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Vol. 2

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Vol. 2

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264 ST. MARK.nation of the reprobate.—Not to believe, is enoughto condemn us ; but to believe, is not enough to justifyus, unless we believe with that lively faith whichworketh by love,which includes and fulfils the wholelaw. Christ ordinarily requires nothing but faithhere in order to salvation, and, in the two followingverses, in order to the gift of healing and miraculousworks : the reason is, because faith being the foundation,the root and the bud of all other virtues andnecessary dispositions, denotes and comprehends themall." 17. And these signs shall follow them that believe: In ray name shall they cast out devils; theyshall speak with new tongues;"The name of Jesus is terrible to the devil. It isa weapon which he leaves to his church wherewithto cast him out and to subclue him, and to triumphover hell and sin even to the end of the world.is a very great fault in Christians to put so littletrust in it, to use it either too seldom, or on trivialoccasions, without respect, religion, faith, or attention,or without reliance upon this promise. It isemployed in casting out the devil, when it is usedagainst all evil thoughts or impure desires, and against^all his suggestions and temptations. ^" 18. They shall take up serpents; and if theydrink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them ; theyshall lay hands on the sick,Itand they shall recover."A lively faith puts the power of God into thehands of men, castsout the devil of sin, causes themto speak the language of heaven, clears the heart ofman from its venom and malignity, and cures all thefaintness and sickness which proceed from sin. A

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