and with one heart, to proclaim anew the glad tidings of great joy, with which the song of angels ushered in the Saviour of the world,— Glory be to God on high, and in earth peace, good-will towards men!"

Thus closes the holiest, and most solemn, service of our venerable Liturgy. And, with its parting words, I would bring these faithful, though imperfect, attempts to illustrate that Liturgy, to their close: praying that The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, may keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and that the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, may be amongst you, and remain with you always! Amen.

117

DISCOURSE VII.1

SAINT MATTHEW, xxviii. 18, 19, 20.

AND JESUS CAME, AND SPAKE UNTO THEM, SAYING,-ALL POWER IS GIVEN UNTO ME IN HEAVEN AND IN EARTH, GO YE, THEREFORE, AND TEACH ALL NATIONS; BAPTIZING THEM, IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY GHOST; TEACHING THEM TO OBSERVE ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER I HAVE COMMANDED YOU; AND LO, I AM WITH YOU ALWAY, EVEN UNTO THE END OF THE WORLD.

IT was the last act of our Lord's earthly ministry, to deliver his instructions, and delegate his authority, to the holy Apostles; and, through the Apostles, to their legitimate successors, in all ages of the Church. This solemn commission is

1 Written in the year 1810, and preached at an Ordination in the Cathedral Church of Cashel. Afterwards, preached in the chapel of Trinity College, Dublin, as an act Sermon, before the University, for the degree of D.D. in 1821.

lens, ten have mental de

QUI FATUNI+ ast mitoriae was
From Sant Martie, TF

pantmens of national Arsim –

dian, onder Christown peu paisane, and prencion, of a true faith ne mes Tazity: and the depository of a pure a

Saint Mark, prodness the the Apostles, and their early the Gospel to individual

S Gentiles:

making adult converts, in all coutes of the earth; and verifying the dive so by the communication of miraculous power

Saint Luke, records that previous illumination of mind, by which, the Apostles were enabled both, to apprehend the sacred Sertures, and the nature of their two-fold mission, as witnesses of the Gospel facts, and as preachers of repent

ance and remission of sins.

And by Saint John, the last, and most size of the sacred historians, we are made acquainted with the profoundest mysteries of this solem delegation: that, as Christ was sent by the Vather, even so, sent He the Apostles; that He

15

breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost;" and, finally, that He entrusted them with the ministerial power, of retaining, and remitting sins.

In this branch of the sacred narrative, each Evangelist, we may well believe, was guided to select the matter suited to his own peculiar sphere. But it is not my present purpose, to consider the propriety of this selection; nor shall I attempt a comparative view of the passages themselves. I will merely submit a few brief remarks, on the words of Saint Mark, and Saint Matthew; in order to settle the just meaning of the text, and to introduce with clearness, the subject of the following discourse.

"Preach the Gospel to every creature," says our Lord, according to Saint Mark. That is, Preach to individuals of all ranks, all countries, all religions, without respect of persons.

"He that believeth, and is baptized, shall be saved; but he that believeth not, shall be damned." Words which imply intelligence, capacity, moral responsibility, in the persons to be addressed; and which require actual belief, as a pre-requisite for Baptism.

"And these signs shall follow them that believe. In my name, they shall cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall

take up serpents; if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." Great and miraculous powers these; conferred, not only on Apostles, but on private Christians; but which, we learn from the unexceptionable testimony of Saint Chrysostom, and Saint Augustine, were very rarely communicated in the fourth century. (1)

From this view, therefore, of the passage of Saint Mark, we may conclude, that it respects the admission within the Christian pale, of adult individual converts; who, before baptism, were to make a credible profession of faith. We may conclude, also, that, as the privilege annexed, was temporary in its operation, the system aided by that privilege, was not intended either to be permanent or universal.

The passage of Saint Matthew, which I have chosen for my text, has a very different, and far more extended application..

"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." When Saint Paul wishes to impress this great truth on the Church of Ephesus, he seems almost to exhaust the copiousness of language; he accumulates the grandest imagery, that can be derived from this world, and the world to come. Not so, with Him, who spake as never man spake,