Page:The Great Encyclical Letters of Pope Leo XIII.djvu/367



THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH. 361

it as so many passive instruments. In regard to this external principle, therefore, we must inquire which one of all the means in His power Christ did actually adopt. For this purpose it is necessary to recall in thought the institution of Christianity.

We are mindful only of what is witnessed to by holy writ and what is otherwise well known. Christ proves His own divinity and the divine origin of His mission by miracles; He teaches the multitudes heavenly doctrine by word of mouth; and He absolutely commands that the assent of faith should be given to His teaching, promising eternal rewards to those who believe and eternal punish- ment to those who do not. // I do not the icorks of My Father, believe Me vat} If I had not done among them the works that no other man hath done, they would not have sin? But if I do (the works), though you will not believe Me, believe the works? Whatsoever He commands, He commands^ by the sam e authority. He requires the assent of the miiid to all. truths without exception. It was "tlTus the duty of all who heard Jesus Christ, if they wished for eternal salvation, not merely to accept His doctrine as a whole, but to assent with their entire mind to all and every point of it, since it is unlawful to withhold faith from God even in regard to one single point.

When about to ascend into heaven He sends His apostles in virtue of the same power by which He had been sent from the Father; and He charges them to spread abroad and propagate His teaching. All 'power is given to Me in heaven and in earth. Going therefore teach all nations . . . teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.* So that those obeying the apostles might be saved, and those disobeying should perish. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be condemned.^ But since it is obviously most in harmony with God's providence that no one

Â» John X. 37. 2 John xv. 24. ^ John x. 38.


 * Matt, xxviii. 18, 19, 20. Â» Mark xvi. 16.