The Irish standard., 1888-07-14

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with the wisdom Of tod. You will ayd
init that an all wise Being in the estab
fishing Of principles to be observed aul
|practised by his creatures would estab-
lish those most suited to their weakness
and most conducive to that eternal hap
| piness for which He created man
When we look around, and behold the
varied capacities Of the members of the
human ia nily, we will readily perceive
the great need Of prudent and learned
advisers, who, from their years of ex-
perience and deep learning, are most
competent to advise On all matters
relative to the true meaning Of the
scriptures, to point out the enormity Of
sin, how we may best overco ONE sin, and
Of giving US in the name of God EN-
couragsment, and that peternal conso-
lation we SO naturally desire in the
midst of our troubles and misfortunes;
for certainly sin is the greatest Of all
misfortune just as the learned and ex-
perienced physician Is of all men the
most competent to advise on all ques-
tons relative to our physical well-belng.
Now, dear friend, let us suppose man
troubled with the consciousness Of hav-
ing committed many crimes against
God, and society, retiring to bis cham
Der, and confessing to God; he has no
assurance that God pardons him his
sins. nowhere is it to be found THAI God
has promised to pardon sin in that way
when auricular confession is possible.
ask, what consolation has he? None,
whatever; he still remains in doubtand
uncertainty. But on the other hand he
goes to the priest of God, knowing chat
God said, "Whose sins you forgive they
are forgiven, and whose sins you retain
they are retained,'' aud to him makes
his confession, hears the priest Of God
pronounce these consoling words, Ego
to absolva, l absOlve thee in the name
of God the Father, God the Son, and
God the. Holy Ghost. He receives a
consolation none can appreciate but the
one who has experienced it. He knows
well that the same God who can neither
deceive nor be deceived, and who said,
whose sins you forgive they are for
given, will ratify in Heaven that abso-
luton pronounced in His name, and by
virtue Of that expressed promise OF
Jesus Christ; If he has brought 60 it's
reception the proper and necessary dis.
position, viz : A hearty sorrow for hav-
ing offended God with a firm purpose Of
amendment AT the same time he re
ceives an advice suited to his case, the
shortness Of this life, and the length OF
eternity are pointed out to him, he is:
encouraged in his good resolutions and
is Zealously reminded that eternal hap
piness is the chief end for which man
should labor. I ask has this not Of It.
self a great tendency to make man just
10 himself, to his God. and society, and
of giving him that consolation the af-
ficted one so ardently yearns after.
Gould the love of God for man be more
graphically outlined. or His wisdom
more beautifully displayed than by this
mode of confession. Knowing, as He
does, mans weakness, how much he
desires in Che midst of his trihulations
to unbosom himself to some one human
like himself, at the same time, a pru
dent and confidential adviser the first
act of God after the bloody drama On
Calvary's Heights was to ascend to His
Father, then to appear to His dis iples
and say, Receive We the Holy Ghost,
whose sins you forgive they are forgiven,
whose sins you retain they are re-
tained," thus establishing on earth a
tribunal for the racdoning and correct
ing of the sins of man committed in the
moments of forgetfulness Of God and
His justice. Now, my dear friend, you
have as much at stake in this matter as
T, or any one else. Nothing more or
less than the salvation Of your immortal
soul, az eternity Of happiness, OR an
eternity Of woe upon your practical ac-
ceptance or rejection of Gods Holy
Word must be the inevitable doom.
Think, reflect, ana choose ere time will
have for you forever passed away. Well,
if confession is such good thing, why
are Catholics not better than Protest
ants? All! my friend, disconnected by
thefarce of truths you change your base.
Remember, I contend for principle, and
am not the individual apologist.
Would you condemn q principle on ac-
count Of an erroneous application?
Would you reject with scorn nugget
of gold as worthless because some one
else failed to appreciate it's real value?
Or would you reject what could be for
you the brightest jewel in the diadem
of your glory, because others have failed
in it's proper application. did not ex-
pect at the outset to have to answer
this bubble, and in doing SO will be