The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

"We""THE SACKAMENT OF PENANCE. 389instantly issued. When Paul was going to Damascus, breathing vengeance against the Christians, didour Saviour personally restore his sight,and convertand baptize him ? No He sent Paul to His servant;Ananias, who restored his sight and baptized him.The same Apostle, in one sentence, beautifullydescribes to us, in his Epistle to the Corinthians, thearrangement of divine Providence in the reconciliation of sinners :God,"he says, hath reconciledus to Himself through Christ, and hath given to usthe ministry of reconciliation. . . . For Christ, therefore, we are ambassadors ; God, as it were, exhorting*through That us." is to say, God sends Christ toreconcile sinners: Christ sends us. We are Hisambassadors, reconciling sinners in His name.When I think of this tremendous power which wepossess, I congratulate the members of the Church,for whose benefit it is conferred ;I tremble for myself and my fellow-ministers, for terrible is our responsibility, while we have nothing to glory in.Christ is the treasure ;we are but the pack-horsesthat carryit. bear this treasure in earthenvessels." Christ is the shepherd; we are the pipeHe uses to call His sheep. Our words sounding inthe confessional are but the feeble echo of -the voiceof the Spirit of God that purifiedthe Apostles in thecenacle of Jerusalem.But have we any Gospel authority to show that33*1 II. Cor. v. 18-20.