# Works of the Right Rev. Bishop Hay of Edinburgh/Volume 1

WORKS
OF THE
RIGHT REV. BISHOP HAY
OF EDINBURGH
IN FIVE VOLUMES
VOL. I.
THE SINCERE CHRISTIAN : VOL. I.
A NEW EDITION
EDITED UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF
THE RIGHT REV. BISHOP STRAIN
PRINTED BY
WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS
EDINBURGH
1871
page
page
CONTENTS OF VOL. I.
A Short Account of the Right Rev. George Hay, D.D., xiii.
INTRODUCTION.
CHAPTER I.
OF GOD.
His nature, 5. His infinite perfection, ib.; power, 6; wisdom, ib.; goodness, 7; justice, ib.; mercy, 8; holiness, 9; truth, ib.; beauty, ib. His eternity, 10; immensity, 11; incomprehensibility, ib.; immutability, 12.
CHAPTER II.
OF THE BLESSED TRINITY.
The term defined, 14. The Unity of God, ib. His Unity and His Trinity in Unity proved from Scripture, 14-16. In what the three persons of the Trinity distinct, 16-18. The Son and Holy Ghost both truly God, 18, 19. The Divine nature the same in all the three persons, 19. This doctrine a subject for faith alone, ib.
CHAPTER III.
OF CREATION AND PROVIDENCE.
God, Creator and Sovereign Lord, 20. Creation defined, ib. The creation of the world, 21. God's end therein, ib. His preserving care and sovereign power, 22-26. His Providence, definition of, 26; incapable of error or failure, 27; all things overruled by, 27-29; how manifested by God for the good of His creatures, 29-31; its relation to the evils of sin and suffering, 31-42.
CHAPTER IV.
OF THE CREATION AND FALL OF THE ANGELS.
Their rank in creation, and man's, 43. God's end in the creation of His other creatures, ib. The nature of the angels, ib. In what state and for what end created, 43, 44. The sin of those who fell, and its consequences, 44. Scriptural account of their original perfection and fall, 45, 46.
CHAPTER V.
OF THE CREATION AND FALL OF MAN.
The nature of man, 47. God's end in his creation, ib. His creation of our first parents, 47, 48. Their original state of innocence, grace, and happiness, 48-50. Their fall through transgression of the Divine command, and Scriptural account thereof, 50-52. The consequences, 52-54.
CHAPTER VI.
OF THE PROMISE OF A REDEEMER, AND STATE OF MANKIND TILL HIS COMING.
The reconciliation of man with God possible to God alone, 55, 56. His compassion for man, 56, 57. When the promise of a Redeemer first made, 57; when fulfilled, ib. The condition of mankind in the interval, 57-60. The Divine favour towards the Jews, 60-63. Their condition and that of the rest of mankind at the coming of the Redeemer, 63, 64. The revelation of Divine truths through Him, and their nature, 64-66. His principal offices, 66. His name, 67.
CHAPTER VII.
OF JESUS CHRIST OUR REDEEMER.
Knowledge of Him necessary to salvation, 68. True God and true man, 68-70. His self-subjection to human infirmities, 70, 71. To what His mission due, 71, 72. His incarnation, 72-74. The union in Him of the Divine and human natures, 74-76. His relation to the blessed Virgin, 76, 77.
CHAPTER VIII.
OF THE OFFICE AND DIGNITIES OF THE REDEEMER.
His office defined, 78. His birth, 78-80. His infancy, youth, and early manhood, 80. His public life, 80-83. His passion, death, and burial, 83-85. The descent of His soul into Limbo, 85-92. His resurrection, 92-96. His ascension, 96-98. His dignities of name, 98; as King, ib.; as Head of the Church, 99, 100-111; as Judge, 100, 111-125
CHAPTER IX.
OF THE BENEFITS OF OUR REDEMPTION.
Their nature and effect through the merits of Christ, 126. The value and reward of His merits, 126-129. The benefits individually — viz.. His satisfaction and propitiation, 129- 131; redemption, 131-136; impetration, 136-141. His merits in relation to the salvation of mankind, 141-143
CHAPTER X.
OF FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST.
Definition of faith in general, 144. Faith Divine and human, 145. Their relative certainty, ib. Divine faith, how described in Scripture, 145, 146. Faith in Christ defined, 146. His office as our heavenly teacher, 146, 147. The character of His doctrine, 147. The necessity of belief therein, and in Himself to salvation, and how those before His coming saved, 147-151. The means of our knowledge of the nature of His revealed truths, 151.
