A Tour in Normandy, undertaken chiefly for the Purpose of investigating the Architectural Antiquities of that Duchy, with Observations on the Country and its Inhabitants, in a Series of Letters, by Dawson Turner, Esq. F.R.S. &c. A Greek and English Lexicon, founded on the Greek and German Dictionary of Schneider, by the Rev. J. R. Fishlake, of Wadham, College, Oxford. A Selection from the Poetical Remains of the late Peter Corcoran, of Gray's Inn, Student at Law. A new Volume of Poems, by Mr. Keats, the Author of Endymion, A Collection of Dr. Zouch's Works, with a Memoir, by the Rev. Francis Wrangham, in two large octavo Volumes, Sacred Leisure, a Collection of Poems, by the Rev. F. Hodgson, M.A. in a small volume. Dr. Spiker's Travels in England, Wales, and Scotland, in 1816, translated from the original German, in two duodecimo Volumes. A Biographical Memoir of the late Arthur Young, Esq. by Dr. Paris. Travels in Europe during the Pontificate of Leo the Tenth, by Mr. Charles Mills, the Author of the History of the Crusades. NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS. A Well-wisher's communication was sent in the proper way, and is under consideration. Is not C. P. W. aware that the practice to which he alludes has the sanction of our Universities and Collegiate Churches? C. P., Clericus, Oxoniensis, and R. R. have been received, and are under consideration. + The pamphlet alluded to by S. D. N. never reached us, and we made a fruitless attempt to procure it. A Country Rector, I. S., I. A., and (Clericus. Bath,) shall appear. We wish to address a few lines to B. on the subject of his communication. THE CHRISTIAN REMEMBRANCER. No. 19.] JULY, 1820. ON THE HOMILIES. A short Declaration of the true, lively, and Christian Faith. THE first coming to God is through faith, whereby, as it has been declared, we are justified before God; and lest any man should be deceived herein it is diligently to be noted that faith is taken in the Scripture in two manner of ways. One faith is called a dead faith, which bringeth forth no good fruits, but is idle, barren, and unfruitful. And this is compared by St. James to the faith of devils, who believe and tremble, but do nothing well. And such faith have wicked Christians; who confess God in their mouths, but deny him in deeds, "being abominable and without the right faith, and to all good works reprovable." And this faith is a belief in man's heart, whereby he knoweth that there is a God, and agreeth to the truth of God's word contained in Scripture. And this is not properly called faith, because as one who readeth Cæsar's Commentaries believing them to be true, still cannot be said to believe in Cæsar, from whom he looks for no help nor benefit, so he that believes the truth of the Bible, and yet lives so ungodlily that he cannot look to enjoy the promises and benefits of God, such a man, though he has faith in the words of God, cannot properly be said to have faith in God; he cannot trust to receive grace, mercy, and everlasting life at God's hand, but rather must expect REMEMBRANCER, No. 19. [VOL. II. indignation and punishment accordFor, as an ancient writer hath exing to the merits of his wicked life. pressed it," Forasmuch as faith without works is dead, it is not now faith; as a dead man is not a man.” This dead faith therefore is not that sure and substantial faith which saveth sinners. Another faith there is in Scripture which is not idle, unfruitful, and dead, but worketh by love, and is called a quick and lively faith, "And this is not the common belief of the articles of our faith, but it is also a true trust and confidence of the mercy of God through our Lord Jesus Christ, and a steadfast hope of all good things to be received at God's hand, and that although we through infirmity or temptation of our ghostly enemy, do fall from him by sin; yet, if we return unto him again by true repentance, that he will forgive and forget our offences for his Son's sake our Saviour Jesus Christ, and will make us inheritors with him of his everlasting kingdom: and that in the meantime until that kingdom come, he will be our protector and defender in all perils and dangers, whatsoever do chance; and that though sometime he doth send us sharp adversity, yet that evermore he will be a loving father unto us; correcting us for our sin, but not withdrawing his merey finally from us, if we trust in him and commit ourselves wholly unto him, hang only upon him, and call upon him, ready to obey and serve him. This is the true, lively, and unfeigned 3 D Christian faith, and is not in the mouth and outward profession only, but it liveth and stirreth inwardly in the heart." And it is not without the love of God and of our neighbours, nor without the fear of God, nor without the desire to hear his word and to follow it, avoiding evil and doing gladly all