"But you tell me faith too is not spiritual," said Charles.
"I tell you!" cried Freeborn, "when?"
"Well," said Charles, somewhat puzzled, "at least you do not think it holy."
Freeborn was puzzled in his turn.
"If it is holy," continued Charles, "it has something good in it; it has some worth; it is not filthy rags. All the good comes afterwards, you said. You said that its fruits were holy, but that it was nothing at all itself."
There was a momentary silence, and some agitation of thought.
"Oh, faith is certainly a holy feeling," said No. 1.
"No, it is spiritual, but not holy," said No. 2; "it is a mere act, the apprehension of Christ's merits."
"It is seated in the affections," said No. 3; "faith is a feeling of the heart; it is trust, it is a belief that Christ is my Saviour; all this is distinct from holiness. Holiness introduces self-righteousness. Faith is peace and joy, but it is not holiness. Holiness comes after."
"Nothing can cause holiness but what is holy; this is a sort of axiom," said Charles; "if the fruits are holy, faith, which is the root, is holy."