Page:Tracts for the Times Vol 2.djvu/516

6 tendency: in like manner as the sun has rays many, yet one light; and the tree has many boughs, yet their strength, from the root upwards, is a single property; and when many streams flow from one head, a character of multiplicity may be developed in the copiousness of their discharge, and yet the unity of their nature must be recognised in the fountain they proceed from. Divide the ray from the sun, and the principle of unity will negative their separation; lop the bough from the tree, it will want strength to blossom; cut the stream from its fountain, the remnant will be dried up. Thus the Church, invested with light from the Lord, sends out her rays over the whole earth; and yet the light is one, disseminated every where, with no separation of the original body: she stretches forth the rich luxuriance of her branches over all the world, and pours out her onward streams, and spreads into the distance; yet is there one head, one source, one mother, in all the instances of her eventful fecundity."

"It is from her we receive our birth: her milk is our nourishment; her breath, our life. The spouse of Christ is a spotless spouse; she is incorruptible, and pure; she recognises but one home, and secures by her purity the sanctity of but one alliance. She keeps us as the property of God, and vindicates to His sons their royal inheritance. Whosoever separates from the Church declares himself an alien, and cuts himself off from the inheritance which the Church promises. He cannot obtain the reward which Christ gives, who leaves the Church which Christ has established: he is an alien: he is impure: he is an enemy. God is no more our Father when we cease to be children of the Church. If any one of those escaped who were without the ark of Noah, then will he escape, who trespasses beyond the pale of the Church. The Lord hath given us these words of warning, 'He who is not with me, is against me; and he who gathereth