Page:SermonsFromTheLatins.djvu/391

 sanctuary, exclaimed:  "Emperor,  go  forth  and take  thy  place  among  the  laity,  for  though  thy ermine  make  thee  an  emperor,  it  does  not  make  thee a  priest." The priest,  therefore,  while  ever  remembering, on  the  one  hand,  that  he  is  the  servant  of  the servants of  God,  must  never  forget,  on  the  other,  that he is  an  "  alter  Christus,"  another  Christ,  that  he  is the  salt  of  the  earth,  which  if  it  lose  its  savor  will  be cast  out  and  trampled  upon  by  men;  that  he  is,  in  a word,  a  minister  of  Christ  and  a  dispenser  of  the mysteries of  God. As such,  too,  he  should  be  accounted of  and  reverenced  by  you  of  the  laity. Christ said  to  His  Apostles:  "  He  that  despiseth  you, despiseth  Me." Respect paid  His  priests  is  respect paid to  Christ  Himself,  and  be  assured  that  as  Peter lost nothing  by  tendering  the  use  of  his  boat  for Jesus's pulpit,  nor  the  widow  by  supporting  Elias,  nor the Sunamitess  by  housing  Eliseus,  so  whatever material aid  or  hospitality  you  may  provide  for  His priests will  be  amply  rewarded. Remember, too, that extremes  are  perilous,  and  that  safety  lies  midway. Excessive regard  for  individual  priests  begot factions among  the  Corinthians,  one  saying,  "  I  am Paul's,"  another,  "I  am  Apollo's,"  and  a  third,  "  I belong  to  Cephas." But neither  Paul  is  anything nor Apollo  nor  Cephas;  they  plant  and  water  the faith, but  of  themselves  they  are  nothing;  as  Christ's ministers  they  are  one  and  in  all  things  equal;  but they and  we  are  all  of  Christ,  and  Christ  is  of  God who giveth  the  increase. " Not  to  us,  O  Lord,  not to  us,  but  to  Thy  name  give  glory  .  .  .  but  let a  man  so  account  of  us  as  of  the  ministers  of  Christ and  the  dispensers  of  the  mysteries  of  God."