Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1892-02-25

The pillar and the ground Of truth.
| Tim. III-l5.
Since We are within the octave of Christ
mas, think we shall find ourselves iu
full harmony with the sentiments that
should I'LL the hearts of good christians
at this time, by spending some moments In
contemplating the great work which is the
outcome OF the mystery celebrated on
Christmas day. Our Lord came to earth
to make salvation possible for men, and
to found the medium of communicating
that possibility to all mankind. Tha,
medium is His church Our remarks on
this day, therefore. shall be confined 10
that subiect-The church its authority.
l call your attention to the fact that
hsve already had preliminary hearing or
this matter. You have, doubtless, read
what I have written on the subject OF
Churches and Pastors" published few
weeks ago In the columns of the AMERi
CAN. l trust you have found it honest
straightforward. and logical. The ending
however, may have seemed unsatisfactory
! to you; for l did not answer the ques-
! tion-"What is my suthority?" No;
| preferred to have each one answer tina,
! question, in the first instance for himself
I did not think 1t asking too much to re.
/ qnire each one to use the common sense
which God has given him before seeking
other means OF assurance.
l now propose, with your favor, to meet
the question squarely-w hat is my author
ity? Ny authority il that Of the Catholic
/ church; for sm but an Instrument, in b, r
control for carrying on the great work
for which she was instituted. | am 10 no
man, nor special set of men. But while
the work goes on, each mau and body Of
men in actual use at faithful performance
of duty are impelled and led to success hy
the Spirit that gives life TO the Catholic
church. Ny authority. then, ami their
authority rests ultimately on the power
that called that church into being and that
preserves In 1t the vgor of life.
What. then, Is the Catholic church ?
What is its authority? What is the source
of its strength and life?
Kind reader, let me introduce to you the
Catholic church. Two hundred and ftty
millions stand in solid phalanX; two hun
dred and lfty millions with nothing in
common but religion. IN religion a unit.
- l., ta
the highest in civilization, the lowest type
OF savage; the pure saint. the vile sinner :;
of all languages, Of all races OF every
legal political view; all these hDd their
status in the church universal, in the
church raised for mankind, the Catholic
church. The only common bond of con-
tact is faith; but in that they are one.
Do you wonder that say the savage
and the sinner are there? Why not: The
Lord never promised His church should be
composed of the enlightened and saint.
alone. 'Tis here Ito give light to those
who sit in darkness, TO raise the sinner" ("
'Tis the church of mankind as it is. She
Her mission i. to draw order out of chaos,
to make mankind as 1t should be for her
life is the life OF the new creation. Thus
as In the first creation God formed the
body of man from the clay a. it existed ::
80 the function of His church is 10 bind
men as they exist into one harmonious
whole. The breathing Of the Spirit into
tho hnlv - >h. nf ia church
| This Is accomplished by means of the
various avenues of grace, mainly the
sacraments. And It's thus that "'Inen are
| made perfect even as their heavenly Father
common body is accomplished by tath.
| lone faith" makes lone fold"
Now all these millions Numbering about
/ four times the population of these United
States acknowledge the spiritual rule of
one man: for to them he is the representa-
tive of Christ, the founder and always
chief of the church. And in the world al
! large, irrespective of nation or creed, the
position of this man is unique. He stands
alone iu Influence; for his word is recog-
nized as from the mouth of the Catholic
church Thus all admit the principle OF
the unity Of the Catholic church. He
claims descent from Peter. She claims
descent from Christ. The doctrine has no
descent; It's the same now. and ever viii
be. as when it came living from the lips
of the Lord, or was inspired by ''the
Paraclete, the Spirit of truth" who was
promised ITO teach them all things" Such
is the Catholic church; lone fold under
one shepherd"
But its authority; what of that? The
first act of candidates is an act of sub
mission, petition. What dost thou ASK
of the church of God?' is the opening
question to each and all. Faith, saitt
the candidate; receiving, then, the mari
of faith he is of the faithful.
This first act OF the candidate indicate:
the lite of the member, as such. 'Tis
life of submission. Submission to what
To the authority that resides in the church
But what, and whence, is this authority
II is the law of the church's existence
and it is from Him who gave the churcl
it's field, its work, its being. What is it
field? Humanity and time. What is it
work? The salvation of men. What /
its being? The continuance of the activ
presence of Christ among men. For 9Th
church is the spouse of Christ" As, then
in wedlock the parties become one, so /
there a mysterious union between Chris
and His church making them one, henc
it follows that he who is in the church
united to Christ. He who lives fully aC
cording to the spirit of the church live
by Christ and can truly say, "Now it is nc
I that live, but Christ that liveth in me.
, 1t is thus, and thus only, that men ma
merit for salvation; not by sentimental
r but by actual, union with Christ. In thi
|, you may understand the doctrine that tn
. church was established for the salyatio
Of man. We have no record of any oths
t means established for that purpose.
. Are we to understand. then, that Chri:
r is really in the church? Certainly we ar
: He has Himself declared Ito, al
! with you all days, even to the consumm
!. ton of time" Then, if we receive tho:
i words literally, He must have been alwa,
in His church from its beginning2 Vi
doubtedly; that's the plain meaning of II
Evyar Of q mn