66 THE boldness of the preceding reply "I renounce them all"—seems to pre-suppose confident strength. Yet when arrayed against spiritual foes`; against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places;" man's strength is altogether weakness. Hence the Church proceeds diligently to examine into the nature and grounds of that Faith, by aid of which this boldness may be justified. She demands therefore of the sponsors, each individually to answer in the name of the infant brought to baptism, whether their faith be such, as to lead them to the Lord as the fountain of holiness, strength, and wisdom, for the work before them; lest, coming in their own strength to the work, they fail of blessing. The foundation of true religion is the belief in one only God and the Christian believes in that God— as God the Father, to preserve him; God the Son, to redeem him; God the Holy Ghost, to sanctify him. Well may they be bold, whose God, though dwelling in heaven, where no man can approach unto, and ruling all things both in heaven and earth, is a merciful Father to them. "Like as a Father pitieth his own children, so is the Lord merciful unto them that fear him " Sooner shall you, a loving parent, mock your children by giving them "stones for bread 2,” than their heavenly Father not grant the aid which they need, and the protection for which they supplicate. But this blessed reconciliation with God the Father is effected solely by the merits and mediation of his only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. It is required, therefore, that we state distinctly and specifically what is our faith in God the Son; with the several particulars relating both to his divine and human nature: thus showing the grounds of faith and hope through Him. Accordingly we thus profess our belief in Him. He was conceived by the Holy Ghost; and so, a sinless Being: capable of presenting himself an offering in sacrifice, without spot or blemish, acceptable to God. He was born very man of the Virgin Mary, his mother; or He could not have yielded himself unto death and "without shedding of blood was no remission of sins." He suffered unto Pontius Pilate at the time and in the manner foreshadowed by the prophets'. He was crucified, dead, and buried; as foretold by himself 2. He went down into hell, the place of departed spirits3; confirming the animating truth which He had declared to his countrymen, that the patriarchs' God was a "God, not of the dead, but 1 It was foretold of the advent of the Messiah, that it should take place when the "sceptre had departed from Judah." It did take place when the sceptre, the emblem of power, was in the hands of a Roman governor, and Judea a province of the Roman empire. 2 Matt. xx. 19. 3 Into that abode of rest was admitted the soul of the penitent thief; and there too shall our spirits, as we trust and pray, be admitted when separated from the body by death; awaiting their re-union with the body at the general resurrection. for us of the living '." He also did rise again from the dead the third day; according to his own word." He ascended into heaven; bearing thither the very body in which He had lived and died and risen again: for showing the resurrection of our own bodies at the last day. He sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; there "ever living to make intercession 3" from thence He shall come again at the end of the world, to judge the quick and the dead, according to his word. Hopeful indeed is faith thus grounded. Our sacrifice was perfect; acceptable therefore before the throne of mercy. Every event was accomplished according to the word of God: his word, therefore, which is our title to heaven, is itself truth. The grave has no more terrors for the followers of the Saviour; He has conquered the grave. Death indeed separates, for a time, parents, children, relatives, and friends; but in the resurrection all shall live again. Jesus Christ, as the second Adam, has restored that eternal life which the first Adam forfeited; and has risen from the dead, "the firstfruits of them that sleep". Even in the prospect of judgment this faith sustains the soul; for it finds in the Judge the very Being, who is also a compassionate Mediator, a prevailing Intercessor, a meritorious Sacrifice. Hence the wisdom of our Church in reminding you, as you bring your children to be bap 1 Matt. xxii. 32. 3 Heb. vii. 25. 2 Luke xxiv. 46. 5 See this part of the subject treated of more at large in the observations on the Lesson appointed for the Burial Service, I Cor. xv. 20. tized, how great are the blessings of that faith to which you are about to pledge them. Further, we believe in the Holy Ghost." They best can tell the value of their faith in this the promised Comforter; who, in asking its assistance, and seeking its consolation, receive and find strength for their weakness and comfort for their sorrows : strengthened to resist temptations to evil, comforted amid the varied trials, temporal and spiritual, to which every follower of Christ is exposed in a world of probation like this; and able, without presumption, and even hopefully, to fulfil their vow of "renouncing" evil'. -We believe also in "the Holy Catholic Church," founded upon prophets and apostles; Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone. In its catholicity it is freely open to all who will accept its services; ready to receive all who will come under the shelter of its care: its members, wherever and however dispersed, being as one; holding one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all; the faith once delivered to the saints, who, "being many, are one bread and one body'." -But as of those who are called, some, we are told, will fall away from their stedfastness, we are yet encouraged to perseverance on our own part by believing in "the communion of saints." These are they who, true members of Christ's Church, pure in doctrine, pure in practice, not only profess the Gospel, but are sanctified thereby; and who, according to St. Paul's beautiful view of their state, are said, even on earth, to "have their conversation in heaven "." They have "com Refer to pages 65 and 81: - 2 1 Cor. x. 17. 3 Phil. iii. 20. munion with the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost'." They have communion with angels, who "minister to them as heirs of salvation 2 " What, however, would faith even thus do to comfort us, if we did not also believe in "the remission of sins?" Every man's own heart condemns him as a sinner before God; and the Christian well knows that the wages of sin is death. If therefore God were not "greater than our hearts;" ready to "forgive us all our sins and heal all our infirmities;" misery would be our portion here and hereafter. Wealth would be valueless, power weakness, the whole world vanity; from fear of that dread hereafter, when nor riches nor power could save the soul from death. Hence we believe, to our joy, that there is remission of our sins through Him, Jesus Christ our Lord, "who died for the ungodly." And what if in death our bodies return to their kindred dust? We know that they shall be made alive again; formed anew by the omnipotent will of the first Creator. Hence we "believe in the resurrection of the flesh :" for as Jesus died and rose again with his body, "even so those also which sleep in Jesus shall God," at the last great day, "bring with him ;" their bodies raised from the grave and clothed with immortality. Lastly, we believe in "everlasting life after death." This article of our creed is founded upon the positive and explicit declaration of our Divine Teacher, who assures us that, whether to the wicked or to the righteous, there will 4 1 1 John i. 3. and 2 Cor. xiii. 14. 2 Heb. i. 14. 3 Rom. v. 6. "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly." 4 1 Thess. iv. 14. |