'justifying. So that, although they be all present 'together in him that is justified, yet they justify not ' altogether. Neither doth faith shut out the justice ' of our good works, necessarily to be done after'wards, of duty towards God, (for we are most 'bounden to serve God, in doing good deeds, com'manded by him in holy scripture, all the days of our 'life:) but it excludeth them, so that we may not 'do them to this intent, to be made just by doing of ' them. For all the good works that we can do be 'imperfect; and therefore not able to deserve our 'justification; but our justification doth come freely 'by the mere mercy of God; and of so great and 'free mercy, that, whereas all the world was not able ' of themselves to pay any part towards their ransom, 'it pleased our Heavenly Father, of his infinite 'mercy, without any of our desert or deserving, to 'prepare for us the most precious jewels of Christ's 'body and blood; whereby our ransom might be 'fully paid, the law fulfilled, and his justice fully 'satisfied. So that Christ is now the righteousness of all them that truly do believe in him. He for 'them paid their ransom by his death. He for them ' fulfilled the law in his life. So that now in him, ' and by him, every true Christian man may be called ' a fulfiller of the law; forasmuch as that which their 'infirmity lacked Christ's justice hath supplied.'

Nothing can be more nervous and scriptural than these statements: nor let us overlook the manner in which, in accordance with revelation, sin is condemned, and also the holiness, the law, and the government of God are most strenuously upheld. How should man be just with God?" is distinctly shewn;

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since the blood of Christ paid our ransom,' his obedience 'fulfilled the law,' and thus the justice of God was fully satisfied.'

Let us enter deeply into the distinguishing principles of our church, and "follow her, so far as she follows Christ." The more she is tried, and brought to the touchstone of God's word, the more firmly will she be found to be "built on the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone." Embody her views as to human corruption, to free-will, and to justification, in your spirit and conduct, and you will form a part of the spiritual fabric, " grow unto an holy temple in the Lord, be builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit," and join heartily with your church in swelling the chorus of Cherubim and Seraphim, who continually do cry, holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth; heaven and earth are full of the majesty of thy glory....... Thou art the king of glory, O Christ.'

In bringing before you the statements of the church of Rome on the subject of justification, I purposely abstain from producing extracts from private authors, and shall now confine myself to two recognised documents, the creed of Pope Pius IV., and the Council of Trent. You will soon perceive, how low are the views of that Church respecting the fall of man, and all its fruits and consequences. As to free will, it is a deduction and corollary from the first position. Maintain that there is any spark of goodness in us,' and we can then turn and prepare ourselves' to the practice of righteousness; nor is our justification free and undeserved.

This general declaration is required of all Roman Catholics by the fourth article of the creed of Pope Pius IV. 'I embrace and receive all things, and every thing, which have been defined, and declared by the holy Council of Trent, concerning original sin and justification.'

The holy council farther declares, that it is not its design to include in this decree, which treats of original sin, the blessed Mary, the mother of God.'

and immaculate Virgin Now, on what authority What plain passage of

is this exception founded? scripture teaches it? For we can allow of no decision of the Church that is not supported by inspiration. That Mary was highly favoured of God, all agree; but she was depraved as we are, and needed redemption through the blood of her own son, as much as we do.

Mark now, how, according to the church of Rome, man is made Just with God.

In the 6th sess. ch. vii. are these words: Justification itself is not only a remission of sin, but sanctification, and renovation of the inner man by a voluntary reception of grace, and of the gifts which accompany it; whence man from unjust is made just, and from an enemy a friend, that he may be made an heir according to the hope of everlasting life.'

Our justification is here confounded with our sanctification: but the Bible and the Church of England speak of them as perfectly distinct. We are made just, in order that we may be made holy. Guilt is removed; access to God is freely opened, and the indwelling of the spirit is obtained, in answer to the intercession of our Lord, and of our Own

earnest petitions.

Here, then, is one main error, which lies at the foundation of all the subsequent reasoning of the Church of Rome.

But we proceed. The 6th sess. 9th canon, decrees: 'If any man shall say, that the wicked man is justified by faith alone; by which is meant, that to obtain the grace of justification, there needs no other thing to co-operate with it, and that it is not so much as necessary that he be prepared and disposed by the motion of his will; let him be accursed.'*

'Be prepared and disposed by the motion of his will!' Fallen man is "dead in trespasses and sin." There is no health in him: he is gone as far as possible from original righteousness.' He must therefore be "made willing in the day of God's power," before he can seek the Lord's favour. He, "of his good pleasure, must work in us to will and to do;" and we shall then, and not till then, "work out our own salvation with fear and trembling." But the want of sound views, as to sin, man's corruption, God's law and perfection, is a main cause of these errors. When the disease is not fully felt the remedy is not highly valued. "The whole need not the physician, but they that are sick." We "speak, peace, peace, when there is no peace."

But notice another decree in sess. 6, canon 11. If

any one shall say, that men are justified, either by the alone imputation of Christ's righteousness, or only by the remission of sins, to the exclusion of grace and charity, which is poured into their hearts by the Holy Spirit, and which is inherent in them; or that the grace by which we are justified is the favour of God alone; let him be accursed.'

* Council Trid. Session 5. De Peccato Originali. Sect. v.

This declaration broadly contradicts the whole tenor of scripture. God says, "a man is not justified by the works of the law. We are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." An inferior, but venerable voice adds, 'we are accounted righteous before God only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, only by faith, and not for our own works and deservings.' No; reclaims the church of Rome: If any shall say, that the grace by which we are justified IS THE FAVOR OF GOD ALONE; let him be accursed.' Can you hear the truth of God denied, unmoved? Does no shuddering of horror penetrate your inmost soul? Will you not pity those who hold so damnable an error, and pray for them, and use every effort calculated to promote their good?

Who, again, can read the language of the 24th Canon in the same Session, and not mark its direct opposition to holy writ? If any one shall say, that justice received is not preserved, and even increased before God by good works; but that works themselves are only the fruits and signs of justification already obtained, but that they are not the cause of increasing the same; let him be accursed.'

We are most certainly required to "shew our faith by our works:" but scripture no where authorizes us to say, that those works are the cause of obtaining any blessing, and the increase of it. The protest of our church upon this point is as decisive and forcible as it is true. Article xii. '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