We have seen in the two last Articles the lost condition of man in the sight of God, and his inability to seek His favour except "God the Father draw him." In this we have set before us the way by which alone seeking Him we can be accepted with Him, that way which, being entirely apart from ourselves or anything we may do, is also "the truth and the life" to all who turn to it with true faith that it will lead them back to God.

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Man as such, even when so far enlightened as to have the will, is without the power to regain the favour of God, or to raise himself from the curse of sin into a life of heavenly communion. "How shall man be just with God? It is God that justifieth." He who has the right to condemn alone has that to justify: He only who has the right to sentence has also that to acquit. But not only is He the justifier; He is just. "He cannot deny Himself." He has pronounced sentence of condemnation on all the world, "and who can reverse it?" The penalty must be fulfilled, the uttermost farthing paid, and we are helpless and bankrupt. But He who is infinitely just is infinite in mercy too. The debt indeed must be paid, but the Creditor Himself would pay it, the Judge take the place of the criminal and undergo his punishment. 'Deliver him from going down into the pit. I have found a ransom.”

What that Ransom was it is the purpose of the Gospel to unfold. We know "we were not redeemed

with corruptible things, as silver and gold, ... but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot; who verily was fore-ordained before the foundation of the world." "Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, . . . that He might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."

The justice of God being satisfied by Him, the mercy and love of God might be shown towards us.

"Through faith in His blood" we are saved. That precious blood has been shed in vain, so far as we are concerned, if we have not each individually that faith without which it is impossible to please God, and by which we make the covenant promises our own. We may believe in the historical fact of the Atonement, but it is not intellectual belief that saves. "The devils believe and tremble." No; the mere fact of Christ's crucifixion will not avail unless we lay hold on His salvation. "The just shall live by faith," for by faith alone are they made "just." And this doctrine, as our Article says, “is very full of comfort," that we miserable sinners are not left to the task of establishing our own righteousness; that no effort or deed is required of us, but simply that we accept the perfect and sufficient satisfaction once and for ever accomplished on our behalf by the Saviour, and make it our own by faith. "Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The Homily of Justification referred to expounds this doctrine in terms according with the tenor of the Article, being one of those exhortations set forth in the age succeeding the Reformation to be read in our churches, to supply the need of competent preaching, and to explain and promulgate more widely among the unlearned members of our Church those doctrines which were then but newly accepted and professed as her creed. Now there is no homily which bears the name by which it is here called, but it is impossible to mistake the one referred to. It is that entitled "Of the Salvation of Mankind," in the first Book published in 1547, as is evident by this allusion to it in the Article of 1552, which excludes the possibility of its being found in the Book of 1559. There are twelve homilies contained in this Book, and the abovementioned is the only one at all dealing with the subject of this Article.

ARTICLE XII.-" Of Good Works.”

"As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."

We saw by the last Article how that we are accepted and justified through the finished work of Christ alone, and by our faith in that work, without any effort on our own part being demanded. But that faith must be more than mere belief in

certain doctrines, and what our Article calls a "lively faith," which, having laid hold on eternal life, has by the influence of the Holy Spirit power to raise our life and conversation above that of man's natural state, that we which live should not henceforth live unto ourselves, but unto Him which died for us and rose again." The sole principle on which we can do unto God true and laudable service is this alone; "for the love of Christ constraineth us."

If we faithfully accept Christ's salvation, our hearts must be so actuated by love to God that it is impossible to live any but a life of service to Him. The tree in this, as all other cases, must be known by its fruits. The sacrifice of Isaac is an example of this, of which St. Paul says, "By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac; and he that had received the promises offered up his only-begotten son, of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called; accounting that God was able to raise him up from the dead." And St. James, commenting upon this, observes, "Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?" Works of this kind, then, are the fruits of faith for the perfecting of faith; the mere works as such are nothing.

We see that Abraham's faith did not fail "when he was tried," being that trust and love of God

which is the only ground of service. Though in his son were the promises made, he knew that with God nothing is impossible, and that unquestioning obedience was all that was required of him towards their fulfilment. If Abraham had refused the work, his faith would have been imperfect; but the work was wrought by faith and proved the latter perfect. "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only."

The great cloud of witnesses whose record is in Heb. xi. bear testimony to this fact. After showing their faith by their works, they died as they had lived—in faith, being persuaded of the truth of God's promises, though they received them not. And who that has received that "better thing," the full knowledge of, and free offer of, salvation through Christ, and is united in faith and love to Him, but would be ready for any service or "labour which proceedeth of love," remembering that of such He will say at the last day, "Ye have done it unto me"?

ARTICLE XIII." Of Works before Justification."

The

It is the motive which makes the deed. same act may be acceptable or displeasing to God according to the spirit with which it is performed. As the Bible and our Church teach that any service rendered from love to God in Christ as its sole