rks_. "A good tree cannot bring forth evil _fruit_." To carry
out this figure, we would remark that, fruit can have no existence
till the tree is first produced. Therefore in a gospel sense, no good
works, acceptable to God, can be produced without a true and living
faith. The apostle declares, "without faith it is impossible to please
God." The gospel being good tidings, or news, are you satisfied that
thing necessary? I presume all denominations will assent to the fact,
that faith is the first religious exercise of the creature. We shall
then obey the command of the apostle, and "contend earnestly for the
faith once delivered to the saints."

But asks the reader, what matter is it which is first in order,
whether _love, faith_ or _works_? I reply that it is a matter of vast
importance, and without understanding this fact, we cannot come to the
knowledge of the truth, even though we should be ever learning. If
these three christian graces _faith, love_ and _works_, are preached
in a confused and mixed manner, we cannot arrive at a true
understanding of a gospel salvation, neither can we tell the
difference between law and gospel. The law is of works, and the gospel
is of faith. And no man can fulfill the spirit of the law without
faith in the gospel. When the sinner exercises faith in the love and
goodness of God in freely giving him eternal life, which infinitely
transcends all other blessings--that moment faith works love in his
heart, and causes him to rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of
glory. He then loves God because God first loved him. And when the
sinner loves God, he is passed from death unto life, and that love is
the fulfillment of the law.

We are now led to see the consistency of faith being the first step.
It is the very _cause_ that produces _love_ to God, and _love_ induces
us to keep the commandments. "Faith works by love," and "if ye love
me," says Jesus, "ye will keep my commandments."

We will now introduce an example, which will plainly show the
distinction between the law and gospel and in what manner they affect
the sinner. Suppose a king sentences six of his subjects to
imprisonment during life, and commands them to spend their days in
hard labor. They are put in confinement, refuse to obey his commands--
refuse to labor, and in the midst of their miseries curse his name.
They are now in disobedience under the condemnation of the law.

The king says to his only Son, I love those subjec