But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that waver- eth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest unto Ar this season we are particularly called upon to consider that great Union of the Seen and Unseen, the mystery of the Holy Incarnation, by which is understood the first coming of Christ in the flesh. This doctrine, we may be assured, lies at the foundation of the Christian religion; and must therefore be a matter concerning which it is of the greatest consequence to us all to have a sound knowledge and a right faith. Many Christians, it is to be feared, live all their lives long without ever coming to a proper belief in regard to this deep mystery; insomuch that on the bed of death, the clergyman often finds that then they have to be instructed in it, when it is too late. But, my brethren, we must ever remember, that, as Christians, we are bound to be always advancing in faith, in holiness, and B in the knowledge of God; and that ignorance in so great a fact as this of the Incarnation will be sufficient to convict us at the last day. For what does such ignorance shew? It shews that a person has been living in a careless manner, and without any deep thought concerning his Saviour. If he had been really anxious about his soul, he would long since have taken pains to learn the true doctrine on this awful subject,-Christ Himself declaring to us: "This is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent." In the prophecies of the Old Testament it is clearly set forth that a Saviour was to be born into the world. Let us, then, to-day reflect upon the wonderful truth, that a Saviour has come into the world, and that this Saviour was, and is, God and man in one Person. "The Word," says St. John, says St. John, "was made flesh." In this sentence is summed up the doctrine of the Incarnation. Let us consider, first, who is here meant by the Word, of whom it is said that He was "made flesh." By the Word, then, is to be understood the Everlasting Son of the Father, who in other places of Holy Scripture is called the Wisdom of God, and the Power of God. For beyond all beginning, before any thing was made in creation, before the stars, before the sky, before the angels, the 1 John xvii. 3. Almighty Father had an Almighty Son. And from this Almighty Father and Almighty Son proceeded, from all eternity, an Almighty Spirit, God the Holy Ghost. The Father Eternal; the Son Eternal; the Holy Ghost Eternal; yet not three Eternals, but one Eternal. The Father Lord; the Son Lord; the Holy Ghost Lord; yet not three Lords, but one Lord. taught in the Three Persons the Son God; Such is the nature of the Deity, as revealed to us in Holy Scripture, and as Catholic Church through all ages. and One God; the Father God; the Holy Ghost God: yet the Father not the same as the Son, nor the Son the same as the Holy Ghost, nor the Holy Ghost the same as the Father. And who is sufficient for these things? Doubtless we should be better able to understand this doctrine of the Holy Trinity, if we were not sinners. Doubtless the holy angels do understand it far beyond what we do. But all we are sinners, we have gone astray, our minds are darkened, and we belong to an order of fallen beings. Therefore the best of men have ever acknowledged their own weakness in this matter, and have been content in faith to adore equally Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; crying out, Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost: as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Yes, my brethren, and we too must ever re |