CHAPTER XI.
OF THE RULE OF FAITH.
By whom a rule of faith left, 152. Its essential properties, whence shown, 152, 153. Its necessity, 153. The Protestant as distinguished from the Catholic rule, 153, 154. How the true rule to be determined, 154. The character of the written Word alone, as a rule of faith, and the consequence, 154-158. That of the Catholic rule or written Word as interpreted by the Church, 158-163. The Church, therefore, the rule, 163, 164. Farther direct proofs of this, and how these more fully appear, 164. Tradition treated, 165-174. Importance of knowledge of the Church, 174. What the Apostles' Creed proves concerning her, 174. 175
CHAPTER XII.
OF THE CHURCH.
The Church of Christ defined, 176. In what her members one, 176, 177. Of whom composed, and their relations to each other, 177-183. Her supreme Head, 183. Her visible Head on earth, 184-187. Her doctrinal infallibility, 187, 188. That of her visible Head alone, 188194. The consequences that follow from the reasoning of this and the preceding chapter as respects the Church herself, and those out of her communion, 194-196. How she is to be distinguished, 196.
CHAPTER XIII.
OF THE MARKS OF THE CHURCH.
The Church of Christ essentially one, 197, 198; holy, 198, 199; catholic, 199-202; apostolical, 202-204; perpetual in duration and infallible, 204-206. All these required marks found in the Catholic Church alone, 206-214. That, therefore, the only true Church, 214. The faith of Christ as received from her, and obedience to His commands, essential to salvation, 214, 215.
CHAPTER XIV.
OF THE LAW OF GOD IN GENERAL.
Its nature, 216. In what light to be considered by us, ib. When given to man, 216, 217. Our duty of obedience thereto, 217, 218. How this rendered possible to us, 218, 219. The division of the Ten Commandments, 219-221.
CHAPTER XV.
OF THE COMMANDS OF THE CHURCH.
These in general, 222. In particular, ib. Obedience thereto, how binding on us, 222, 223. In what light represented in Scripture, 223, 224. (SECTION I.) - The First Command.— Enjoins hearing Mass on Sundays and holidays, and rest from servile work, 224. Its design, ib. God's requirement of the duty to which it relates, how manifested, 224, 225. By whom Christian holidays appointed, and the observance of the ​first day of the week ordained, 225. For what end holidays appointed, and in what manner to be kept, 225, 226. Why hearing Mass the only pious exercise enjoined, 226, 227. The breach, and proper idea of the Command, 227, 228. (Section II.)—- The Second Command.— Enjoins fasting and abstinence at certain times, 229. The particular times, ib. The design of the command, ib. The terms fasting and abstinence defined, ib. How the authority for the former and Divine command of the latter practice, their observance and benefits, appear from Scripture, 229-235. Why the times and manner of fasting not determined by God, 235. His power to the Church to appoint these — how exercised, 236. The duty of the people, 236, 237. The prescribed rule, 237, 238. Of the gradual laxity in its observance, and decrees of the Church regarding, 238-241. Of the collation specially, 241, 242. Exemption from fasting — the plea of health not always valid, 242-244. The fear of ridicule, 244-246. (Section III.)— The Third and Fourth Commands. — Enjoin approaching the Sacraments of Penance and Holy Communion once a-year, the latter at Easter, 246. Their design, 246-248. The sin of neglect of our Easter duties without just cause, 248. When non-observance excusable, ib. (Section IV.) — The Fifth Command. — Enjoins payment of tithes to our pastors, 248. Its design, 248, 249. Whence the duty of their support arises, 249 254. The law of the Church in relation thereto, and its observance, 254, 255. (Section V.) — The Sixth Command. — Forbids marriage at certain times and within certain degrees, 255. These special times, ib. Presence at marriage during them, 256. Within what degrees, and why marriage forbidden, 256-258. The effect of the prohibition, 258. Of dispensation therefrom, 258-260. Generally, what necessary effectually to avoid transgression of the Divine laws, 260.
CHAPTER XVI.
OF SIN.
