Obrázky na stránke
PDF
ePub
[ocr errors]

so established and built upon the faith of Christ, with the sacraments of divine institution, was never more to be changed by any human power, not even by the apostles themselves.

But as the servants of God, from the beginning of the world, were ever persecuted by the wicked, the founder of this church has forewarned us, that it shall meet with tribulations, vexations, persecutions; that parents, and children, and brethren, will be divided against each other, on account of that divine religion, which one professes and the other hates; but that we value not human respect; fear not man, but God only; confess him before men, that he may confess us before his Father, promising all who faithfully serve him, that not a hair of their heads shall perish; that he will make their souls happy after death, and raise their bodies out of the dust, in glory: that in the end there shall be a day of judgment, when himself will come as judge to call all the wicked to account, and then the reprobate shall go to eternal punishment in hell, and the just shall ascend to eternal life in his kingdom.

The doctrine and law of Christ was not by himself delivered in writing, as that of Moses, because it was far more becoming the dignity of so great a person and lawgiver as the Son of God made man is, to write his law in the hearts and souls of men.

EXHOR.-Embrace, O christian, the doctrine of Christ, who came not only to be a Redeemer, to pay the ransom of your sin, but to be a master, to instruct you in the way of life eternal. You will be never the better in the end to have believed, unless you have lived as he taught. Adore the ever blessed Trinity, by him revealed; you cannot be saved unless you believe and glorify the three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; profess Christ to be the Son of God incarnate, the same God with the Father and the Holy Ghost; profess him truly man, not in figure and appearance only, but in substance: these are the two principal points of his gospel, and the two principal mysteries of our faith; without this belief there is no salvation for us. Permit not your belief of the immortality of the soul, and a

future resurrection, so clearly now revealed by Christ, to stagger at the silly objections of libertines, who make a banter of eternal happiness, and hope their souls will be annihilated after death, and totally extinct, like the souls of brutes: but you, O christian, instructed by the doctrine of Christ, make the salvation of your immortal soul your only necessary. Often meditate on the life of the world to come, on the joys above, and the torments below, and the eternity of one and the other strive to enter into life, by keeping the commandments; you can only enter into heaven by this narrow gate, by this narrow way, and few there are that find it. Above all, preserve the love of God in your heart; it is only to be preserved there by obeying all his commandments. Harbour in your heart also the love of your neighbour, by works of charity; and if you are failing therein at present, beg of the Holy Ghost to enkindle it again in your breast; you can never be united to God, so long as you are disunited from your neighbour. Practice as far as your state will permit, even the counsels which God gives you; at least, let not your heart be too much attached to the love of those things which he counsels you against those evangelical counsels are given for no other end, but that you may keep the commandments with more ease, and with greater perfection. Look on sin as our Saviour represents it, as the greatest evil, and destructive of your greatest good; but, if, by misfortune, you are fallen into it, still remember you have an advocate with the Father, and never let this belief depart from you, that there is remission of all sins through him to the penitent. But as you can neither do good, nor decline from evil, or depart from sin, without grace, neglect not the sacraments of grace, and, as Christ teaches, pray without intermission for it. Never harbour a thought of leaving the communion of the Catholic Church, which once established by Christ, and made proof by an omnipotent Power against all powers of hell, is to last to the end of the world: how miserable have they made themselves who have left it. At the same time prepare your soul for

temptation, tribulation, and persecution, as our Saviour has forewarned; this the good will meet with wherever they go; only to learn to bear your cross after the example your blessed Redeemer has set you, and the doctrine he has taught, which leads securely to life everlasting.

Q.

SECT. VI.

Of Christ's Miracles and Virtues.

DID

ID our Saviour work miracles? A. He did, such as never had been done before. St.

John xv. 24.

