Faith

FAITH, Fides, is a theological virtue, whereby we hold for certain that there is a God, and are persuaded to submit to all those truths which he hath revealed to us by Scripture or Tradition, and proposes to us by his Church. This Faith, accompanied with the practice of good works, gives life to a righteous man, The Just shall live by Faith. It may be considered either as proceeding Hab. ii. 4.from God, who reveals his truths, or man, who yields his assent to them: and in both these senses it is called Fides. Shall the unbelief of the Jews make the Faith of God of none effect? says St. Paul; that is to Rom. iii. 3.say, his sovereign and infallible truth, which discovers his mysteries to us.

The Jews have thirteen Articles of Faith, which are received among them, without any contradiction¹.

I. That there is one God the Creator of all things, the first principle of all Beings, who subsists independently of any part of the Universe, and without whom nothing can subsist.

II. That God is one, and indivisible; but his Unity is different from all other Unities.

III. That God has not a body, and that he is incorporeal in such a manner, as to have no corporeal quality.

IV. That he is eternal, and that all other Beings, besides him, have had a beginning with Time.

V. That God only is to be adored and served, and that no other is to be served or worshipped, either as mediator or intercessor.

VI. That there have been, and still may be Prophets, disposed to receive the inspirations of God.

VII. That there never was a greater Prophet than Moses, and that the degree of Prophecy, wherewith he was honoured, was singular, and very superior to that of all other Prophets.

VIII. That the Law given by Moses to the Jews, was dictated intirely by the Holy Spirit, yet it includes not so much as one syllable, that is purely Moses’s; and that the explanation of these precepts, which they have received by tradition, came intirely from the mouth of God, who gave it to Moses.

IX. That this Law is immutable, and that no one can either add to it, or take from it.

X. That God knows and disposes of all human actions.

XI. That God rewards those, who observe his Law, and punishes those who violate it; that the best reward is that of another life, and the greatest punishment is the damnation of the soul.

XII. That a Messiah will come, whose merit will be infinitely superior to that of all other Monarchs who were before him; that altho’ his coming be late, it is not however to be doubted, nor is any time to be prescribed when it shall happen, much less is it to be fixed from Scripture, since there never is to be a King of Israel, who is not of the race of David or Solomon.

XIII. That God at the consummation of time will restore all the dead to life, and will afterwards proceed to judge all mankind universally both in Soul and Body.

As to the Articles of Faith acknowledged by Christians, they are comprehended in the Creeds, and in the Decisions of Councils.

Faith is taken likewise for a firm confidence in God, whereby we are induced to address ourselves without hesitation to him, whether we petition him for favours in our prayers, or miracles for his own glory. If you have Faith as a grain of mustard-seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place, and it shall remove, and nothing shall be impossible Matth. xvii. 20.unto you, says our Saviour. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally; but let him ask in Faith, nothing wavering, &c. says St. Jam. i. 5, 6.James.

Lastly, Faith is taken for honesty, fidelity in performing promises, truth; and in this sense it is applied both to God and man. Isaiah describing the Messiah, says Righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins; that is to say, he will be just and faithful.

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