ES

learn from the examples of Christ Our Lord and the \postles how much importance is to be attached to the sacred writings, and with What zeal and with what a religious spirit they ought to approach this armory as it may be called,

For to those who may have to

treat of the truths of Catholic doctrines amongst the learned or the unlearned nowhere are there afforded either more abundant

resources ora luller

exposition respecting God, the highest and nost perfect good, and wisdom Of His works as reflecting His vlory and charity, And with regard to the Preserver of the human race there is nothing More Copious or more expressive than what is found in the collective text of the Bible ; and Jerome rightly aflirms that “ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ" (Jn Is. Prol) : for from them stunds out, as it were, His image livine and breathmg, from which come ina truly wonderful way, a mitigation of evils. an encouragement to virtue, and m mvitation to Divine charity. As far as the Church IS concerned, its foundation, nature, functions and graces are so. frequently mentioned therein, so numerous, strong and ready to hand are the argue. ments in its favor, that the same Jerome has most truly declared ' He who is strengthened by the testimonies of the Sacred Scripture is a bulwark of the Church” (Jn. In. Is. liv. 12). And if a search be made with respect to the regulation and discipline of life and morals, apostolic men will discover in the same writings liberal and most exeellent support, directions full of sanctity, exhortations seasoned with gentleness and lorce, and distinguished examples | every kind ol Virtue: and there are besides in the name and words of God Himsel{ the Most Important promises of rewards and the threats ol punishment loi eternity

lt is this peeuliar and special power of the Holy Scriptures derived trom the Divine afflatus of the

Holy Spirit which lends influence to the sacred orator, confers apostolic freedom of speech and imparts nervous energy and irresistible eloquence, For whoever, in speaking, reproduces the spirit and Strength of the Divine word speaks “not in word only but in power also, and in the Holy Ghost and in much fulness ” (Ist Thess, I. 5.). Wherefore, they who deliver discourses on religion and proclaim the Divine message in such a way as to use scarcely anything else but the language of human science and prudence rely more on their own than on Divine arguments, and their sermons, howevei

brilliant they may appear, must be weak and cold inesmuch as they want the fire of God's Word (Jeremiah. XXIII, 20), and must be [ar inferior to those into which the Divine Word infuses its power: for " the Word of God is living and effectual, and more

piercing than any two-edged sword, and reaches

unto the division of the soul and the spirit” (Heb,