came in with the false view of the Sacraments as signs and seals only. Undoubtedly the pious men under the old dispensation were sanctified; and in these days of ordinary attainment, how must we look back with shame and dejection upon the worthies of the elder Covenant, upon "those three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job," or upon Abraham the "father of the faithful," and the "friend of God." Greatly were they sanctified: the Spirit of God dwelt in their hearts, and wrought therein the incorruption amid a corrupted world, the self-denial, the patience, the unhesitating, unwearied faith, for which we yet venerate them. The Spirit of God, which at last withdrew from every other human heart, hallowed, and, like His emblem the dove, abode in the Ark; He purified the breast of the "preacher of righteousness," and kindled the filial piety of his two sons. Yet was not Noah therefore regenerate. "These all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise; God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect." They were the faithful servants, but not as yet the sons, of God. Christ had not died: our nature was not yet placed at God's right hand: the ever-blessed Son of God had not yet become man, that we, whom "He is not ashamed to call brethren," might be sons of God, as being in and of Him. One must speak tremblingly of such a mystery: but one dare not lower the greatness of our new creation, nor conceal the immensity of our Birthright, although our feeble brain may turn dizzy, and our faint hearts sink at the exceeding weight of such glory. We dare not shrink from avowing it, although we too may have turned "our glory into shame." Sons of God! brethren of Christ! and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ! when He shall appear, we shall be like Him! We speak not of the heavenly blessedness of the holy Patriarchs, nor how they are to become, or have become parts of the mystical Body of our and their Redeemer, or how they shall be endued with that perfectness, which God, for
of excellent virtue and piety, therefore they had received the Holy Spirit before Baptism; and so their sins were already forgiven them, and accordingly they were born together of the new birth." L c. § 44, 45.
