shadow of death." The humble James was employed in confirming the newlyestablished Church at Jerusalem, and in teaching its members" to be doers of the word, and not hearers only 2;" while the divine and highly-endowed John was permitted to pierce with his eagle eye through the mysteries of futurity, and to foretell the events which, in after ages, were to befall the Christian Church. But all "these diversities of gifts were bestowed on them by the same Spirit." "To one was given, by the Spirit, the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues. But all these that one and the self-same Spirit worked, dividing to every man severally as he would."

1 Luke i. 79.

2 James i. 22.

Through Him who "breathed on them," and said unto them "Receive ye the Holy Ghost;" through him who promised "to be with them always, even unto the end of the world;" do we believe that the same Spirit still continues to influence their successors in the ministry, and to animate and to invigorate their exertions. He does not, indeed, now descend on us in open and visible majesty; we do not hear "the rushing mighty wind;" we do not see the heavenly flame; we are not publicly "baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire ',"-but in the still small voice, heard only by ourselves, which bids us persevere in our duties; in the animating confidence resulting from a reflection on the success of our labours; in seeing, where we have the happiness so to do, the knowledge of the word of God increasing around us; in the consciousness which we have that we are instruments in his hands for good to those committed to our charge ;-in these

effects of his presence do we still see the blessing of the Holy Spirit, and acknowledge the benefit of his assistance. He cometh not now upon us like the rushing of the flood, "when the windows of heaven were opened, and the fountains of the great deep were broken up ';" but he rather droppeth upon us like the gentle dew from heaven. And whether the dew be upon the fleece or upon the ground, whether it please the Holy Spirit to bless the labours of the ministry, or to open the hearts of their hearers to them, yet is the gift, we may be sure, if rightly and earnestly sought for, bestowed in such abundance as is expedient for the neces sities of either. For the fountain of all goodness" giveth not the Holy Spirit by measure unto those who are his faithful soldiers and servants; but whether as a guide or a counsellor, a comforter or an inciter, whether he urges us to do, or aids us to endure, still do we find the promise fulfilled, and are conscious that

2 "

1 Gen. vii. 11.

2 John iii. 34.

he is with us, and are assured that he will continue with us "even unto the end of the world."

And in looking, as we naturally must with a more than common interest, to the ministry of our own particular branch of the Catholic Church, I trust we may be permitted to observe, not only the general superintendence of a superior Power, but also the employment of the "diversities of gifts" in its members, each directed to a wise end. Some we see occupied in expounding the Scriptures, and, by their knowledge of the languages in which they were originally written, resisting a false interpretation, or drawing an important doctrine to light. Some we observe withstanding the sceptic, and resisting his false insinuations; and others, while opposing the perhaps well-meant but injudicious zeal of the enthusiast, striving nevertheless to turn it to a useful channel. Some we perceive watching over the civil institutions of the Church; some attending to its spiritual ordinances;

and others not confining their views to their own country only, but endeavouring to extend the blessings of Christianity, and as far as lies in their power, after their own pure model, to the other portions of the world, trusting to make them sheep of the same flock to which they themselves belong. And well and happily may they hope to succeed in these their various wishes and labours in the work of their Master, if they will but go forth in his strength only, and put themselves under the guidance of his Spirit, who alone can bless and support them.

And after all, the aid of this Holy Being it is which can alone carry us through those temptations of prosperity by which we are sometimes exalted, or of adversity to which as an outward and visible Church we are occasionally exposed. And, indeed, these changes of fortune are no other than a proof of his constant superintendence, who gives us our interchange of rise and of fall, who bestows upon us our time of tribulation and our time of wealth,