Page:SermonsFromTheLatins.djvu/401

 body, the  Church. " You,"  says  the  Apostle,  "  are the  body  of  Christ  and  members  of  member;  and  as the  body  is  one  and  hath  many  members,  and  all  the members  of  the  body,  whereas  they  are  many,  yet are  one  body,  so  also  is  Christ.,,  This  bond  of  union, this  identity  of  Christ  with  His  Church,  entails  a corresponding  indestructibility  on  her  part,  and  justifies us  in  saying  of  her  that  having  risen  with  Christ from  the  dead  she  dieth  now  no  more  and  death  shall no  more  have  dominion  over  her.

Brethren, Christ's  Church  is  indestructible. That Christ founded  a  Church  every  Christian  must  necessarily admit,  and  no  fair-minded  infidel  can  possibly deny. Many, however,  contend  that  the Church's existence  depending  on  our  free  will,  not even Christ  Himself  could  have  foretold  whether  we should  ever  change,  abandon,  or  destroy  her. The Church dependent  on  our  free  will! God forbid. Or what  is  free  will? Does it  mean  entire  independence of  God? It would  be  a  curse  rather  than  a blessing. Free will  was  not  given  to  us  that  we might  be  able  to  choose  between  good  and  evil,  or defeat  the  designs  of  an  all-powerful  God. The blessed in  heaven,  the  angels,  God  even,  cannot  will evil for  evil's  sake,  and  yet  they  represent  the  highest, sublimest  types  of  moral  freedom. The essence of free  will  consists  in  the  power  to  choose,  not  between good  and  evil,  but  between  one  good  and  another. Hence, if  God  in  an  excess  of  that  mercy which surpasseth  all  understanding,  restrains  us  from such deeds  as  the  destruction  of  His  Church,  He