And not only must we have a lively1, a living, vigorous faith in God's mercy, and stay ourselves and rest upon it as a sure hope, but with it also a thankful2" remembrance of Christ's death, and of the innumerable benefits which by His precious bloodshedding He hath obtained to us." 5. Charity. Moreover, since faith, if it hath not works, is dead in itself, and if it have any living root 3 worketh by love (Gal. v. 6), the third point for selfexamination is, whether we are living in charity1 or 1 Lively living, full of life, vigorous, and a vital faith shows itself by good works. For this use of lively compare (1) Ps. xxxviii. 19, "Mine enemies are lively (where see the margin); (2) Acts vii. 38, "Who received the lively oracles to give unto us;" (3) 1 Pet. i. 3, "a lively hope;" (4) 1 Pet. ii. 5, "lively stones"="a living Stone," 1 Pet. ii. 4. When our Version was made, there was scarcely any distinction between "lively" and "living." Compare "Lysistratus of Sicyone was the first that represented the shape of a man's visage in a mould from the lively face indeed."-Holland, Pliny, xxxv. 12. "Was it well done to suffer him, imprisoned in chains, lying in a dark dungeon, to draw his lively breath at the pleasure of the hangman?"-Holland, Livy, p. 228. "That his dear father might interment have, The young man entered a lively grave." Massinger's Fatal Dowry, Act II. Sc. I. See Trench's Select Glossary, pp. 120, 121; and the Bible Word-Book, p. 299. 2 On the duty of thankfulness compare the Parable of the Ten Lepers, Lk. xvii. 17, 18; Col. i. 12-14, and see the Exhortation in the Communion Service, "Above all things ye must give most humble and hearty thanks to God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, for the redemption of the world by the death and passion of our Saviour Christ." 3 Νεκρά ἐστιν καθ' ἑαυτήν = is dead in itself, not "being as in our English Version. alone" 4 Charity, from the Latin caritas, through the Fr. charité, is now almost confined to almsgiving, but is used in our Authorized Version to translate άɣáπŋ, "a word born within the bosom of revealed religion," which denotes Christian love flowing from a sense of God's love for us. See 1 Cor. xiii. 1, love with all men. For the Lord's Supper is not only the seal and pledge of God's great love towards us, but an assurance of our union with one another (1 Cor. x. 17), of our being very members incorporate in the mystical Body of His Son, which is the blessed company of all faithful people1. But if we love not our brother, whom we have seen, how can we love God, whom we have not seen? (1 Jn. iv. 20), and how can we partake of that holy Feast, which declares "not only our communion with Christ, but that unity also, wherein they that eat at this table should be knit together?"? 6. Proofs of Charity. This Charity or Christian love will display itself (1) in a readiness to make restitution and satisfaction for all injuries and wrongs done by us to any other3 (Mtt. v. 24); (2) in a willingness to forgive others that have offended us, even as we would have forgiveness for our offences from our heavenly Father (Mtt. vi. 14, 15); (3) in a forwardness to give alms of our substance to supply the wants of our poorer brethren, and to offer up hearty prayer for "all sorts and conditions of men," who are fellow-members with us of the same Body and joint-heirs of the same glorious Kingdom 5. and compare Wiclif's Version of Rom. viii. 39, "Neither death, neither lyf...neither noon othir creature mai departe us from the charite of God that is in Jesu Christ our Lord." See Trench's Synonyms, p. 43; The Bible Word-Book, p. 97. 1 See the Second Prayer in the Post-Communion Service; Nowell's Catechism. 2 See the Second Part of the Homily Concerning the Sa crament. 3 See above, on the petition in the Lord's Prayer, Forgive us our trespasses, p. 126. 4 Hence the occurrence of the Offertory in the Communion Service, in accordance with the usage of all the ancient Liturgies. Comp. Acts ii. 45, 46; 1 Cor. xvi. 2; Heb. xiii. 16. 5 See above, pp. 117, 118. I. GENERAL INDEX. A. Abram, meaning of, 5 Articles of the Creed, 18 B. Baptism, name given in, 5, 6; a Benefits of the Lord's Supper, 180 171; of the New Testament, 171; surrection of our Lord's, 37; re- Catholic, meaning of, 57; Church, 57 Chastity, duty of, 94 Children, duty of, 89; love of Comforter, the, 52 Communion of saints, the, 59 Covetousness forbidden, roo Creeds, origin of, 13; the Apostles' D. Death of our Lord, 32; a sacrifice, Devil, works of the, 11; names of, Feast, the Paschal, 171; rites of Forgiveness of others, a duty, 126; Forgiveness of sins: an article of G. Glory, kingdom of, 118; in Doxo- Grace, need of divine, 17; king- H. Heaven, Maker of, 22, n.; He as- Hell, meaning of, 35, n.; our Lord's Holy Ghost, a Person, 49; pro- I. Ichabod, meaning of, 5 Idolatry forbidden, 78; Egyptian, Paradise, 36 Parents, authority of, 89; to be Paschal Feast, the, 171; Lamb, the, 174, 175 Passover, an historical memorial, Paul, St, his teaching respecting Pomps of the world to be re- Praise, ascription of, 137 Pride, a work of the devil, 11 Promises of God in Baptism, 155 Purity, duty of, 94 Q. Quick, the, judgment of, 45 R. Rainbow, the, a sign, 146 Refreshment, spiritual, need of, Repentance, nature of, 161; re- |
