October 28 — On St, Simon and St, Jude

Consider, first, the wonders of God in these, and in all tho rest of the apostles, whom he raised up, as it were, from the earth and from the dunghill, and made the princes of his peo pie. The foolish things of the world hath God chosen, saith St Paul, (1 Cor. i. 27, 28, 29,) that he may confound thetoise; ana the weak things of the world hath God chosen, that he may con found the strong; and the base things of the world, and the things that are contemptible, hath God chosen, that no flesh should glory in his sight. The apostles, when they were chosen by Christ, were poor and contemptible in the eyes of the world; they were ignorant and illiterate; they had no power, credit, or interest to recommend them, nor any one of those qualities which the world is fond of, to make them shine in the eyes of men; and yet they are preferred by the Wisdom of God, before all the wise, rich, eloquent, learned, noble, or great ones of this world, as most fit to be his instruments in the great work of the conversion of the world, and best qualified by their simplicity and humility, to show forth his glory. Adore here, my soul, the wonderful ways of God, and learn to prefer with him the things that this world de spises, before all its false grandeur, deceitful appearances, and ostentation of wisdom. I8S

Consider, secondly, the eminent dignity to which tlie apoea were raised by our Lord: they were made his disciples, his individual companions, his familiar friends and confidants, yea, bis bretbr ren too, John xx. 17: they were made, under him, die chief priests of the New Testament, the first bishops and pastors of his church, the prime ministers of his kingdom, the stewards and dispensers of all his mysteries, his ambassadors to men, his vicegerents upon earth, the doctors and teachers of the whole world, and, next afir ter him who is the chief corner-stone the twelve foundations of his church, (Eph. ii. 20,) yea, the twelve foundations of the heavenly Jerusalem, Apoc. xxi. 14. Reflect also on the distinguishing graces, and the excellency of power, which our Lord conferred upon them, suitable to their great office and callings; such as the power of consecrating; and of offering in sacrifice, his sacred body and blood; of remitting sins, and of opening or shutting heaven’s gates to men; the commission of feeding his flock, and of ruling and directing his church, with the promise of the Holy Ghost to assist them therein; the authority of publishing through the whole world his new law, the law of grace, and the covenant of salvation through him, &c.; besides the gifts of tongues and prophecy, and other eminent graces of the Holy Ghost, and a power of working all kind of miracles, yea, even greater than those of Christ himself, St, John xiv. 12. Christians, bless your Saviour on the festivals of the apostles, for all these great things he has done for them, and through them, for his church in general, and, in some degree, for every one of you in particular. For, as they were, under Christ, the fathers and founders of the Christian religion, so, from them, and through their ministry, the faith, the word, the sacraments, the graces of Christ, and all spiritual goods and treasures, are derived down to your souls by the channel of their successors in the church of Christ.

Consider, thirdly, the eminent sanctity of the apostles, on ac count of which they have been so highly honoured by all succeeding generations in the Christian church. They received great graces, and they faithfully co-operated with these graces. At the first call, they left all things else to follow Christ, and, as he bears them witness, (Luke xx. 28,) they remained with him in, his temptations. They were indefatigable in their labours for the propagating of his kingdom, and fur the salvation of souls; their zeal and courage were invincible; their love for him was stronger than death; they were ready to meet with death, in every shape, for his glory; they even rejoiced that they were esteemed worthy to suffer for his name. In a word, they were perfect, in an eminent degree, in all virtues. By their preaching and labours, by ther doctrine and miracles, by their sufferings and death, they p.antcii the faith and church of Christ throughout the world; but nothing contributed more to this great work than the sanctity ot their lives, by the help of which, as well as by the fervour and efficacy of their prayers, they effectually established virtue, religion, and Christian perfection, in every place where they came, upon the ruins of infidelity and vice, and left behind them a succession of saints, as the fruits of their labours, which has been kept up ever since in the true church of Christ; according to that of their divine Master, (John xv. 16,) I have appointed you that you should go and should bring forth fruity and your fruit should remain.

Conclude to celebrate, with a particular devotion, the festivals of the apostles, as the most eminent amongst the favourites ef God, and the fathers of the other saints. Glorify God, who is wonderful in all his saints, for the extraordinary wonders he has wrought in them, and through them, and for that eternal glory to which he has raised them. But study also to learn the great lessons they perpetually taught, both by word and work, and to aim with aU your power at an imitation of their virtues and sanctity