in all things well ordered and sure. The
_first_ rests on the obedience of the creature, but the _second_ on
the promises of Jehovah. Paul therefore calls it a better covenant
established upon _better_ promises.

Perhaps someone may feel disposed to ask--whether faith is all that is
necessary? We reply that it is the cause which produces its effect.
Paul answers this question thus--"We conclude that a man is justified
by faith without the deeds of the law, Do we then make void the law
through faith? God forbid; yea we establish the law." Here let the
question be asked;--how do we establish the law by _faith_? Answer,
"Faith will have its perfect work." But what is that perfect work,
which faith produces? Ans. Faith works love in the soul; and if we
love God, we will keep his commandments. And _faith, love_ and
_keeping_ the commandments are the three exercises, that form the
christian character. Faith is the foundation; works are not. We cannot
begin to build on works. Instead of being the _first_, they are the
_last_ christian grace. They are the visible _effects_ of an inward,
living faith.

Faith and faith _only_ is the seed rooted and grounded in the truth,
and (to use a Bible figure) it becometh a tree, and produces all the
fruits of the spirit-love, joy, meekness, temperance, long-suffering,
forbearance. This is what the apostle calls the "righteousness of
faith" in contradistinction to "the righteousness of the law,"
produced by fear. Paul compares faith to a good olive tree. "The Jews
through unbelief were broken off," and "thou (the Gentile) standest by
faith." Jesus says; "if ye have faith as a grain of mustard-seed, ye
shall say unto this mountain, remove hence to yonder place, and it
shall remove." Here, in parable, faith is represented as removing
mountains of sin. He further says--"Thy _faith_ hath made thee
whole";--not thy works. Paul exclaims, "Faith works by love, purifies
the heart and overcomes the world." John says, "and this is the
victory that overcometh the world even our faith."

It is a certain fact, that none of these salutary effects are ascribed
to human works. The apostles in no instance say, that _works_ purify
the heart, or overcome the world--or that this is the victory, even
your _works_; The whole is ascribed to _faith_; because that is the
living tree on which the good fruits grow. Works are, in scripture,
called fruits. "By their _fruits_ ye shall know them"--that is by
their _wo