believe in JESUS CHRIST the Saviour, who care not to do what He commands. 23. Q. A. faith. 24. Q. A. 25. Q. There seems then to be two kinds of faith? What is Living Faith? Faith with works. What is Dead Faith? A. Faith without works. 26. Q. What do you mean by "Faith with works ?" A. Faith that shows itself in good works wrought by the HOLY GHOST, which always follow true faith in the heart; like a tree that bears good fruit. 27. Q. What do you understand by "Faith without works ?" A. Faith which does not produce good works; like a tree which yields no fruit. 28. Q. Prove what you say from Scripture? A. Holy Scripture declares First: That Faith is, to believe that CHRIST is the SON of GOD". "JESUS Whosoever shall confess that JESUS is the Son of GOD, GOD dwelleth in him, and he in God."-1 Epis. St. John iv. 15. "Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that JESUS is the Son of God?" Ch. v. 1. 5.-St. Matt. xvi. 16. 17.-St. John xi. 25-27.-Acts viii. 37. Secondly, That this Faith saves us, by working in us the fruits of the HOLY SPIRIT. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."-St. John iii. 16. 18. 36. "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in CHRIST JESUS, who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit. For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth: proving what is acceptable unto the Lord."-Rom. viii. 1.—Eph : v. 9. "For in JESUS CHRIST neither circumcision availeth any thing nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love."-Gal. v. 6.-1 Cor. xiii. 4-7. 13. -Rom. xiii. 10.-St. John xiii. 17. "Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? "seest thou how faith wrought by his works, and by works was faith made perfect.”—St. James ii. 21. 22. Thirdly: Holy Scripture teaches that "Faith without these good works is of no use." "Yea, a man may say, thou hast faith and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well, the devils also believe, and tremble. "But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."-Ep: St. James ii. 18-26. "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."-St. Matt. vii. 21.-St. John xv. 4. 8. 29. Q. How can a man know, whether he have a living faith, or not? A. He feels it; for, "he that believeth on the SON of GOD, hath the witness in himself." "The SPIRIT itself, beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of GOD;" and, because ye are sons, GoD hath sent forth the Spirit of HIS SON into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father."-1 John v. 10.—Rom. viii. 16. 2 Cor. i. 22. v. 5.—Eph. i. 13.—Gal. iv. 6. 30. Q. Tell me, now, in a few words, how it is that we are thus "saved by faith." A. If we believe with all our heart, all that GoD says of His SON JESUS CHRIST, We are thereby accounted "just" before GOD; and thus, we are no longer under condemnation, but we are passed from death unto life."-St. John v. 24. 32. 36. 37.-1 John iii. 14. v. 9. 10.-Acts xvi. 31. -Rom. iv. 3. 20-25. 31. Q. What sure and certain proof have we that our Faith will save us?" A. 66 GOOD WORKS, otherwise called in Scripture the "fruit of the Spirit," are a sure and certain proof that our faith is not dead, but that we believe to the 66 saving of the soul." For, "every good tree bringeth forth good fruit ;"" therefore, by their fruits ye shall know them."-St. Matt. vii. 17.-Eph. ii. 10. v. 9. -Tit. iii. 8.-Heb. x. 24. 39.-2 Pet, i. 5-11. 66 32. Q. What does our Church say on this point? A. Our Church says: Albeit that good works which are the fruits of Faith and follow after Justification cannot put away our sins, and endure the severity of God's Judgment; yet are they pleasing and accept able to GOD in CHRIST, and do spring out necessarily of a true and lively faith; insomuch that by them a lively faith may be as evidently known as a tree discerned by the fruit." (xxxix. Articles. Art. xii.) 33. Q. How do we obtain this Faith? A. It is the gift of GOD. "For by grace ye are saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves: IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD."—Eph. ii. 8.-St. John vi. 44. 45. JESUS saith unto His disciples: whom say ye that I am?"Simon Peter answered and said: THOU ART THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD. 66 'And JESUS answered and said unto him: Blessed art thou Simon Bar-jona, for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but MY FATHER which is in heaven." St. Matt. xvi. 15. 16. 17.-Rom, x. 17. 34. Q. Can we be agreeable to GoD without Faith? A. No; without Faith it is impossible to please Him; for he that cometh to GOD must first believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." "FOR WHATSOEVER IS NOT OF FAITH, IS SIN."-Heb. xi. 6.-Rom. xiv. 23. 66 35. Q. What does our Church say of works done without faith? A. Our Church says that, "Works done before the grace of CHRIST and the inspiration of His Spirit, are not pleasant to God, forasmuch as they spring not of faith in JESUS CHRIST, neither do they make men meet to receive grace; yea rather, for that they are not done as GOD hath willed and commanded them to be done, we doubt not but they have the nature of sin." (xxxix. Articles. Art. xiii.) 36. Q. What reason then have you to believe firmly these articles of the Christian Faith? A. I firmly hold these Articles of Faith, because I find them contained in "Holy Scripture which is given by inspiration of GoD, and is profitable for doctrine and for instruction in righteousness.' I therefore rely on the Word of God, and begin with saying from my heart: "I BELIEVE." 37. Q. You have explained to me what Faith is; now tell me, what is the first thing in which you believe? A. GOD. I BELIEVE IN GOD. A. Everywhere. In heaven above, and in the earth beneath, GOD is "all in all," and "by Him all things consist;" "seeing He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things."-Isaiah lxvi. 1. 2.-Col. i. 16. Acts xvii. 25. 28.-Ps. cxxxix. 7. 12. 40. Q. Can you see Him? A. No. "No man hath seen GOD at St. John i. 18. any time." 41. Q. How then do you believe that He is ? A. Because although I do not see Him, every thing around me shows me that there is a GOD; and in the Bible I learn to know for certain who He is. 42. Q. What do you mean by saying that every thing around shows you that there is a GOD? A. When, for instance, I see the sun give light by day, and the moon and stars shine by night; and C |