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 thwarts us  not  in  the  use  but  in  the  abuse  of  our liberty. Nor must  we  make  our  limited  understanding the  measure  of  God's  omnipotence. " The  power of  God,"  says  St.  Augustine,  "  to  move  our  free  wills whither  it  pleaseth  Him  is  greater  than  our  own." God said  of  David:  "Thou  shalt  be  king,"  but  were not the  Israelites  afterwards  free  in  electing  him? Christ came  on  earth  to  die  for  mankind,  but  did  not the Jews  crucify  Him  of  their  own  accord? And if the  Lord  decreed  that  His  Church  should  never change, never  die,  are  we  less  free  in  sustaining  her? No surely,  for  having  all  things  present  to  Him  in His  eternity,  and  foreseeing  and  foreordaining  that in every  age  a  certain  portion  of  humanity  aided  by His  grace  should  preserve  intact  the  visible  body  of His  Church,  the  Saviour  could  well  say  of  her  in  the words of  the  Psalmist:  "Thou  art  ever  the  selfsame and  thy  years  shall  not  fail."

But did  Christ  found  an  indestructible  Church? Brethren, as  well  might  one  ask:  Did  He  found  a Church  at  all? For wherever  in  Holy  Writ,  be  it  in figure  or  prophecy  or  Gospel  history,  we  read  of  the establishment of  Christ's  Church,  we  never  fail  to read  also  of  her  continuous  and  unchangeable  existence. She is  the  tree  of  life  of  the  New  Law,  whose leaves and  blossoms  shall  never  decay,  and  whose perennial fruit  must  nourish  men's  souls  in  the  vigor and freshness  of  an  eternal  youth. The Royal  Psalmist sings  of  her  as  the  sworn  covenant  of  God  with His people,  of  which  He  shall  never  repent;  as  His throne on  earth  that  shall  never  fall,  as  His  kingdom