selves servants and co-operators of the Holy Ghost. By the inspiration of the Holy Ghost we are animated to virtue, and to meritorious actions; supported by his grace, we are inflamed to engage with fortitude in the combat for salvation, the success ful termination of which, and of our earthly career, will be rewarded by our Heavenly Father with that imperishable crown of justice, which is reserved for all who shall have run the same course; "for God," says the Apostle, "is not unjust, that he should forget our work and our love." [1]
But with what sentiments of heartfelt piety we should utter the word " our," these words of St. Chrysostome declare: " God," says he, " willingly hears the prayer of a Christian, not only when offered for himself, but for another. Necessity obliges us to pray for ourselves; charity exhorts us to pray for others. The prayer of fraternal charity," he adds, " is more acceptable to God than that of necessity." [2]
On the subject of prayer, a subject so important, so salutary, it becomes the duty of the pastor to admonish and exhort all his hearers, of every age, sex, and rank, to be mindful of this common brotherhood, and, instead of arrogating to themselves an insolent superiority over others, to exhibit in their conduct the bearing and the tone of fraternal regard. True, there are many gradations of office in the Church of God, yet that diversity of rank is far from severing the bond of this fraternal relationship; in the same manner as variety of use and diversity of office do not cause this or that member of the same body to forfeit the name or functions of a member. The monarch, seated on his throne, and bearing the sceptre of royal authority, as one of the faithful, is the brother of all who are within the communion of the Christian faith. There is not one God the Creator of the rich, another of the poor; one of kings, another of subjects; but there is one God, who is common Lord and Father of all. Considering their spiritual origin, the nobility of all is, there fore, the same, born, as we all are, of the same spirit, through the same sacrament of faith, children of God, and co-heirs to the same immortal inheritance. The wealthy and the great- have not one Christ for their God, the poor ind the lowly another; they are not initiated by different sacraments; they do not expect a different inheritance. No, we are all brethren; in the language of the Apostle, " We are members of Christ's body, of his flesh, and of his bones." [3] " You are all the children of God, by faith in Christ Jesus; for as many of you as have been baptized in Christ, have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither bond nor free: there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." [4]
This is a subject which the pastor should handle with all possible care: on its consideration he cannot expend too much knowledge and ability: because it is not less calculated to fortify
