Page:SermonsFromTheLatins.djvu/99

 human nature  were  infused  into  it  by  reason  of  the hypostatic union,  whereby  two  natures  were  made  to coalesce  in  the  single  personality  of  Our  Saviour. But the possession  of  wisdom  and  grace  is  one  thing  and their practical  application  quite  another;  and  so  Our Lord may  be  said  to  have  advanced  in  wisdom  and grace according  as  He  began  to  bring  more  and  more into use  the  knowledge  and  virtues  He  previously  enjoyed in  abstract  contemplation. " In  Him,"  says  St. Paul,  "  were  hidden  all  the  treasures  of  wisdom." In Him, in  fact,  was  hidden  the  author  of  wisdom  and sanctity, and  His  progress  was  His  gradual  manifestation to  the  world  of  His  divinity. Not that  there was any  subjective  change  in  Him,  the  change  was entirely objective— on  the  part  of  the  observers. The rising  sun,  for  example,  gives  but  a  feeble  light and little  heat;  higher  still  it  becomes  brighter  and warmer; until  from  the  zenith  it  sends  down  its  most brilliant and  scorching  rays. It is  ever  the  same  sun, throwing off  the  same  amount  of  light  and  heat,  that rises in  the  east,  that  crosses  the  meridian,  and  disappears in  the  west. The change  is  in  us — due  to our  change  of  position. So too,  it  was  with  the  Sun of truth  and  justice,  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord. Ever the same,  He  still,  at  His  conception,  suffused  with His truth  and  love  only  Mary  and  Joseph,  Elizabeth and John. He is  born,  and  the  illumined  circle  widens beyond the  shepherds  on  the  hillside. Brighter still, until even  decrepit  Simeon  sees  the  light  to  the revelation of  the  Gentiles. Higher and  brighter,  until the  Gentiles  walk  in  His  light  and  the  kings  in  the