Consider what is involved in the administration of the kingdom of God on earth. The Church is the instrument of God's operations among men, and she carries them out by means of certain selected ones of her members. Their duties are the consecration, distribution and guardianship of the Body of Christ, the enrolling of new members, the conferring of the Holy Ghost, the forgiveness of sins and conveyance of other graces, the task of instructing with the guarantee of inerrancy, and with an authority that men may reasonably bow to. No self-appointment or human appointment can convey these powers; they can come only from the original appointment by God and direct transmission from hand to hand. God has not left the pastorate and government of His Church to human initiative. He has Himself given it its constitution, assured it of His continual presence, promised it infallibility and indefectibility. These gifts and graces and duties cannot be claimed by any man at his fancy, but only by him "that is called by God as Aaron was" (Heb. v. 4), and who is indued with them by the Sacrament of Holy Order. Thank God for the great powers thus communicated, and venerate the recipients of them.