good works. This faith is the true ground of the benefits we trust to receive from God; a certificate and sure looking for them although they yet sensibly appear not unto us. "Of this faith three things are specially to be noted, 1st. that it doeth not lie dead in the heart, but is lively and fruitful in bringing forth good works. Secondly, that without it shall no good works be done that shall be acceptable and pleasant unto God. Thirdly, what manner of works they be that this faith doth bring forth." For the first, as the light cannot be hid, so this faith cannot be kept secret, but will break out and shew itself when occasion is offered; and as the living body of a man performs such acts as belong to it by nature as it hath need, opportunity, and occasion, so the soul that has a lively faith will always be doing some good work which shall shew that it is living. Therefore to suppose that the scriptural commendations of faith set us at liberty from good works, is to trifle with God and deceive ourselves, and proves that we neither have the true faith nor understand what it means. For it requires us, as has been said, not only to believe all things contained in Scripture, but also to have an earnest trust and confidence in God's mercy and care for his Son's sake; " and that we have our Saviour Christ our perpetual advocate and priest; in whose only merits, oblation, and suffering we do trust that our offences be continually washed and purged, whensoever we repenting truly do return to him with our whole heart, steadfastly determining with ourselves through his grace, to obey and serve him in keeping his commandments, and never to turn back again to sin. Such is the true faith that the Scripture doth so much commend." And it will shew itself forth and cannot long be idle; for as it is written, the just man lives by his faith. This fact, viz. that the true faith has charity always joined unto it, and is fruitful, bringing forth good works, has always been received as indisputable. The wise man saith he that believeth in God will hearken unto his commandments. St. Augustine saith, good living cannot be separated from true faith, which worketh by love; and St. Chrysostom saith, faith of itself is full of good works, as soon as a man doth believe he shall be garnished with them. St. Paul teaches the same doctrine at large in the eleventh chapter of his epistle to the Hebrews. And all the holy men whom he speaks of in that chapter, had their faith surely fixed in God when all the world was against them. They did not only know him to be the Maker and Governor of all men, but also they had a special trust, that he would be their God, their Comforter, aider, helper, maintainer, and defender. This is Christian faith, and these men, although they were not named Christians, had a Christian faith, looking for the benefits of God the Father, through the merits of his Son Jesus Christ. The difference between them and us is, that they looked when Christ should come, and we be in the time when he is come. Therefore, as St. Augustine saith, the time is altered, but not the faith. We have both one faith in one Christ. They had the same Holy Ghost that we have. "God gave them then grace to be his children, as he doth us now. But now by the coming of Christ we have received more abundantly the spirit of God in our hearts, whereby we may conceive a greater faith and a surer trust than many of them had. But in effect they and we be all one; we have the same faith that they had in God; and they the same that we have." In short, by all the declarations of St. Paul, it is evident that the true, lively, and Christian faith is no dead, vain, or unfruitful thing, but a thing of perfect virtue of wonderful operation, or working, and strength, bringing forth all good motions and good works. All other writers in Holy Scripture assert the self-same thing. Many who at an early period professed the faith of Christ, were in this error; they thought they knew God and believed in him, when in their life they declared the contrary. Which error St. John in his first epistle confuting writeth in this wise. Hereby we are certified that we know God if we observe his commandments. He that saith he knoweth God, and observeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. He says much more to the same purpose: that whosoever sinneth doth not know God: that every man who believeth that Jesus is Christ, is born of God, and we know that whosoever is born of God doth not sin but he that is begotten of God purgeth himself, and the devil doth not touch him. And in his third epistle he confirmeth the whole matter of faith and works in few words, saying, he that doth well is of God, and he that doth evil knoweth not God. As St. John saith that the lively knowledge and faith of God bring eth forth good works, so he saith likewise of