16, seqq.; S. Luke xviii. 18, seqq.)

Our LORD could Godhead-if He sinfulness at the

not here have meant to deny His had, He would have asserted His same time. This then, alone, would not prove ever His humanity. He spoke according to the mind of His hearer. But it was especially human to love this young man, as S. Mark tells us He did-(x. 21)—i was not a Divine love, for the youth was not sincere and went away from Him. It was the love which ↑ good man might well entertain, for one, who, though failing of eternal life, lacked but one thing to secure it. Again, it is S. Mark who especially notices His human affection of anger (iii. 5)—His human “marvelling" at unbelief (vi. 6)-and, most wonderful of all, His human ignorance of the Day of Judgment (xiii. 32.)

II. S. Mark teaches indirectly the Divinity of our LORD.

This is chiefly done by the record of His miracles. In each of the first eleven chapters of his sixteen, one miracle at least is recorded. He is the only Evange list who records our LORD's promise, after His Resurrection, that His disciples should work miracles also (xvi. 17), and he concludes by assuring his readers that they did so. (xvi. 20.) These miracles are spoken of as emanating from Him-no mention is made of any other authority. They were to be done in His Name, and He it was Who worked with the Apostles and confirmed the Word.

Hence, instructed in this heavenly doctrine, let us abide in the faith grounded and settled, and not be moved away from the hope of the Gospel. (Col. i.

3.) Let us be thankful for our confirmed knowedge of

1. Our LORD's human character.

ures.

Some persons, most irreverently, are startled at uch passages as those here adduced on this subject. But this is not to realize the mystery of the two naHow the human infirmity of ignorance and he Divine attribute of Omniscience could cöexist, we know not-but, if the two natures did cöexist, the attributes must have done so. The humanity of our blessed LORD is the pledge for the perfection of His sacrifice, as well as for some of its most encouraging and endearing features. Every proof of it, especially proofs so decided as these, should be welcomed with the warmest and most adoring gratitude.

II. Our LORD's Divine authority.

His miracles are incontestable proofs of this. (S. Matt. xi. 4, 5; S. John iii. 2; v. 36; x. 37, 38 ; xv. 24 ; xx. 30, 31.) If the Divine character of the Gospel were only probable, our hope would not be sure, stedfast, good, lively, making not ashamed, full assurance, and animating every possessor of it to purify himself as its Giver is pure. (Heb. vi. 19; 2 Thess. ii. 16; 1 S. Pet. i. 3; Rom. v. 5; Heb. vi. 11; 1 S. John iii. 3.) How inoperative, alas! is our hope, even as it is! What would it be if it had not faith to rest on ? had no reasonable ground? (1 S. Pet. iii. 15;) no substance, no evidence? (Heb. xi. 1;) how should we be "carried about with every wind of doctrine!" As it is, men leave the purest branches of the Catholic Church for novelties of yesterday—are ready to embrace the novelty of to-morrow-will take up with any deceit which "the

:

sleight of men, and cunning craftiness," may offer to their acceptance. (S. John v. 43.)-What would be their case if the miracles of our LORD were not competently attested? Many who are now schismatics would be ir fidels. But, thanks be to GOD! how abundant is the attestation! Look at S. Mark's Gospel alone. Suppose we had lost the earnest testimony of those who prove the truth with their senses-as, blessed be GOD! T have not yet who was S. Mark? a contemporary certainly; an eye witness, possibly; one who wrote under the direction of an eye witness, undoubtedly Nor is there any Gospel in which tokens of an eye witness are so manifested. The "green grass" of the solitude had impressed the sight of him who narrated the event in S. Mark vi. 39; the "shining, exceeding white" raiment of our LORD on the Mount so inpressed the spectator that, with inspired language st command, he yet laboured to express the sight. (8. Mark ix. 3.) Surely here we have the eye of him whe speaks in 2 S. Pet. i. 16-18.

Consecrate then this day, my brethren, by resolving to do what GOD, through the Evangelist, would have us do; continue in the faith, and not be moved away from the hope of the Gospel. (Col. i. 23.) "Stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel." (Phil. i. 27; S. Jude 3.) Remember your foundation (Eph. ii. 20); if ye are carried away by any wind of doctrine, it is ye that are unstable, not the foundation infirm. The unlearned and unstable wrest even the Holy Scriptures to their destruction (1 S. Pet. iii. 16); but that is because they are unlearned and unstable. Acquaint yourselves with

e Holy Scriptures; live, as you would ask, in faith, othing wavering. (S. James i. 6-8.) Holy Scripare is the grand defence against unbelief, heresy, chism. "The primitive fathers press the reading of he Scriptures upon the people as a matter of indispensable obligation; as the best preservative against eretical opinions, as well as a bad life." (Nelson, Festivals. S. Mark's Day.) Allow that S. Mark's Gospel was written by one who had perfect knowedge of facts, and then disbelieve, if possible, that JESUS is GOD and man. His Life, Sufferings, Death, Resurrection, Ascension, Session at the right hand of the FATHER, are all set forth in this Gospel-together with the necessity of the Sacraments. In these things S. Mark has practically refuted all heresies. Let us remember, however, that, though not carried away by any wind of doctrine, we may yet, in practice, fall from the faith-we may not stumble at the Corner stone, but It may fall upon us. (S. Matt. xxi. 44.) We may hold the truth in unrighteousness. (Rom. i. 19.) "The light of the Gospel, though admirably fitted to conduct us into the path of happiness, yet will certainly increase our condemnation, if we do not govern our lives by the maxims of it." (Nelson, ubi supra.) Christianity is better than infidelity, as a vine is better than a bramble-on account of its fruit. But let the vine be fruitless, and the bramble is superior. This truth is taught in this day's Gospel: and the Epistle, teaching us to speak the truth in love, to hold sound doctrine in pure practice, bears a like testimony. If we are dead branches of the living Vine, we may as well be none at all. We were engrafted

into CHRIST that we might be fruitful. (Rom. vi. 4. Growing up into Him (Eph. iv. 15,) in life as well doctrine, we shall ourselves be the subjects of ou LORD's miracles: blind, receiving sight, (S. Luke 18); lame walking, (Heb. xii. 13); lepers cleanse (1 S. John i. 9); deaf hearing, (Rom. x. 17); des. raised, (Eph. v. 14); poor, to whom the Gospel à preached, and whose is the kingdom of heaven. ( Matt. v. 3; See Isa. xxix. 18, 19.)