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Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

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350 THE THIRD AGE OF THE MARTYR CHURCH.its strength lay. He gathers up and gives expressionto the two hundred and twenty yearsbetween the day <strong>of</strong> Pentecost and his own time.Here are the creative words <strong>of</strong> our Apostle andHigh-priest explained and attested and exhibitedas having passed into fact by four witnesses, firstS. Paul, then S. Ignatius, thirdly S. Irena3us,fourthly S. Cyprian. Between all the five thereis no shadow <strong>of</strong> divergence, between the Masterwho designed the building and the servants whodescribed its erection ; between the Prophet wh<strong>of</strong>oretold and the historians who recorded. <strong>The</strong>one said, Upon this rock I will build my Church;the others pointed out that the work was accomplished.<strong>The</strong> original and fundamental conception <strong>of</strong>all this work is expressed by S. Matthew andS. Mark when they speak <strong>of</strong> our Lord at His firstgoing forth as " proclaiming the gospel <strong>of</strong> thekingdom.'' His three years' ministry is thegerm and type <strong>of</strong> the perpetual mission whichHe founded. It was to be from first to last awork <strong>of</strong> personal ministry, beginning from above,not spreading from below: its power and virtuedescending from Him through those whom Hechose, the people being the work <strong>of</strong> the Prince,their government a delegation from Him, as theirmoral condition lay in following Him, and theirlife and support in feeding on Him. And He declaredthat the original conception should be car-

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