Definition of sin in general, 261. Original and actual, ib. The difference, ib. Who guilty of the latter, ib. Its division into: (Section I.)— Mortal Sin.— This defined, 261, 262. Its effects, 262. Its character, ib. How its malice appears from the injury done to God, 263-265. His hatred of it, 265, 266. Its punishment in the world, 266268. Its ingratitude against Christ, 268, 269. Its effect on our souls in this life, 269-273. The loss of heaven and condemnation to hell, 273-275. (Section II.) — Venial Sin. — Its definition and effect, 276. Its nature as distinct from mortal sin proved, 276-278. Of two kinds, 278. Their relative evil, 278, 279. Of that of deliberate venial sin specially, 279-285. The remedies for sin, 285.
CHAPTER XVII.
OF REPENTANCE.
Its nature, 286. Its principal components, 286, 287. (Section I.) — The Sorrow of Repentance. — Defined, 287. Its qualities, 287, 289. Essential to true repentance, 289, 290. Its two kinds, how termed, their character and different effects, 290-292. (Section II.)— The Purpose of not Sinning Again. — Its definition, 292. Its effects, and their necessity to reconciliation with God, 292-294. Their attainment, 294-295. (Section III.) — The doing Penance for Sin. — In what the duty consists, 296. The design, certainty, and manner of the punishment of sin, 296-300. Whence the obligation of the duty, and how this a part of true repentance, 300-306. The satisfaction of Christ in relation thereto, 306-313. Its advantages, 313, 314. (Section IV.)— The Spirit of Penance.— Defined, 316. Its effects, 316, 317. Its signs, 317, 318. By what means obtained, 318-320. (Section V.)— The Works of Penance. — Their general nature, 320, 321. Their distinct classes — (i.) those commanded under pain of sin, 322-324; (2.) those left to our own choice, 324-327; (3.) those independent of our will, 327, 328. (Section VI.) — The effects of true repentance in the remission of sin, 328-331.
CHAPTER XVIII
OF THE GRACE OF GOD.
Its nature, 332. Of two kinds, ib. Their respective effects, ib. (Section I.) — Actual Grace. — Its particular nature, ib. Its operation on the soul, 333. How its special virtues appear from Scripture, 333, 334. Its help essential to what is conducive to salvation, 334-337. Free-will in relation to it, 337,338. Our good works independent of it, 338, 339. Its aid the gift of God to all, 339-341. This shown with regard to true believers who are,—(i.) in a state of grace, 342, 343; (2.)of sin, 343-346; and unbelievers, 346, 347. Its effects, and what necessary on our part thereto, 347-350. How bestowed by God, 350-351. (Section II.) -
Sanctifying Grace. — Its individual nature, 352-354. Its effect, 354. Its action on the soul to that end, 354-360. How increased, 360, 361. How diminished and lost, 361, 362. By what means recovered when lost by sin, 362-368.
CHAPTER XIX.
OF THE SACRAMENTS IN GENERAL.
In what a true sacrament consists, 369. Its requisites, design, and effect when received with proper dispositions, 369-376, 378, 379. The ​administration of the sacraments, 376-378. The farther effects, besides communication of grace, of those of baptism, confirmation, and holy orders, 379, 380. Their number, 380, 381. Our obligations in regard to them, 381, 382. (Appendix.) — Sacred Ceremonies. — The nature and necessity of ceremonies in general, 382, 383. The nature and design of sacred ceremonies, 383-385. By whom instituted, 385-388. The character of those of the Catholic Church vindicated, 38S-392. Her use of Latin in religious offices, 392-395. That of the sign of the cross, 395-400.
CHAPTER XX.
OF THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM.
Its design, 401. Its character, institution, outward form, and inward grace, 401-403. Its administration, 403, 404. (Section I.) — Its Effects, 404-407. (Section II.) — Its Necessity.— Essential in general to salvation, 407-409. When salvation possible without it, 409, 410. Of children who die unbaptised, 410. How often to be received, 410, 411. The dispositions required to obtain its graces, 411. (Section III.) — Its Ceremonies. — What to be observed generally with respect to, 411, 412. Their division into, — (i.) those which precede, 412-416; (2.) those which accompany, 416-418; (3.) those which succeed, 418 — the sacramental action. (Section IV.)— Godfathers and Godmothers. — Why required, 419. Their number, ib. Their qualifications, ib. Their obligations, 419, 420. The kindred they contract by their office, 420.
CHAPTER XXI.
OF THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION.
Its design, 421. Its character, institution, outward action, and inward grace or effects, and how often to be received, 422-425, 426. Our cooperation necessary to its full benefits, 425. The dispositions essential to its worthy receiving, 426, 427. The sin of its neglect, 427, 428. Its ceremonies, 428-429.
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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