inseparable whole, the Divine authority dwells and rules. Truth, therefore, in the Church is one, perfect, absolute, and binding; admitting no diminution or addition, election or choice. It is all contained in the baptismal creed, as is all the law of sanctity in the ten commandments, not expressly, but by deep implication; and the authority on which we receive both is one,—the Church teaching in the name of Christ. Be it once clear that so Christ has spoken in His Church, as well in the least as in the greatest we are bound. If He had made the washing of each other's feet a perpetual sacrament of humility, as He made the holy eucharist a perpetual sacrament of love, we should have been bound.

This, then, is the great antagonist of latitudinarian errors and proud indifference: not to weigh the value of truth in the balance of the individual reason, but to call upon the individual will to surrender itself to the sweet yoke of Christ. The name of Christ works, indeed, in might and in mercy among those who are separate from His fold; but they know little of the interior life of His Church who can see no tokens of difference even in kind. When has the Sermon on the Mount been seen living and full, even to its very letter, except in the unity of the Church? Where has the wonderful harmony of diverse and almost con

flicting spirits of love and power, of softness and fire, of force and meekness, of lowliness and inflexibility, been ever seen but in the interior fellowship which adore Him present before the altar? There are two things which are never apart, perfect sanctity and perfect unity; and these are as the two witnesses of God which stand beside "the truth as it is in Jesus."

SERMON V.

CHRIST'S GOING AWAY OUR GAIN.

ST. JOHN xvi. 7.

"It is expedient for you that I go away."

HESE words were spoken in the upper cham

THE

ber on the night of our Lord's betrayal. He had celebrated the last Passover of the Old Testament, and had instituted the true Paschal Sacrifice of the New. Shadows had now passed into realities. The Incarnation of the Son of God had changed an earthly type into a heavenly substance. The true Lamb was now taken up for the sacrifice, and the true atonement was at hand. He therefore began to prepare them for His departure, knowing that His hour was come. In a little while they should see Him no more. Three days of sorrow, forty days of wondering joy, and then He should depart unto the Father.

For this cause He began to speak to them of

a Comforter. Why, they hardly knew. A shadow had fallen upon them; but whence they saw not. They felt that sorrow was near; but they did not as yet understand His words. He then, as knowing their weakness, before He revealed their approaching loss, led them to thoughts of consolation. He used the manner and the tone of one who had to break some heavy tidings. He was slow in His words; throwing out hints, suggesting thoughts of solace, before He unfolded the inevitable truth. "These things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you;" as implying, Soon I shall be with you, as you see Me now, no more. "I go My way to Him that sent Me." By these words He intended to prepare them not only for His death and burial, and for the three short days of His resting in the grave, but for His ascension into heaven, when He should go up on high, and sit down, until the end, at the right hand of God. When they heard Him speak of going away, they were filled with sorrow. To lose their Lord was to lose their all. They had lived in daily and hourly converse with Him, till they had come to live by Him and in Him as their very life. They had hung upon His lips, and learned the mysteries of the kingdom of grace; they had waited upon His divine hands, and seen the miracles of His power. His person

was the pledge of His kingdom, the earnest of the twelve thrones on which they trusted that they should sit with Him in the regeneration. All hung upon Him, and with Him all would depart. To lose Him would turn their hopes into a vain show, and scatter all their expectations as a dream. They would be utterly forsaken,—outcast from home, spoiled of their Master's presence, -losers on every side, both in this life and in that which was to come. The world, with its hard, cold reality, boded to them a rough and suffering future,-a heavy reprisal for their rashness in breaking with its favour, and venturing all upon His word.

It was, therefore, to comfort and strengthen them beforehand that He said, "It is expedient

for you that I go away. I go, but not for My own sake; it is for yours. Believe My word, that for your consolation I am departing. When I am gone, ye shall receive greater things than these. If I stay, they will not be given. If I go, I will send them. Ye shall have a Comforter, who shall abide with you for ever. To lose Me shall be your gain." Now this sounds strange and unlikely as to them, so to us. They could ill understand how the loss of their Teacher, Lord, and Guide should be gain to them; nor can we perhaps, at least at all times, realise why it is better