INSTRUC. As the doctrine Christ taught, was in many points above human understanding and comprehension, not to be demonstrated like other sciences, and in several other points, contrary to flesh and blood; it was requisite that he should confirm the truth of it, by undoubted miracles; for without such, who would believe that he was God, under the form of a mortal man? This he did in the sight of all the Jews, for the space of three years and a half, throughout Galilee and Jewry. He shewed his power over all parts and species of the creation; the heavens, the earth, the winds, the seas; over rational creatures and irrational, spiritual and corporeal, good Angels and båd Angels, the living and the dead; he shewed his power also over all kinds of diseases and death, curing all, wherever he set his foot, that were presented to `him, and even some that were absent; the lame, the blind, the deaf, the dum, the palsy, the dropsy, the fever, and raised the dead to life: and although in some of these miracles he invoked God, his Father, by prayer, to shew that he was man, and in that quality subject to the Father; yet, for the most part, these miracles were done by his own power alone; by a power not limited to any particular time, place, person, or disease; but cured all diseases in all persons, when he pleased, without any controul, by a word of his mouth, or a touch of his hand, or a nod of his will; without

any previous preparation of prayer or fasting, and without invoking any other power above his own; in which respect, his miracles were divine, worthy of him who is one and the same God with the Father, and far different from those done by Moses and the prophets formerly, or by his disciples since; and are an undeniable proof, a certain conviction, that his doctrine is true, and that he is Christ, the Son of God; this being that very point of his doctrine, for the proof whereof all those miracles were wrought.

At the same time he did such wonders, his own person was the greatest miracle of all; and his life the most astonishing example of virtue, especially of humility, meekness, benignity, mildness and patience, towards the Jews. He was gracious to sinners, even to astonishment, but severe in reprehending hypocrites, as the Scribes and Pharisees; he taught the way of God in truth, without respect for mens persons, or the fear of any one; yet at the same time lived in a wonderful submission to the established powers; and punctually observed the ceremonies of the Mosaick law from his infancy: for these being types and figures of himself, which were not fulfilled till his death, consequently they were yet in force; and for this reason he would observe them, as well to set an example of perfect obedience to others, as also to afford no matter of scandal to the Jews, who would otherwise have disowned and denied him to be their Messias, on this very pretext, of his being a transgressor of the law of Moses, and therefore not sent from God, who gave the law to Moses.

EXHOR.-Learn, O Christian, to admire and live the life of Jesus; none will be saved, but such as resemble him. Romans viii. 29. Be humble then as he, in all your ways, in your words, actions, conversation, comportment, but chiefly in your heart; fly, as he, all vain-glory and self-praise. Nothing is so unbecoming a disciple of Christ as pride of heart; the proud will no more find a place in heaven than Lucifer; carry yourself with meekness, mildness, sweetness, and humanity towards other men, as he did; see your

1

own infirmities, and you will the better know how to bear the infirmities of others; behold yourself in their imperfections. Be obedient, after the example he has set you, to all points of the divine law, to all the precepts of the church, and to the lawful orders of all the established powers and superiors. Give your mind, as he, to prayer and holy contemplation. Say with him, I came not here to do my own will, but the will of him that sent me. St. John vi. This is the life of a Christian, an imitation of the life of Christ; and will be your joy, your glory, and your crown, to have in all things fulfilled the will of God. He that does the will of God remains forever. 1 John ii. 17.

ART. IV. SECT. I.

Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried.

Q. How did Christ enter Jerusalem, the last time

૨.

when he came to suffer? A. He entered in a kind of triumph. Q. How was he received. A. With loud Hosannahs and acclamations of the people. Q. What followed after that? A. The night before he suffered, he eat the Passover, or Paschal Lamb, according to custom, with his disciples in Jerusalem. Q. What did he do at this his last supper? A. He arose from the table, and washed his disciples feet. Q. What else? A. He sat down again, and instituted the Holy Eucharist. Q. What was his discourse to them? A. He foretold many things that would happen; that one of them would betray him; others abandon him: another deny him: he recommended humility, love, and charity, and promised to send them the Holy Ghoct, the Comforter.

INSTRUC.-Our blessed Saviour now began to fulfil what he had formerly foretold his disciples: Behold we go up to Jerusalem, and all things shall be accomplished that were written by the Prophets, of the Son of Man; for he shall be delivered up to the Gentiles and shall be

« PredošláPokračovať »