The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1908-09-12
CHRIST'S CHURCH
Chrst's Claim Proven-He Had to Teach
- Appointed TeaCherS-Founded a
Church Which Was ID Visible; ~ In
defatigabIe; ~ InfaIIibIe; ~ One; ~
Holy; (6) UniverSaI-NeCesSity of a
Supreme Head-Peter'S Commission.


Christ after having thus firmly established His
divinity was fully qualified and authorized not only
ia teach. but to command man. who, if consistent
with his rational nature, should hear and obey Him.
His own testimony was no longer valueless but in
falible and His voice the voice of God. Accord
;nglv. he taught a system of doctrine and morals
the practical acceptance of which He declared to
be essential to the peace and happiness of man
here and hereafter But as He intended to remain
on earth only short time 1t necessary that He
should appoint and leave after Him some institu-
+ion: some adequate means to teach mankind His
system so costly to Himself and so necessary to all
men, and 10 perpetuata 1t In all Its integrity and
purity until the end of time; and thus to fulfill
His promise-"to enlighten every man that COM
eth into this world" For this end and purpose He
established a church; this is, called together and
formed into society a body of men known as His
apostles. These He commissioned and duly author
lied 10 20 forth and preach His gospel, His doc
trines. to all mankind To this organized body of
teachers He transferred His own mission, the self
same mission that He received from His Eternal
Father. together with all the power and authority
necessary for It's proper execution. This body of
teachers were 10 take His place and TO be His agents
in all that appertains 10 the work of teaching re-
generating and saving humanity. "As the Father
hath sent Ne | also send you; and then breathing
on them He sand receive ye the Holy Ghost" John
2l) Going therefore teach all nations whatsoever
have commanded you" Matt. 2S).
Now. q brief examination Of this church founded
By Christ and commissioned by Him in the most
express and formal manner, viii clearly show US
that He endowed il with certain properties and
marks BY which II could be easily known and dis
tnguished from all the false Christian churches
which he foresaw and predicted would spring up in
all future ages.
/ The church OF Christ was visible The Apos-
ties were certainly such. Their Office was to teach.
70 Tepr1ve 10 baptize and 10 reform other similar
public tunctions-an which necessarily implied
their visibility He said His church was "the light
Of he world" but By what figure OF speech can be
said 70 be invisible!
L was not indefectible Il was the work Of
God, and His work cannot fail nor His work pass
away He himself declared that He would build
his church upon a rock and that the gates Of hell
could not prevail against Il" Matt 16) The
gates o- hell would have prevailed against the
church The moment i failed or ceased 10 be what
il vas when founded St Paul calls the church
the pillar and ground OF truth" Since. therefore.
the church of Christ Is the foundation, the sup
P7r q truth, i must Be. say the least, as in
de-ee-ib-s and indestructible as truth.
3. The church founded by Christ was jnfallible:
thar IS Z could not e-r IN the discharge OF Its
proper -cizl duties. IN teaching matters OF faith
and morals 4 teacher directly appointed BY God
s necessarily IufallIble IN what be has TO teach.
" loving parent would place over his children
lR----= teacher when he could appoint infallIbe
one Besides. We would expect q little more OF God
lla1 n man. and any common man could establish
-a-.--e church But Christ settled this matter
very clearly and satisfactorily BY His words and
E1oCsz=--I VII send you another Pareclete, the
Spri- 4 Truth % teach you al truth and abide
WITH r-u tcre7er7 Matt. 20). He that heareth
[5I lzz-=-l ne, and he who despiseth you despis-
en- D- Luxe 10). How or why place this strict
obligation m man unless the teachers should in
ta--c- teach -he truth. And again: Go ye into
ne whole -1r-d and preach my gospel; he that be
-e7e-- and is 5sptIzed shall b saved, he that be
AeTa-- MT shall b condemned MARX 49,. His
c11-c- therefore, should preach only truth other
F-ss WY c--1ema nan for not believing error, or
Tla-. = czse The teachers were fallible, may Be
SUCH
Z. T-z church Il Christ. comfortably 70 reason.
Tss and should b o1e Truth vas 70 Be the OBJ
;sc- r rs teachings and truth / and can not
e -r -----z1lc-lCl With Itself = here Is but one
-1rc, che faith and o1e baptism, says st, Paul.
LLp- AID Christ himself says, Other sheep
Le-= ---c1 ere not q this fold; these also must
De 5rc-r1- II 50 that there nay Be one fold and
one szs--erd.7 (Jc11 I9J. So important did Christ
c-s--z- -lls unity O ole1ess q His church that
he Ez-= j the oLlec- q z special PRAYER 70 bis
Et=z1z- Father: AA1d not for them (His ApostlesJ
OIL I --sT but for those also who through their
E11c =-z 5eigTe II ne that they also may De one
s-71 - -Lou. FsrLer, II Ne and II hee- Joan
p L-e unity OF o-ene@ here prayed for L q the
hgL=s- o.-cefvz5Ie type. that metaphysical unity
e1s---z between Hin and His Father Il vas not
nee spiritual CT Invisible unity, but one mat
cl- -e ~ and thus serve as proof 20 the Eorld
2; His ~ mission -thzt the world may belieFe
1s- Tl11 Lss. aent ne John 49,
. T-z church 4 Christ rs holy; holy II is
ie1-C=r Il 5cz foc1rines, sscrsments and HleEl-
0er@ TIE o55ect Z His church Was 70 br1ng al