to ask them to intercede for us with the Father, for we believe there is but one Mediator between God and man.  We do not invest them with attributes which belong to God alone; all that we are warranted to say about their relation to us is, that what is revealed does not forbid, but rather encourages, the thought that they are interested in us and concerned for our happiness.  If the angels rejoice over the conversion of a sinner, are we to think that the spirits of just men made perfect are strangers to this joy?  They are within the veil, we cannot see them, but we know they are in communion with God.  The condition of the departed saints is one of waiting as well as of progress.  They have not attained to fruition.  There are doctrines which to them, as to us, are still matters not of experience but of faith and hope.  The souls of the martyrs seen by John under the altar were in a state of expectation, desiring and pleading as when in the flesh they had desired and pleaded for the consummation of Messiah’s kingdom; and from them the Apostle heard the cry ascend, “How long, O Lord?"[197] Saints here and saints who have passed through the valley into the unseen must surely hold many beliefs in common.  Both alike believe the promises of God, and anticipate the glorious consummation for which they wait and watch, when the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of the living God.  They believe in the resurrection of the body and in its reunion with the soul for ever.  They have common affections.  Their love is given to the same God.  They have community of worship, and have communion in thanksgiving, praise, and, may we not say, in prayer for the overthrow of the kingdom of darkness and the advent of the kingdom of glory?  As those who are still in the body keep the New Testament feast, they feel that there is fellowship between them and saints departed, seeing that they honour the same Saviour, glory in the same cross, partake of the same heavenly food, and look for the same inheritance of perfect blessedness.

* * * * *

ARTICLE 10

The Forgiveness of Sins

The Creed acknowledges God as the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; but there is another relation which He sustains to His creatures besides those of Creator and Father.  In Scripture He is represented as the King, Ruler, Governor of the universe, who imposes laws upon all His creatures, and requires of them scrupulous obedience.  With the exception of man, the visible creatures have these laws, from which they cannot swerve, within their constitutions.  The planet never deviates from its appointed orbit; the insect, the bird, the beast all live in strict accordance with their instincts; but, unlike them, man possesses freedom of will and power of choice.  This freedom, if rightly exercised, is a noble possession, but, perverted, it is an instrument of destruction.