or man.
The Son OF God, born before all ages, became man like
unto us, uniting with this divinity our humanity,
that He might become mediator between eur
Heavenly Father and ourselves. In Him both ma
lures were distinctly united. Hence when Christ
suffered, especially in His crucitxlon although He
died In HIS human nature yet may be truly said.
by virtue OF the hypostatical union. God died for
us suffered for us that we might live. In other
words the sacrifice OF expiation was entire, and de-
rived its excellence and merit from the union OF the
humanity with the divinity 30 that man was 70 he
made partaker OF His divine merits. The reverend
speaker next explained the theological definition OF
THE HYPoSTATIC UNION,
and said that, though human nature was common
to all, IL could not be said that the actions OF
person were common to all. That many may be
benefited by the merits OF the Goldman all must be
part,cpators In his merits AS 81; Paul expresses
not l. but Christ iveth In me; or. as Christ said to
His disciples, 81 am the vine; We are the branches"
that the branches must be united with the vine,
else they cannot partake OF the life OF
the vine. Now, as man had forfeited his
supernatural privileges before he could hope for eter
sary he should be regenerated His natural life was
in the order Of earthly generation, while his second
generation 1t would be inferred from this that the
merits Of our Lord must be Individually applied.
insng into the hearts OF the faithful the virtues OF
His Gospel 'sNo man can come TO the Father
agent, and how shall we know whether we are re-
ceived or notY An agent Is necessary, and that
agent is none other than the Church. Unless man is
born anew OF water and the Holy Ghost he cannot
enter into the Kingdom OF God. He cannot be OF
Christ's kingdom on earth, nor can he hope for
THE SPOUSE OF CHRIST
ana 81. Cyprian says, mo one can utNc NOu lOT HIS
Father who 0oes not have the Church for his
mother" 1t Is not the pretending Christians
that make the Church, nor is II for man II
say what the Church must be. The Church Is
divine like its founder for 1t Is His work. the beauty
of MIS- creation The Church OF God Is the dispenser
OF the spiritual gifts bestowed for the salvation and
Sanctncation or man. How important that al
should avail themselves OF the precious gifts con
1ded to the Church, and how deeply the truths o
eternal life should be impressed upon all OF oul
heartsl The beginning OF q new year should
remind US to examine our conscences and
see what use we have made OF the golden
opportunities presented us during the past
year. Time is mere abstraction. We cannot con
ceive Of 1t in our nina, nor Is 1t palpabe to the
senses. Time nothing but ourselves rolling on tC
eternal end, and where must all await the re
ward OF our ndety or n1delity. 1t becomes US
them TO ask what use we have made OF the gifts o
salvation during the past year. WIN we go on thi
year and be indllIerent to our own happiness vii
| we neglect the presence OF God, or Will we 81
| hope OF peaceful immortalitys That his hearer
might all enter into the Joy OF their Divine Master
who was made like unto us for our salvation, wa
his sincere wish and prayer, and happiness he In
voked In the name OF theFather. and the Son, ant
the Holy Ghost.
AT the conclusion Of mass the re Deun1 was in
toned by the clergy and sung in antphon by tn
choir and clergy in gratitude for the manifold bless
| ings showered upon the nation and people OF III
| country during the past year, as well as upon til
members OF this parish and the residents Oh the cap
| tai OF the nation.