when some of the disciples left him, because they would not believe the sublime doctrine he was teaching them concerning the blessed Eucharist, and Christ asked his apostles, "Will you also leave me?" Peter immediately answered, "Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life," John vi, 29.; which shews how firmly he believed his words also, even in things he did not understand, as well as the divinity of his person.

Q. 14. Is the necessity of faith or belief of Jesus Christ and his doctrine declared in the Scripture?

A. As the virtue of faith in Jesus Christ and his doctrine is the foundation of all other Christian virtues, and of all Christian duties, Almighty God has been pleased that it should be laid down in the holy Scriptures in the clearest and plainest terms.

Thus, with regard to his person, "This is his command, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ," 1 John iii. 23. "He that believeth not is already condemned, because he believeth not in the name of the only begotten Son of God," John iii. 18. "He that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God remaineth in him," John iii. 26. Many seducers are gone out into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh: this is a seducer and an Antichrist," 2 John 7. "He that believeth not makes God a liar, because he believeth not the testimony which God has given of his Son," 1 John v. 10.

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With regard to his word or his doctrine, when he gave his apostles commission to go and teach all nations those things which he had commanded them, he immediately adds, "He that believes and is baptized, shall be saved, and he that believes

not, shall be damned," Matth. ult. Mark ult. And on another occasion he says to them, "Whoso. ever shall not hear you or receive your words, · when you depart out of that city, shake off the dust from your feet; verily I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable far the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city," Matth. x. "Whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words," says Christ," in this sinful and adulterous generation, him also the Son of Man shall be ashamed of when he shall come in the glory of his Father, with his holy angels," Mark viii. 38. Luke ix. 26. "He that revolteth and continueth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God," 2 John 9." Jesus Christ shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; who shall be punished with everlasting destruction, from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power," 2 Thess. i. In all which plain testimonies, we see, that the receiving his words, the embracing his doctrine, and the obeying his gospel, are laid down as necessary conditions of salvation, without which "everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord," will undoubtedly be our 'portion for ever.

Lastly, With regard to faith in general, both of his person and doctrine, and to the great crime and punishment of unbelievers, the Scriptures speak thus: "Without faith it is impossible to please God," Heb. xi. 6.; "as for unbelievers, and murderers, and fornicators, and adulterers, their portion shall be in a lake burning with fire and brimstone, which is the second death," Rev. xxi. 8. Hence the holy apostle St. Jude says, in the beginning of his Epistle, "It is necessary to write

to beseech you to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints;" and then goes on, in the rest of his short epistle, to expose, in the strongest colours, the wickedness and punishment of those who corrupt this true faith by false doctrine; and St. Paul, writing to the Galatians, pronounces a curse, and repeats it a second time, upon any one who shall dare to change the Gospel of Jesus Christ, or in any one article teach another gospel than what he had already taught them. Gal. i.

Q. 15. As true faith in Jesus Christ, or the belief of all those divine truths which he has revealed, is so strictly required by Almighty God from all as a condition of salvation, how can we possibly know what those truths are which he has revealed, and which we are obliged to believe?

A. This can only be known by means of that rule which Jesus Christ established for that purpose.

CHAPTER XI.

OF THE RULE OF FAITH.

Q. 1. HAS Jesus Christ left us a rule by which we may know the truths he has revealed?

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A. He has; and it is only by following this rule that we are preserved in that one true faith, of which the Scripture says, there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism," Eph. iv. 5.; and "without which faith it is impossible to please God," Heb. xi. 6. Hence St. Paul, exhorting all to be of the same mind, that is, to believe the same truths, and to have the same faith, commands us

to continue in this rule, as the means to be so; "Nevertheless," says he, "whereunto we are already arrived, that we be of the same mind, let us also continue in the same rule," Philip. iii. 16.

Q. 2. Have we any description of this rule in the Scriptures?

A. Yes, we have; the Prophet Isaiah, foretelling the glory of Christ's kingdom, describes this rule by which we are to walk under the gospel, as a high way, plain, open, and easy to walk in; as a way of holiness, containing every thing necessary for making those holy who walk in it; as a certain and secure way, in which even fools shall walk without danger of error; and, finally, as a way that leads to eternal happiness. The prophet's words are these: "And a path and a way shall be there, and it shall be called the holy way......and this shall be to you a straight way, so that fools shall not err therein......they shall walk there that shall be delivered: and the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and shall come into Sion with praise, and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and mourning shall flee away,' Isa.

xxxv. 8.

Q. 3. What may be drawn from these words of the Prophet?

A. That the rule which Jesus Christ has left for instructing us in what we are to believe and do, in order to be saved, has these three properties. (1.) It is easy and plain, fitted for all capacities. (2.) It is universal, and contains all revealed truths. (3.) It is certain, and may be securely depended upon.

Q. 4. Was it becoming the wisdom and goodness of God to leave us such a rule for our guide in these things?

A. It was not only becoming him to do so, but it was absolutely necessary for the end he proposed. For how could he require of man to believe his truths and obey his law, under pain of damnation, if he had not left us some plain and certain means by which we might know what all these truths are, and what his law requires from us?

Q.5. What is the rule of our faith left us by Jesus Christ?

A. The Christian world, as it stands at present, is divided into two great bodies in regard to this point. All indeed agree in this, that the holy Scriptures, being dictated by the Holy Ghost, are truly the word of God, and therefore are infallibly true in what they teach, both as to what we are to believe, and as to what we are to do in order to be saved. But, as the divine truths contained in them cannot be known without understanding the true sense of these sacred writings, hence the great question arises, How is the true sense of the Scripture to be known? One of the two. great bodies of Christians, to wit, the Protestants, affirm, that the true sense of the Scriptures may be sufficiently known in all things necessary to salvation, by every man of sound judgment, who reads them with humility and attention; and, therefore, they hold, that the rule left by Jesus Christ to man for knowing what we are to believe, and what we are to do, in order to be saved, is the written word alone, interpreted by every man of sound judgment. The other great body of Christians, namely the Roman Catholics, affirm, that thẹ true sense of the Scriptures cannot be sufficiently known by any private interpretation, but only by the public authority of the Church; and therefore, they hold that the rule left us by Jesus Christ is the written word, as interpreted by the Church.

VOL. I.