God; our Catechumen says, " I believe in God the Son, who hath redeemed me and all mankind." These two propositions cannot be reconciled, since "the elect people of God" must be only a part of "all mankind."

It remains only that I quote some passages from the Homilies, to shew that they also inculcate the doctrine of Universal Redemption, and that they consider all Christians as the elect people of God, and capable of attaining Salvation.

The Homily" concerning the Nativity and Birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ," after speaking of the Fall, says, "Behold the great goodness and tender mercy of God in his behalf: albeit man's wickedness and sinful behaviour was such, that it deserved not in any part to be forgiven; yet to the intent he might not be clean destitute of all hope and comfort in time to come, he ordained a new covenant, and made a sure promise thereof, namely, that he would send a Messias or Mediator into the world, which should make intercession, and put himself as a stay between both parties, to pacify the wrath and indignation conceived against sin, and to deliver man out of the miserable curse and cursed misery, whereinto he was fallen headlong by disobeying the will and commandment of the only Lord and Maker... When the fulness of time was come ... God,

according

according to his former covenant and promise sent a Messias, otherwise called a Mediator, into the world, not such a one as Moses was, not such a one as Joshua, Saul, or David was, but such a one as should deliver mankind from the bitter curse of the Law, and make perfect satisfaction by his death for the sins of all people; namely, he sent his dear and only Son Jesus Christ, born (as the Apostle saith) of a woman, and made under the Law, that he might redeem them that were in bondage of the Law, and make them the children of God by adoption . . . After he was once come down from heaven, and had taken our frail nature upon him, he made all them that would receive him truly, and believe his word, good trees, and good ground, fruitful and pleasant branches, children of light, citizens of heaven, sheep of his fold, members of his body, heirs of his kingdom, his true friends and brethren, sweet and lively bread, the elect and chosen people of God. For as St. Peter saith in his first Epistle, and second Chapter, He bare our sins in his body on the cross; he healed us, and made us whole by his stripes: and whereas before we were sheep going astray, he by his coming brought us home again to the true Shepherd and Bishop of our souls, making us a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a particular people of God, in that he died for our offences, and rose

for our justification . . . The end of his coming was to save and deliver his people, to fulfil the law for us, to give light unto the world, to callsinners to repentance, to refresh them that labour and be heavy laden; last of all, to become a propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."

In the Homily for Good Friday, it is said, "Christ was obedient even to the very death, the death of the cross. And this he did for us all that believe in him . . . Power is given to us, to be the children of God, so many as believe in Christ's name. . . So pleasant was this sacrifice and oblation of his Son's death, which he so obediently and innocently suffered, that he would take it for the only and full amends for all the sins of the world. . . No tongue surely is able to express the worthiness of this so precious a death. For in this standeth the continual pardon of our daily offences, in this resteth our justification, in this we be allowed, in this is purchased the everlasting health of all our souls . . . That we may the better conceive the great mercy and goodness of our Saviour Christ, in suffering death universally for all men, it behoveth us to descend into the bottom of our conscience . . Was not this a sure pledge of God's love, to give us his own Son from heaven?... But to whom did he give him? He gave him to the whole world;

...

that

that is to say, to Adam, and all that should come after him... The death of Christ shall stand us in no force, unless we apply it to ourselves in such sort as God hath appointed. Almighty God commonly worketh by means, and in this thing he hath also ordained a certain mean, whereby we may take fruit and profit to our soul's health, What mean is that? Forsooth it is faith. . . By this then you may well perceive, that the only mean and instrument of salvation required of our parts is faith; that is to say, a sure trust and confidence in the mercies of God; whereby wẹ persuade ourselves, that God both hath, and will forgive our sins, that he hath accepted us again into his favour, that he hath released us from the bonds of damnation, and received us again into the number of his elect people, not for our merits or deserts, but only and solely for the merits of Christ's death and passion, who became man for our sakes, and humbled himself to sustain the reproach of the cross, that we thereby might be saved, and made inheritors of the kingdom of heaven. This faith is required at our hands. And this if we keep stedfastly in our hearts, there is no doubt but we shall obtain salvation at God's hands, as did Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, of whom the Scripture saith, that they believed, and it was imputed unto them for righteousness.

Was it imputed unto them only?

And shall it not be imputed unto us also? Yes, if we have the same faith as they had, it shall be as truly imputed unto us for righteousness, as it was unto them. For it is one Faith that must save both us and them, even a sure and stedfast faith in Christ Jesus; who, as ye have heard, came into the world for this end, that whosoever believe in him should not perish, but have life everlasting." In the following Homily, "Of the Resurrection of our Saviour Jesus Christ," the nature of this saving faith is thus explained, "Let thy repentance shew thy faith; let thy purpose of amendment and obedience of thy heart to God's law, hereafter declare thy true belief. . . Let us now in the rest of our life declare our faith that we have in this most fruitful article, by framing ourselves thereunto, in rising daily from sin to righteousness and holiness of life... As you have hitherto followed the vain lusts of your minds, and so displeased God to the danger of your souls; so now, like obedient children thus purified by faith, give yourselves to walk that way which God moveth you to, that ye may receive the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls. . . Ye must consider that ye be therefore cleansed and renewed, that ye should from henceforth serve God in holiness and righteousness all the days of

your