hope and charity that they cannot stand with evil living. And he wrote not this as a subtle saying devised of his own fantasy, but as a most certain and necessary truth taught unto him by Christ himself, the eternal and infallible verity, who in many places doth most clearly affirm that faith, hope, and charity cannot consist or stand without good and godly works. Of faith Christ saith, he that believeth in the Son hath everlasting life; but he that believeth not in the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remaineth upon him. Now forasmuch as he that believeth in Christ hath everlasting life, it must needs consequently follow that he that hath this faith must have also good works, and be studious to observe God's commandments obedi-. ently. For to them that have evil works, and lead their life in disobedience, or transgression, or breaking of God's commandments, without repentance, pertaineth not everlasting life, but everlasting death, as Christ himself saith-They that do well shall go into life eternal, but they that do evil shall go into everlasting fire. And he also affirmeth that true charity, as well as true faith, bringeth forth good works. Whosoever hath my commandments and keepeth them, that is he that loveth me. And as the love of God is tried by good works, so is the fear of God also-as the wise man saith, the dread of God putteth away sin, and he that feareth God will do good works. A man may soon deceive himself upon this subject, and think that by faith he knoweth God, loveth him, feareth him, and belongeth to him when in deed and truth he doth nothing less. Wherefore it must always be remembered that there is only one trial and proof of all these things-a very godly and Christian life. "He that feeleth his heart set to seek God's honour, and studieth to know the will and commandments of God, and to frame himself thereunto, and leadeth not his life after the desire of his own flesh to serve the devil by sin, but setteth his mind to serve God, for God's own sake; and for his sake also to love all his neighbours, whether they be friends or adversaries, doing good to every man as opportunity serveth, and willingly hurting no man, such a man may well rejoice in God, perceiving by the trade of his life, that he unfeignedly hath the right knowledge, a lively faith, a steadfast hope, a true and unfeigned love and fear of God. But he that casteth away the yoke of God's commandments from his neck, and giveth himself to live without true repentance after his own sensual mind and pleasure, not regarding to know God's word, and much less to live according thereunto, such a man clearly deceiveth himself, and seeth not his own heart if he thinketh that he either knoweth God, loveth him, feareth him, or trusteth in him." Some fancy that they belong to God, though they live in sin; others that they know and love him though they pay no regard to the commandments; others that they love him when at the same time they hate their neighbours. But all such persons are explicitly warned of their errors in the Scripture, and especially by St. John in the epistle already quoted. Well in the right faith, and also by these. It pertaineth to a Christian man, to have the true Christian faith, and to try himself whether he hath it or no: and to know what belongeth to it, and how it works. It is not the world we can trust to; the world and all that is therein is but vanity. It is God that must be our defence and protection against all temptation of wickedness and sin; errors, superstition, idolatry, and all evil. Let us therefore try and examine our faith what it is; let us not flatter ourselves but look upon our works, and so judge of our faith what it is. "Christ speaketh of this matter and himself saith, the tree is known by the fruit. Therefore let us do good works, and thereby declare our faith to be the lively Christian faith. Let us, by such virtues as ought to spring out of faith, shew our election to be sure and stable as St. Peter teacheth-Endeavour yourselves to make your calling and election certain by good works." "So shall we shew indeed that we have the very lively Christian faith, and may so certify our conscience the better that we be Therefore, as you profess the name of Christ, let no such imagination beguile you; but be sure of your faith, try it by your living; mark the fruits; mark the increase by it of love and charity towards God and your neighbour, and so you shall perceive it to be true and lively. If you perceive such a faith in you, rejoice in it, and maintain it, and keep it still in you, and let it be daily increasing; so shall you be sure that you shall please God by this faith: and at length, as other faithful men have done before, so shall you, when his will is come to him, and receive the end and final reward of your faith, the salvation of your souls. |