Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

328 THE THIRD AGE OF THE MARTYR CHURCH.of the whole. The Church is likewise one,*thoughOshe be spread abroad, and multiplies with the in-crease of her progeny : even as the sun has raysmany, yet one light, and the tree boughs many, yetits strength is one, seated in the deep-lodged root ;and as, when many streams flow down from onesource, though a multiplicity of waters seems tbe diffused from the bountifulness of the overflow-ing abundance, unity is preserved in the sourceitself. Part a ray of the sun from its orb, and itsunity forbids_this division of light; break a branchfrom the tree, once broken it can bud no more ;cut the stream from its fountain, the remnant willbe dried up. Thus the Church, flooded with thelight of the Lord, puts forth her rays through thewhole world, with yet one light, which is spreadupon all places, while its unity of body is not infringed.She stretches forth her branches overthe universal earth, in the riches of plenty, andpours abroad her bountiful and onward streams ;yet is there one head, one source, one mother,abundant in the results of her fruitfulness.-" It is of her womb that we are born; ournourishing is from her milk, our quickening fromher breath. The Spouse of Christ cannot becomeadulterate; she is undefiled and chaste; owningbut one home, and guarding with virtuous modestythe sanctity of one chamber. She it is who keepsus for God, and appoints unto the kingdom thesons she has borne. Whosoever parts company