The New York herald., 1870-05-15
CHAPTER III.
NJ Lt.lIlA

CHAPTER III.
OF Fnlth
Forasmuch as man totally depends on God as his
Creator aud Lord aud create easol is who,ly sub
ec t. the uncreated llutA, therefore we are bound
when Goa makes revelat on 10 rsnder 70 him the
full obedience Of oar understanding and Will by
faith. And TINS ftiih, which ~ the beginning Of
mans sa yato ths Church declares t. be a super.
ural yfr ne, whereby, under the inspiration and
ali of God grace we telleve 10 De true the things
revealed Dy HIM not flr their int in,lc tru by
tie natufa light OF reason, Dut or the authority or
God eeeallng them, no neither deceive nor be
deceived For altn as the apostle wltnesseth is the
substance OF Things TO BE- hoped for The evidence OF
things that appear not. (lieD XII, ~ To
the end neverlh, less that the ODE hence Of our
might be agree tble to reason God willed TO JON
proofs OF ms .evel ition, 10 wi. divine works, "a
chenJ miracles and proplec es VIII ch, as they mani
iestlY sh Nv 1Jrth the onnpOtence ahd the Infinite
knowledge OF God are proofs most certain of divine
revela lon ana suit d TO the understanding OF all.
Wherefore both Moses and me propnets and above
ALL Christ our Lord hIinseil, wrought many and
mo eyld mt lniracc', and uttered prophecies; and
o the apo ties We read But hey gong ortn preach
ed verywhefe: the Lord working witnal, and con-
frming tie word with sgns hat folowedn (Mark
XVI. 20 And again 1t Is written, "We have the
more firm prophetcal word; whereunto you do
well TO ateud, as to a light that shineth IN
dark place." e Pet. 49, Yet although the assent
OF iailn is not by ary means blind movement
OF the mind, nevertheless believe the
preaching of the Gospel IN sucn wise behoveh to
salvation WI hont tie light and Inspiration OF the
Holy Ghost, WHO glveth unto ali sweetness IN yield
ing to the truth and believing It, & Council OF
Orange Can. ~ Where ore faith iii itself. even
and an act OF faith is work tending 10 salvation,
whereby man renders free obel nee 10 God him.
sell, conserving 10 and cvof eraling wth his grace,
VIII ch he atn power 10 resist. Now, al those things
To be believed OF DIVINE and catholic ai Ii which
are contained In the word OF God, whether written
or handed down by tradition; and which the Church,
ther by solemn decree or by her ordinary ana uni
yersal teaching, proposes Tor Deer as revealed by
God.
And whereas without faith it Is Impossible TO
please God ana TO come 10 tire fellowship Of HIS
children, therefore ha h no one az any time been
talls flo I.ilf IN oh
perssvere tl.ere unto the end attain everlasting
llte And in order that we might be able to fulfil our
duty Of EN- )racng the true ath ami OF st ,adlasty
persevering theren God, throuy IN HIS only he gotten
Son, aid eslaOsh the Church and place upon her
manifest marks OF HIS institution tnat al men
might be able TO recognize her as the guardian and
teacAer Of His revealed word. For only to the
Catholic Churcn do al those signs belong which
have been diyinely disposed so many IN number
and so wonde lfl In chara ter, for the purpose OF
making evlent the credoty OF the ChrlsJlan faith;
nay, more the very Cnurch herself In view OF her
wonderful propagation, her eminent Holiness aud
her exhaustess 1ru,tuness in al that is good, her
catno c unny her unshlken staoItJ offers great
and evdenG Claim TO elief and undenlable proof
OF her DIVINE comm Sson.
Whence II is that she, as standard set up unto
herself those who have not yet believed, ana shows
to her children tnat the faith when they hold rests
on most solid foundation. And To this her testi-
mony, effectual aid is supplied by power IRON above
For the Lord, Infinitely mercIful, on the one hand
stirs up by HIS grace ana helps those who are n
error tnaJ they may be able to come TO the know
ledge Of the truth: and, on the other hand. those
whom He hath transferred from darkness into His
marvellous light He confirms by His grace that they
may persevere IN that same light, never abandoning
them unless lie be first by them abandoned.
Wherefore, totally unlike Is the condition OF
tlose WHO, by the heavenly GIT OF faith,
have embraced the catholic truth, and OF those
who leu by human opinions, are following
a false religion; for they who have received the
faith under the teaching OF the Church can never
bav jusC reason TO change that faiCl or ali 1t INTO
doubt Where. Ore giving thanks to God the Father,
who hath made us worthy TO be the partakers OF
the lot OF the saints In light, let us not neglect
great salvation; but looking on Jesus the author
and nisher Of faith, let mold fast the contes
sion oil our hope without wayerlng