Faith and Works

The second chapter of the Epistle by James seems, to my mind, to describe a spiritual wedding. We are “bidden to a marriage.” And as at the olden marriage in Cana of Gralilee, the Holy Master is present, and consummates the nuptials. The parties to be united are but symbolic personages, and yet are real and life-like too. The bride is young and beautiful — ever young, and ever clothed upon with light as with a garment. Like Milton’s Eve, she was —

“For softness formed, and sweet attractive grace.”

Her face is clear as the day — her look is firm, and yet trustful. She is not of the earth, but Heaven-born, and wears her celestial jDarentage in every lineament of her radiant countenance. Her name is Faith. She is the daughter of God.

And beside her stands one whose lusty form was made for deeds of daring and endurance. He is sinewy and athletic. There is valor in his eye, and “cunning in his ten fingers,” and strength in his right arm. He was created to act, to do, to suffer. He was formed for strife and struggle. His name is Action”.

With solemn rites the two are joined in wedlock. They are both to love and both to obey. They are always to live, and move, and suffer, and conquer together. They are to be the fruitful parents of everything good on earth, On them, while united, Jehovah pronounces a “blessing” richer than that which gladdened the nuptials of Isaac and Rebekah, or of Jacob iuid Leali. While united they are to live, and grow, and conquer. When separated they are to droop and perish. For each other, and in each other, and with each other, their days of struggle and of victory are to be passed, until time shall be no longer. And so Faith and Works were coupled by Infinite Wisdom, — and in the presence of the world it was solemnly announced, “What God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”

From that union have sprung a glorious progeny. All the mighty deeds which have ennobled and elevated humanity own that parentage. Faith and Action have been the source, under Grod, of everything good, and great, and enduring, in the Church of Christ; the very Church itself exists through them. The early Apostles went out with their glad evangel to the nations, under this double impulse, and with this double watchword. It was not enough to “believe my gospel;” they were also to “preach my gospel.” It was not enough to love in the heart; the whole life was to be an embodiment and outflow of love. It was not enough to have a meek and gentle spirit; the youngchurch was to return good for evil, and thus overcome evil with good. The church was not only to be sound in heart, but active in limb and sinew also. It was to be a militant church, contending earnestly for the faith delivered to the saints — a courageous church, standing fast for the gospel — a suppliant church, praying without ceasing — a busy church, redeeming the time — a patient church, bearing with all long sufferings — and a conquering church, to evangelize all nations. Its model men were men of faith and action. Throiigli that apostolic Iliad, the great Apostle seems to fly like a thunderbolt, kindling, and consuming! He is all a-blaze with zeal. At Lystra rebuking the deluded worshippers — at Jerusalem confronting the Pharisee, and the rulers on the castle stairs — at Cesana startling Agrippa on his tribunal — at Rome preaching the reviled gospel, both in his “own hired house,” and in Caesar’s palace — he is everywhere the believer in full action, with the heart to feel, and the hand to do. And such have been God’s true evangC” lists ever since. Such was Luther, the flaming inconoclast of Europe, — ^to-day writing theses and commentaries, and to-morrow translating the Scriptures, or hurling fresh invective against the black domination of the man of sin. Such were Baxter, the indefatigable pastor, Edwards, the perpetual thinker, Keander, the perpetual student, Owen, the perpetual writer, Knox, the untiring reformer, AYhitfield, the untiring preacher, and Chahiiers, who appears to have been pastor, preacher, writer, thinker, and reformer, all in one. Brethren! such may God honor us in being. A faith, sound as that of the Westminster Assembly will not save the dying world around us, unless it flows out into action. For “wilt thou know, oh! man.!’” and all men in all God’s heritage, that “as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”