The sincerity of our repentance is shown by bringing forth fruits meet for repentance, and wherever saving faith exists, it is necessarily an active principle; "it works by love and purifies the heart." In proportion as a man believes, so he obeys: they are inseparable— they grow together, and last together through life. True faith does not consist in a mere idle wish, or ineffectual endeavours, but it necessarily leads to a thorough practice of CHRIST'S Commandments. Hence it is written, "the just shall LIVE by faith";' and again, "with the heart-not merely with the head, but with the heart,-man believeth unto righteousness." "He that hath My Commandments," saith CHRIST, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth ME." And St. Paul declares that "in CHRIST JESUS nothing avails, but the keeping of the Commandments of GOD." And our blessed LORD's last words to St. John are to the same effect: "Blessed are they who do His Commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life." Thus, as a tree is known by its fruits, so we may ascertain by our conduct whether we be real or only nominal Christians. We must not, however, suppose that there is any merit in even our very best services, for that there is not, is most certain. Nevertheless, GoD will deal with us according to our works. "Good actions are the fruits of true faith, and assure us that we are CHRIST's: they comfort us as an evidence of the Blessed SPIRIT working in us. By them we shall be judged at the last day, and though they have no worth in themselves by reason of that infection of sin which gives its character to every thing that we do, yet they will be accepted for His sake, Who bore the Agony in the garden, and suffered as a sinner on the cross." 1 Rom. i. 17. 2 Rom. x. 10. 4 1 Cor. vii. 19. 5 Rev. xxii. 14. 3 St. John xiv. 21. who pro Let me now inquire, are there any of you who fess attachment to CHRIST, and yet in works deny HIM? Oh! deceive not yourselves any longer, by fancying that you can be religious without being obedient. Remember that true religion does not consist in mere notions, however just and scriptural, but in a practical conformity in heart and life to the Will of GOD. "If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die; but if ye through the SPIRIT do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live:"" and again, "they that are CHRIST'S have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." This is that doctrine which from our very infancy we have been taught, when in Holy Baptism, we were received into the ark of CHRIST's Church, and put on our way towards heaven; then were we solemnly reminded by Holy Church, that "Baptism doth represent unto us our profession, which is to follow the example of our SAVIOUR CHRIST, and to be made like unto HIM: that as He died and rose again for us, so should we who are baptized, die from sin, and rise again unto righteousness; continually mortifying all our evil and corrupt affections and daily proceeding in all virtue and goodness of living.' Are you, then, doing the LORD's Will? doing it cheerfully, uniformly, progressively? strive to mortify in you the whole body of sin? Are you endeavouring by GoD's help to adorn the doctrines of GOD your SAVIOUR in all things? And are you fully convinced that your faith in CHRIST is of no avail, except so far as it manifests itself by these fruits? "for as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." CHRIST JESUS came into the world not only to save us from sin, and to "re3 Baptismal Service. 1 Rom. viii. 13. 2 Gal. v. 24. 993 Are you Do you deem us from all iniquity," but "to purify unto HIMSELF a peculiar people, zealous of good works." The same Gospel that brings salvation unto us, teaches us "to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world." Do you wish to know how you are to attain to this state of acceptance and holy obedience? Are you saying within yourselves, "to will is present with me, but how to perform that which is good, I know not "? Then seek it from CHRIST: seek it in earnest, persevering prayer. If any truth of the Bible is clear, it is this, that God gives to those who ask, not to those who ask not; therefore, "ask and you shall have." But above all, seek to be united to the Almighty SAVIOUR by a living faith; then by virtue derived from your union with HIM, you will be made fruitful in righteousness and true holiness. And while you rely solely upon CHRIST, do not forget to be up and doing. Beware of indulging a mere barren faith, which dreams instead of working. Recollect that the HOLY SPIRIT is the Author of active good works, and leads to the observance of all CHRIST'S commandments. Therefore, "add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly-kindness; and to brotherly-kindness charity. For if these things be in you and abound, they make you you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our LORD JESUS CHRIST ""2 Think of these things, my brethren, and rouse yourselves from all spiritual sloth, and run forward with increased diligence on your way towards heaven. Begin at once to put in practice those lowly and self-denying acts of loving obedience which spring from a lively faith in CHRIST, and which alone can prove you to belong to HIM at the last day. Never forget that there is an inexpressible difference between knowing right and doing right. Dead faith will profit us nothing true faith carries with it its own evidence and admits of no mistaking. Acts of obedience are the real proof and life of true faith. What proof, then, have you that you have faith in CHRIST, and are accepted in the Beloved? Do you believe that JESUS CHRIST is the Eternal SON of GOD, and that HE "came into the world to save sinners ? " You will, perhaps, say that you do believe this; but again, we ask you, what proof do you give that you believe it? Is your daily life an evidence of it? Are you so holy and obedient to the commandments of your heavenly MASTER, that it is manifest to all persons that you do sincerely trust in HIM? faint May thoughts like these sink deep into your hearts, and bring forth in you the fruits of good living, to the honour and praise of His Holy Name. Be "not weary in well-doing, for in due season ye shall reap if ye not." Strive to enter in at the strait gate, and having entered, endeavour to become holier and holier every day, that so you may be counted worthy to stand before the Son of Man, "when He shall come to be glorified in His Saints, and admired in all them that believe."" Now our LORD JESUS CHRIST, and GOD, even our FATHER, Who hath loved us, and given us everlasting consolation, and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work."2 J. W. SERMON XIII. THE CHARITY OF THE CHURCH. 1 COR. VII. 1. CHARITY EDIFIETH. THE Christians of Corinth lived in the midst of Idolaters-indeed many of their own relations and familiar friends were amongst the number of the unconverted Heathen, and would therefore, of course, continue their practice of offering sacrifices to idols, that is, to the false gods. The consequence of all this would necessarily be, that the Christians would be very much exposed to a peculiar difficulty, viz., that of knowing how far it was allowable to eat of any of the meats which had been offered to the heathen idols.' One Christian would say, he knew that an idol was nothing at all, --and that the meat offered in sacrifice to an idol was regarded by him as ordinary meat, and that in eating it he had no regard to the idol, and could therefore partake of it with an undefiled conscience; and by reason of his knowledge was at liberty to do as he pleased another Christian who had not the same knowledge, and who had still some lingering feeling, See Revelation ii. 14. |