sanctuary, exclaimed: "Emperor, go forth and take thy place among the laity, for though thy ermine make thee an emperor, it does not make thee a priest." The priest, therefore, while ever remembering, on the one hand, that he is the servant of the servants of God, must never forget, on the other, that he is an " alter Christus," another Christ, that he is the salt of the earth, which if it lose its savor will be cast out and trampled upon by men; that he is, in a word, a minister of Christ and a dispenser of the mysteries of God. As such, too, he should be accounted of and reverenced by you of the laity. Christ said to His Apostles: " He that despiseth you, despiseth Me." Respect paid His priests is respect paid to Christ Himself, and be assured that as Peter lost nothing by tendering the use of his boat for Jesus's pulpit, nor the widow by supporting Elias, nor the Sunamitess by housing Eliseus, so whatever material aid or hospitality you may provide for His priests will be amply rewarded. Remember, too, that extremes are perilous, and that safety lies midway. Excessive regard for individual priests begot factions among the Corinthians, one saying, " I am Paul's," another, "I am Apollo's," and a third, " I belong to Cephas." But neither Paul is anything nor Apollo nor Cephas; they plant and water the faith, but of themselves they are nothing; as Christ's ministers they are one and in all things equal; but they and we are all of Christ, and Christ is of God who giveth the increase. " Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Thy name give glory . . . but let a man so account of us as of the ministers of Christ and the dispensers of the mysteries of God."
