The Newtown bee., 1902-05-02

the truths of what it was the outward !
manifestation are as living as ever.
THE CHURCH is AT ONCE VISIBLE AND
INVISIBLE.
And here the doctrine of the text Is
verified again. For, as our confession
of faith is in the Greed, there is the
Holy Catholic church and the COM
munion of Saints. We are united oy
sacramental ties not only with The
Christian brotherhood still this side
of the grave, but with those also who
have passed into Paradise. as well as
with angels and archangels and all the
company of heaven, and with God the
Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
But this portion of the great COM
munion, that which is now seen, is also
temporal, changing daily, augmented
through the gates of, the new birth,
and vanishing out ofsight through the
gates of death; mere panoramic
scene; this side flowers and white robe
of baptism, that side white'fowers and
shroud of burial; and so the long pic
ture is ever unwinding; there is no
stay in that which is visible of the
church of God. The church itself con-
tinues; the unseen forces of it are in
destructible, but it's phenomena, be-
cause they are phenomena, have no
permanency. 1t has that which is
eternal, but that is beyond the reach
of mortal vision.
The church's sacraments have two
parts, an outward and visible sign, and
an inward and spiritua, grace. The
outward and visible sign, be it the
water of baptism, or be it the Euchar-
istic bread and wine, is but transi-
tory thing, it shares the fate of all
that is seen, it is temporal. Not SO
the inward and spiritual grace, the re-
generation of baptism, the spiritual
food of body and blood of Christ that
lasts on and on, after all temporal
things have passed away and never
ends.
Why should l be at pains to speak
and you to hear, illustration after il
lustration, and proof upon proof of
that which none of US denies, and
with which we are SO familiar? Be-
cause practically we forget it, and live
as if the reverse were true. Why,
reasoning men, all the while say that
the things that are seen are temporal,
and then live as though they were
eternal! 1t is not without excuse that
child spends it's afternoon in making
little heap Of shells and whitening
grasses and flowers'on the beach which
the next tide will wash away: because it
is child who does it. But for
MAN TO SET HIS HEART ON THAT WHICH
IS TEMPORAL Is WITHOUT EXCUSE.
One cannot but wonder what will be
left of some persons after that which
is temporal is vanished away. Perhaps
all they had or consciously desired or
longed for was of the perishable kind.
1t is the way in which our region is of
service to us in correcting the impress
sion which tieeting world is too apt
to make upon us. Thus it is that we
give ourselves up to be members of the
Kingdom which is everlasting, and
meet together to sing it's hymns and
pray it prayers and keep its sacraments,
and hear it's words of truth and life.
1t warns us away from setting our
heart on things which perish in the
using; it comforts us under our trials,
our tolls, our pains, these it would say
to us are our discipline, great is your
reward in heaven. The help towards
the souls heaven which is in the Say
iour's cross, and example and grace,
let us earnestly seek; praying Him to
save us from evil, and to fasten our
hearts upon those virtues which like
God in whom they have their source
and dwelling place, are pure bliss, pure
life. This may He grant to us all in
the greatness of His power and mercy.