Hence, she has passed through the stormy trials of _eighteen_ centuries, which would have long since shivered any _human_ institution into atoms, and now stands forth, ever fresh and vigorous, in all her pristine strength, but silvered with the venerable hoar of ages. This is a short description of the visible, infallible, and incorruptible Catholic Church of Christ; I will now show you how this Church was formed, and how it was to be perpetuated, _from age to age_, with the world for its boundaries, and time for its duration. The Prophet Daniel foresaw this Church, when he said (Dan. c. ii.), "The God of heaven should set up a kingdom, which should _never_ be destroyed." And our Saviour (Matt. xvi.) informs us, that He is the maker and builder of this Church. Hence He assures us, that as He Himself was sent by His Heavenly Father to preach the Gospel (Luke iv. 18.), so He, also, sent His Apostles: as My Father hath sent Me, I also send you. (John xx. 21.) For this purpose He revealed to His Apostles _all_ the divine truths which _He_ had received. "All things," says He, "whatsoever I have heard of My Father, I have made known to you." (John xv. 15.) He then gave them a commission, to teach _all_ these truths to _all_ nations. "All power," says He, "is given to me in heaven and on earth: go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, teaching them to observe _all_ things whatsoever _I_ have commanded you; and behold I am with you _all days, even to the end of the world_." (Matt. xxviii. 19, 20.) But when our Saviour gave these commands to His Apostles, He at the same time, imposed upon mankind a strict obligation, _to hear_ and _learn_ His gospel from the Apostles. Hence He says to His Apostles, "He that heareth _you_, heareth _Me_, and he that despiseth _you_, despiseth _Me_, and he that despiseth _Me_, despiseth _Him_ that sent me." (Luke x. 16.) But whilst our Saviour, imposes upon mankind the necessity of _hearing_ His Apostles, he pledged His _infallible_ word, that they should _never_ lead _the people_ astray, or teach any false doctrine. For this reason, He promises that He will send down His Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, to teach them all truth, that He and His Holy Spirit will remain with them _for ever_, teaching them all truth, and that the gates of hell shall not prevail against them. (John xv. Matt. xvi.)