What Church of God? The one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church of God. The same which delivered the “decrees of the Apostles and elders at Jerusalem:” [14] the same which confounded Arius at Nicæa: the same which overwhelmed Nestorius at Ephesus: the same which silenced Macedonius at Constantinople: the same which vanquished Eutyches at Chalcedon:—the one Holy Church throughout the world.
2. Next, I desire to lay down this—that, contrary to what the advocates of a religious census seem to imply—truth and numbers have no relation one to the other, unless it be that truth is with the few. The greatest number of mankind is yet in darkness and error; as S. John says, “the world lieth in wickedness.”
All God’s Word testifies that, compared with the many who forsake the truth, or who never accept it, or who deny it and lose its fruits, those who receive it, and live by it, and enter into its reward, are few. Of all the world at the time of the Flood only eight persons were worthy to be rescued. Among all the guilty families in the cities of the plain, only Lot’s escaped destruction. Of all the six hundred thousand Hebrews delivered out of Egypt, though blessed with the same miracles, conducted by the same Guide, and nourished by the same Manna, two only entered the promised land. In the taking of Jericho, of all the houses in the city only the harlot Rahab’s was spared. Of all the thirty and two thousand soldiers of Gideon, but three hundred were found worthy to contend for the Lord. And so, of all those olive berries and clusters of grapes set forth by the Prophet to describe the called of God,—there shall be saved only “as the shaking of the olive tree, and as the gleaning grapes, when the vintage is done.” [15]
Therefore Religion is not for show, but for reality. God is for Truth, and not for numbers. And they who are truly wise must be content, as the Apostles of old were content, to have numbers against them, if so it be, and to pass in turn through good and evil report, in the honest and simple defence of what is true.
This facing of the Truth against numbers is a necessity. And if you seek to shun it, you are sure nevertheless to encounter it; and with all the more roughness, for your efforts to escape it. If you side with the multitude, you will probably be magnified by those who are in the wrong. But you will hardly escape being censured by those who are in the right. And their commendation, if it makes less noise, has more value.
You must not be dismayed, therefore, because the world is against you. You must not begin a course of action because it is popular; nor must you abandon a course of action because it is decried. Look to what pleases God, not to what will please the multitude. And then you will do what is right. You will be wise for God. And God is over all.
3. Once more. No earnest mind can entertain the thought of what is passing among us, without feeling that these are sifting times. Times of division, when errors abound, are always times of sifting; times in which God is trying what men are made of; whether they are corn or chaff, gold or dross, wheat or tares.
Ephraim is “a cake not turned.” But who are guilty? “I will sift the House of Israel,” saith the Lord, “as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth.” [17a] This is the one comfort in the midst of so much sorrow. Whosoever is true grain, shall not be lost. See to it, then, that each soul among you is true grain.
God is sifting your sincerity by the errors which He suffers to compass you about. “I hear there are divisions among you, and I believe it,” says the Apostle, “for there must be heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest.” [17b] And your stability He is sifting—whether or not you are as Reuben, “unstable as water,” weak, and soft, and yielding, and inconstant. And your zeal, and your knowledge, and your love,—He is sifting all these, in this your day of probation.
You have had great gifts at God’s Hand, unspeakable opportunities of knowing Him and His Truth—the Word of God, the witness of the Church, and the “Spirit leading you into all Truth” through the ordained means of grace—through Sacraments and Prayer. How is it with you? Are you yet “men” in knowledge, with the “full assurance of understanding to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ, in Whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” [18a] Or are you “children in understanding,” “tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive?” [18b]