October 7 — On the Precepts of the Church

Consider, first, that all Christians are under a strict obligation of keeping also the precepts, that is, the commandments, of the church, because the law of God commands us so to do. Hoitr our thy father and thy mother, is a commandment which not I us to obey them that are our parents acc<Mding to the flesh, but also our spiritual parents, at least in matters spir itwtl, namely, the pastors of the church of Christ To these Christ our Lord has said, (Luke x. 16,) He that hearcth kearttk me, he that despiseth you, despiseth me. To these he has given the keys of the kingdom of heaven with the power of binding and hosing, St Matt xvi. 19, and xviii. 18. These he has sentf as his Father sent him, St. John xx. 21. With these he has promised to abide till the end of the world, St. Matt xxviii. 20. These he has made his ministers, the stewards and dispensers of his mysteries and sacraments, (1 Cor. iv. ],) and his ambassadors, 2 Cor. v. 20. These hehas given us for pastors and teachers, Eph. iv. 11, 12, &c. To these he has given the charge of our souls; and therefore the apostle calls upon us, (Hebr. xiii,) not only to fellow their faith, (v. 7,) but also to obey them, and to submit ourselves to them, (v. 17.) O blessed obience! It is in vain to pretend to obey our Father in heaven, if we refuse to obey our mother the church.

Consider, secondly, the excellency of these precepts of the church,, and their admirable tendency to bring us to God, by obliging us to set aside so many of our days for prayer and other religious duties; to humble ourselves so often, and to do penance for our sins, by fasting and abstinence; to frequent the sacraments and sacrifices of the church, &c. O, these precepts are not mere human inventions or injunctions; they have been dictated by the Spirit of God, which always resides and presides in the church; they are enacted by divine commission and authority; they are, generally speaking, so many determinations of the divine law. The law of God and of nature requires, that we should dedicate a considerable part of our time to the divine worship; the precepts of the church point out the particular days we are to set aside for this end. The divine law calls upon us to pay to our God the homage of adoration, praise and sacrifice: the precepts of the church prescribe, for this end. the frequenting the great sacrifice of the death of Christ, offered up to God in the holy mysteries. The law of God obliges us to do penance for our sins; to restrain! our passions and lusts; to offer up pure and humble prayer to God; and consequently to fast and abstain, as far as shall be necessary for us to answer these ends: the church, by her precepts, orders the times foi this penitential exercise, lest, if we were left to ourselves, w€ should wholly neglect it. The law of Christ ordains the confes sion of our sins, and the worthily receiving the sacred commun ion: the precepts of the church require, under pain of excom munication, that this divine law should ccunplied with in sucK manner, as not to defer the confession of our sins beyond the year, nor to neglect the receiving the holy communion, at least at Easter. See then, my soul, how necessary it is for thee to observe all these precepts of the church, in order to comply with the law and commandments of God.

Consider, thirdly, the unhappy case of all such Christians as despise these precepts of the church of Christ. Alas! they despise, in effect, both Christ and his Father, (Luke x. 16,) and will be treated accordingly at his tribunal. The wil ul transgression of any one of these ordinances of God’s church, is certainly criminal in the sight of God: how much more the contempt of them! And what, then, must we think of the wretched state of so many souls, that make a practice of transgressing these laws of the church, by breaking through the rules prescribed by her decrees and constitutions, with regard to festivals, fasts, and abstinences; or with regard to the frequentation of the sacraments at the times appointed? Ah, such undutiful children as these, that live in an habitual disobedience to God and his church, deserve not the name of children, or of Catholic Christians, and, without a sincere conversion from these their evil ways, must expect undoubtedly to be reckoned another day amongst heathens and unbelievers.

Conclude to observe, religiously, the laws and ordinances of the church of God, and to see they be religiously observed by ail under your care. If there be a necessity, at any time, of your being dispensed with in any of these church laws, go to your pastors for this dispensation; but presume not to dispense with yourselves. Only the pastors of the church can dispense in the precepts of the church.