"discovered by its fruits, i. e. as he himself describes "them, by all the graces of a Christian life." In confirmation of the doctrine which you have just heard, and which is sanctioned by the Apostles St. Paul and St. James, let us appeal to Him who is the author of evangelical truth, even to Christ himself; and learn from Him that it is indispensably requisite to prove, by a life conformable with the Gospel, the sincerity of our faith in Him, by whom the Gospel was first promulgated. Thus then saith the Lord*; Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”— "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see "your good works, and glorify your Father which is “in heaven.”+—"Not every one that saith unto "me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of "heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father, "which is in heaven."-"The Son of Man shall "send forth his angels, and shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity.""The Son of Man shall come in the glory of his Father, with his angels; and then He "shall reward every man according to his works." || — Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things "which I say?"¶ "All that are in the graves "shall hear his voice, and shall come forth: they that "have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of "damnation.”** 66 66 66 66 Can the disciple understand the whole tenor of the Gospel more perfectly than the Master who first taught it? Is the minister warranted in omitting to inculcate * St. Matt. iv. 17. + St. Matt. v. 16. St. Matt. vii. 21. practice, which he knows to have been enforced by that Supreme Head, in whom originates his sacred function? Our Lord bade his Apostles teach their converts "to "observe all things whatsoever he had commanded.”* On recollecting the many texts which have been read to you; on recalling to his memory the Sermon on the Mount; can any one affirm, that among the precepts delivered by our Lord, either in express words or by obvious implication, there were none concerning rectitude and holiness of life? If such precepts are numerous; in pronouncing sentence on the obligation and importance of observing them, shall man presume to erect his judgment in opposition to the wisdom of a Divine Instructor? Shall man take upon him to treat with disregard the duties prescribed by his heavenly Lawgiver? The Lord spake nothing in vain. He commanded us to believe in Him; He commanded us to obey Him. As Christians, we are bound to hold and exemplify; as teachers, we are required to press on others the necessity of entertaining right faith, and of evidencing that faith by corresponding works. The degree of efficacy assignable to both is briefly but clearly stated in the following words: "We are ac"counted righteous before God only for the merit of our "Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, by faith, and not for "our own works and deservings." Yet, "although good "works, which are the fruits of faith, cannot put away "our sins, and endure the severity of God's judgment, "they are pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ." These, the eleventh and twelfth Articles of our Church, are so explanatory of each other, that they ought never to be considered apart, but should be taken together for mutual illustration. Let not zeal for one create * St. Matt. xxviii. 20. indifference for the other. We have solemnly declared our assent to both. The substance of both should be maintained. If, by the help of the Holy Spirit enlightening and assisting us, we adhere to this rule in all we preach and all we do; by our doctrines and by our actions we shall "set forth the true and lively word *” of the Gospel; on the ground of Christian knowledge the people will be edified unto Christian duties; for the whole plan of our recovery from sin and death, to righteousness and salvation, originating as it did in design most merciful, conducted as it was by means most wonderful, proceeding as it does to an end most blessed; for the whole of a dispensation thus compassionate and benevolent; thus stupendous and powerful; thus renovating our nature and leading us to eternal happiness; our Creator, our Redeemer, our Sanctifier will be glorified. * Liturgy. |