Page:The Eternal Priesthood (4th ed).djvu/213

Rh beyond all men—by their higher predestination, by their greater grace, by the unction and character df their priesthood, by their participation in the character and priesthood of the Son of God, by the commission and charge He has given to them, and by the promises they have made to Him, by their love as disciples and friends, by gratitude, and by generosity — to use their liberty, not grudgingly or by constraint, but with gladness, joy, and self-oblation, even with denial and sacrifice of self in its fairest and most innocent forms, if need so be, that they may serve Him more perfectly in saving the souls for whom He died. "All things are lawful to me," but I will not therefore do or enjoy all that is lawful, for "all things are not expedient." They will not advance my salvation, my sanctification, my sacerdotal perfection. "All things are lawful to me, but all things edify not." If, by my example, I mislead any one, or embolden any one to do with danger to himself that which is no danger to me, or if I relax his perseverance or lower his aspiration, or if, by my unconscious influence, I undo what I have tried to teach to others, or give them scandal, then the use of my liberty, however lawful, will be not only not expedient, but a hindrance to their salvation, and still more to my own.