5. I have no objection to it, because faith is undoubt-
edly set forth, in the last place, as opposed to a sense of
merit founded on a keeping of the moral law. This
is the great subject of the first eight chapters of the
Epistle to the Romans. It is the method of justifica-
tion or of acceptance with God. And this, the Apostle
declares, is a matter not of merit but of mercy. He
draws a dark picture of the wickedness of the whole
world, both Jewish and Gentile, in all ages, and comes
to this conclusion : " Therefore by the deeds of the law,
there shall no flesh be justified." " Therefore we con-
clude," he says again, " that a man is justified by faith
without the deeds of the law." Man cannot stand before
God, demanding heaven, for his keeping of the moral
law ; but he must stand there asking heaven, as the
gift of God's mercy through Jesus Christ. His only
hope and comfort must come through believing in that
mercy. Faith is not opposed to pmity of heart at all ;
it is purity of heart ; it springs from a right mind ; it
works by love ; but it is opposed to a proud claim of
God's favour and of heaven, set up on the ground of
complete obedience.
The last two reasons, I may obsei*ve, were those
which gave to the doctrine of justification by faith, its
significance and prominence at the time of the Refor-
mation. The Papal Church had fallen into a peiilous
reUance upon rites, penances and personal merits.
