Q. May the righteousness of the Redeemer be exhibited in a false form? * A. Bishop White says, "By men, who were incapable of intending the relaxation of moral obligation, the righteousness of the Redeemer has been exhibited in such a form, as that other men, corrupt in their views, have, by strict deduction from the premises of the former, denied the necessity of any righteousness, either in heart or in practice. Their loud cry is of a finished salvation, without such a sequence. This is the ground of the strong hold of the Antinomians: strong, on the admission of the sufficiency of the ground; but otherwise, as unreal as the "baseless fabric of a vision." Q. What is the true and only ground of acceptance with God? * Ord. Ser. 1825, p. 21. A. Bishop White says, "The true and only ground of acceptance with God, is the merits of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, through the sacrifice on the Cross; all merit, on the part of man, being utterly excluded and denied." SECTION III. Of Good Works. "Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."-Titus i. 14. "By them a lively faith may be as evidently known, as a tree discerned by the fruit."-From Art. XII. "The Churchman insists on the necessity of that spiritual change denoted in Scripture by the terms sanctification, renewing of the mind, renewing of the Holy Ghost." He employs no other standard to ascertain the sanctifying presence of the divine Spirit in his soul, than the holy tempers which are produced there, and which exhibit the fruits of godliness and righteousness of life."-Bp. Hobart, 3d charge, p. 9. * Comp. Views, vol. i. p. 96. Q. What is the end of the Gospel? A. Bishop White says, "The whole end of the Gospel is satisfied, in its bringing of men to "live soberly, religiously, and godly, in this present world." But to accomplish this, it must be taken in connexion with "the grace of God, that bringeth salvation." Thus, the whole body of divine truth is addressed to us as sinful beings, who have need of the mercy of God; and, as frail beings, dependent on his aids; and who, therefore, will not be materially benefitted by a scheme of instruction, accommodated to a grade of character of which they feel themselves unconscious." Q. By what test shall we know that we are under the guidance of the spirit? A. Bishop White says, "We may * Genl. Semy. Address, 1822, p. 7. know it exactly in proportion as it is discoverable in holy habits, manifesting themselves in holy actions." Q. What obligation lies on every one who looks for salvation through Christ? A. Bishop White says, "There lies on every one, who looks for salvation through Christ, the obligation of making a profession of his name; which can be done only in the ordinances of his appointment." SECTION IV. Of Evangelism & Evangelical Preaching. "But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an Evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry."-2 Tim. iv. 5. "It (Evangelical) properly denotes those who preach in all respects the doctrines of the gospel, which are emphatically good tidings.""-Bp. Hobart, 4th charge, P. 9. 6 *Cons. Ser. 1809, p. 33. Q. What are the various meanings attached to "Evangelism" or Evangelical doctrines? A. Bishop White says, "With some it comprehends such views of the sovereignty of God, as are inconsistent with what our Church affirms of, the oblation of Christ for the sins of the whole world.' 'In the notions of others, it is connected with such an excitement of animal sensibility, as we have no instance of in the Bible, except in what is recorded of the issue joined between Elijah and the Priests of Baal. And, in some instances, there has been a subserviency to the purposes of party, for the making of inroads on the institutions of our Church. So far as the present speaker can judge from his own observation, and from his reading in the eccle * Genl. Sem. Address, 1822, p. 6, |