ance, so that we may be able to do good works; for without faith and without Christ, human nature and strength is much too weak to perform them. John xv.

NOTES.

1. With true faith, there is always connected obedience to the will of God; for faith, saith James ii. 17, if it hath not good works is dead, being alone. And Paul, in his epistle to the Hebrews, v. 9, saith: Christ being made perfect, became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him. Lutheran Catechism.

2. Michaelis, in his Comp. Theol. has this observation: Good works are necessary to the obtaining of eternal salvation, not so as to merit or purchase it, but as a part of the order or way to salvation.Eternal life was purchased by Christ's active and passive obedience; but the degrees of happiness, which we are to enjoy, and the rewards which we are to expect, depend much on our works. Mat. vi. 19, 20, Luke xix. 12-24.

3. We must not teach of faith alone, saith Luther, or else carnally minded and ungodly men will think,. We must teach both that works are not necessary. the doctrine of faith and of works; for this is also

true, that God judges according to our works, as St. Peter says Just as you live, so will your state be, and accordingly will God judge you.

And we may be assured, that there is no true faith, where there are no good works, for the works are the fruit of the tree, by which we may see, where faith or unbelief is. God will not ask you in judgment, whether you are called a christian, and are baptized, but he will ask, are you a christian ? then show me, where are the fruits with which you can prove your faith.-Therefore, it is necessary to have both faith Tishler's Extracts

and obedience towards God.

from the latter works of Luther.

4. Where there is no terror on account of the wrath of God, but pleasure in sinful practices, there can be no faith; for faith is to console and enliven the terrified hearts. Ibidem.

5. Our Lord Jesus Christ, hath commanded us to teach repentance and forgiveness of sins in his name. The preaching of repentance reproves and convinces us of sin, and to him who is terrified on account of his sins, the gospel preaches forgiveness for Christ's sake, through grace, without any merits of his own. Such forgiveness is only obtained by faith, i. e. if we believe the promise of God, which promise is, that he will most assuredly be merciful to every penitent sinner, for Christ's sake. Ibidem.

ARTICLE XXI.

OF THE ADORATION OF SAINTS.

Of the adoration of saints, we teach, that we should remember them, so as to strengthen our faith, by observing how God's grace was imparted to them, and how they were saved by faith. Also, to take an example by their good works, every one according to his But by scripture it cannot calling. be proved, that we should call on them, or seek help from them; for there is one only Conciliator and Mediator, appointed between God and man, Jesus Christ; 1 Tim, ii. 5, who is the only Saviour, the only High Priest, the only Propitiation and Advocate before God. Rom. viii. 3 and 25. And he alone hath promised to hear our prayers. Heb. xi. 11. This is certainly the highest worship, according to scripture, that we seek and call on the same Jesus Christ, in all our needs and concerns. 1 John, ii. 1: If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous.

APPENDIX.

CONTAINING

THE DOCTRINE OF THE OPERATIONS OF THE

HOLY GHOST,

AND OF

PREDESTINATION.

OF THE HOLY GHOST.

The Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the Son, is of one substance, majesty and glory with the Father and the Son.

He worketh on the hearts of men by the means of grace and other providential events, and calls, enlightens and sanctifies them that do not resist. Lutheran Catechism.

134

NOTES.

The Holy Ghost may be resisted, and alas! his operations are too often resisted. He was striving in vain with man before the deluge.Our Saviour complained of the people of Jerusalem, that they would not. Math. xxiii. 37.-Stephen said to the Jews, Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost, as your fathers did, so do ye. Acts vii. 51.--And we are called upon not to harden our hearts-Heb. iii. and not te grieve the Holy Spirit of God. Eph. iv. 80.

OF PREDESTINATION.

In the Augsburg confession, we find nothing of Predestination; because at the time of its composition, there was no dispute about this doctrine. Godshalc, it is said, was the first, who held and taught an absolute decree, about the year of Christ 847; he maintained that God, from all eternity, had pre-ordained some to everlasting life, and others to everlasting punishments: to such, whom he preordained to life, he gave his Holy Spirit and