Page:Tracts for the Times Vol 1.djvu/222

 scene is changed, but the city remains the same. The Corner-stone is the same, its foundations are the same; if it be not built up by the same heavenly rule, it will not be the city that is at unity in itself, the city of Him, who "is not the Author of confusion, but of peace, as in all Churches of the Saints." His works at sundry times in divers manners according to His own Almighty wisdom; sometimes He descends upon His Ministers with an audible sound and in a visible form; and sometimes invisibly, amidst the deep silence and the prayers of His faithful congregation. Outward appearances may be changed, yet His Mighty Agency remains the same; and it will be our wisdom and our blessedness to feel and acknowledge His presence in the "still small voice," as well as in the "mighty and strong wind," and in "the fire." For though miracles and tongues may have ceased, He has never ceased to send forth Apostles, and Prophets, and Evangelists, and Pastors, and Teachers; nor will He cease to send them until the work of their ministry is accomplished in "the edification of the body of ;" "till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the of, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of ."

The question to which these few observations refer, is one, it must be allowed, of much importance. Our Blessed declares to His Apostles, "As My  hath sent Me, even so send I you." Again He says, "He that heareth you, heareth Me; and he that despiseth you, depiseth Me." It becomes then a grave question, to whom did address these words? To the Twelve Apostles exclusively, or to them and their Successors to the end of the world? It is surely worth our while carefully to search the Scriptures with a view to ascertain this point. And while we do this, let us bear constantly in mind that slight intimations of our Will are in their degree as much binding upcm us as express commands; that he who knows what probably his  Will is, will be judged as one who had probability to guide him; that he who knew not through negligence or slothfulness, will have his negligence or slothfulness to answer for. It will not be a sufficient excuse for us that we thought all that was said in