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the perfecting of the faints, for the work of the miniftry, for the edifying of the body of Chrift.

q. 2. Cannot falfe, or feeming, grace grow?

A. It may fpring up, and feem to flourish, for a time, but comes not to perfection; Luke viii. 14. And that which fell among thorns, are they, which when they have heard, go forth, and are choaked with the cares, and riches, and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

Q. 3. What is the first refpect in which grace grows?

A. It grows by deeper rooting itfelf in the foul; Eph. iii. 17. That Chrift may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye being rooted and grounded in love, may be able, &c.

Q4. What is the second refpect or manner of its growth? A. It grows in refpect of its greater fitness and readinefs for acts of obedience; Col. i. 11. Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience, and longfuffering, with joyfulness.

Q. 5. What is the third refpect or manner of its growth?

A. It grows in refpect of its abilities to fix the mind more fteadily on fpiritual things. Hence grown Chriftians are called fpiritual men; Gal. vi. 1. Ye which are fpiritual, restore fuch an one in the spirit of meeknefs.

Q. 6. Why muft all true grace grow?

A. Because there is a ftature to which Chriftians are appointed; Eph. iv. 13. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the ftature of the fulness of Christ.

Q. 7. What are the causes of a Chriftian's growth?

A. Union with Chrift; John xv. 4. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. And his bleffings on the ordinances; Ifa. lv. 10, 11. For as the rain cometh down, and the fnow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give feed to the fower, and bread to the eater; fo fhall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth ; it fhall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall profper in the thing whereto I fent it. And providences; Phil. i. 19. For I know that this fhall turn to my falvation thro' your prayers, and the fupply of the Spirit of Jefus Chrift. Q. 8. May not true grace fometimes decay?

A. Yes, it may; Rev. ii. 4. Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee, because thou haft left thy firft love. But

not utterly; 1 John iii. 9. Whofoever is born of God, doth not commit fin; for his feed remaineth in him.

Q. 9. What is the first inference from hence?

A. To blefs God for gofpel ordinances; Pfalm xcii. 13, 14. Those that be planted in the house of the Lord, shall flourish in the courts of our God; they shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they fhall be fat and flourishing.

Q. 1o. What is the fecond inference?

A. Hence we see the miserable state of them, that grow worse and worfe; Jude, ver. 12. These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feaft with you, feeding themselves without fear: Clouds they are without water, carried about of winds: Trees whofe fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the root.

Q. I. What is the third inference ?

A. Chriftians fhould not be difcouraged at their weakness in grace, for they have a merciful Chrift; Isaiah xlii. 3. A bruifed reed fhall he not break; and the fmoaking flax fhall he not quench; he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. And a fure promise; Job xvii. 9. The righteous also fhall hold on his way; and he that hath clean hands, thall be ftronger and stronger.

Q. 12. What is the laft inference?

A. That all true Chriftians draw daily nearer and nearer to the heavenly and perfect ftate; 2 Cor. iv. 16. For which caufe we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day; Rom. xiii. 11. For now is our falvation nearer than when we believed.

Queft. 1.

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Of Perfeverance.

Hat is perfeverance to the end?

A. It is the steady and conftant continuance of Chriftians in the ways of duty and obedience, amidst all temptations and difcouragements to the contrary; Col. i. 23. If ye continue in the faith, grounded and fettled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven, whereof I Paul am made a minister.

Q. 2. Do all that profefs Chrift, continue in him?

A. No; many that at firft zealously profefs him, afterwards fall away; John vi. 66. From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

Q3. Why do not all persevere ? .

A. Because all profeffors have not a good root and foundation; Matth. xiii. 20, 21. But he that received the feed into fto

ny places, the fame is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while; for when tribulation, or perfecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

Q. 4. What is the firft ground of the faints perfeverance? A. God's electing love, in which they are given to Christ ; John x. 29. My Father which gave them me, is greater than all; and none is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. Q5. What is the fecond ground of perfeverance?

A. The immortal nature of fanctifying grace; John iv. 14. But whofoever drinketh of the water that I fhall give him, fhall never thirst: but the water that I fhall give him, shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. 1 John iii. 9. For his feed remaineth in him.

Q. 6. What is the third ground of it?

A. The covenant of grace; Jer. xxxii. 40. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.

Q. 7. What is the fourth ground of it?

A. Chrift's effectual interceffion; Luke xxii. 32. But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not.

Q. 8. Are there no declinings of grace in the faints?

A. Yes, there are; Rev. ii. 4. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou haft left thy first love. Yet grace cannot be totally or finally loft: For the feed of God remaineth in the fanctified; 1 John iii. 9. Whofoever is born of God, doth not commit fin; for his feed remaineth in him: And he cannot fin ; because he is born of God.

Q. 9. Is there no hope of falvation for final apoftates? A. No, the gofpel gives none; Heb. x. 38. But if any man draw back, my foul fhall have no pleasure in him.

Q. 10. What is the first instruction from hence?

A. It warns all men to lay a good foundation, left the buildings of hope be overturned when the ftorm comes; Matth. vii. 24, 25. Therefore, whofoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doth them, I will liken him unto a wife man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain defcended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock.

Q. 11. What is the fecond inftruction?

A. That all men fhould look to themselves, left they lofe the things which they have wrought; 2 John verse 8. Look to yourselves, that we lose not these things which we

have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. 1 Cor. x. 12. Wherefore let him that thinketh he ftandeth, take heed left he fall.

Q. 12. What is the laft inftruction?

A. Let no true Chriftian be difcouraged, how weak foever, for God is able to make him ftand; Rom. xv. 4. Who art thou that judgest another man's fervant? To his own master he standeth or falleth; yea, he shall be holden up, for God is able to make him ftand.

Queft. 37.

Of Perfection at Death.

Hat benefits do believers receive from Chrift at their death ?

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A. The fouls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness, and do immediately pass into glory; and their bodies being ftill united to Christ, do rest in their graves till the refur

rection.

Q. 1. What is the ftate of perfect holiness?

A. It confifts in a perfect freedom from fin, or the least inclinations to fin; Eph. v. 27. That he might prefent it to himself a glorious church, not having fpot or wrinkle, or any fuch thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Q. 2. Wherein elfe doth perfection confift?

A. It confifts in the attainment of the highest measures and degrees of holiness the creature is capable of; Eph. iv. 12, 13. For the perfecting of the faints,Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the ftature of the fulness of Christ.

Q. 3. Cannot this be attained whilst in the body?

A. No, for here all our graces are imperfect; 2 Cor. xiii. 12. For now we fee through a glafs darkly; but then face to face. And we live at a distance from God; 2 Cor. v. 6. Whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord. Q. 4. How is this attained at death?

A. At death the roots of fin are pulled up out of the believer's nature; Heb. xii. 23. And to the spirits of just men made perfect.

Q. 5. Why muft the foul be made perfect at death?

A. Because the purity of the heavenly state admits no fin or imperfection; Rev. xxi. 27. And there fhall in no wife enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie, but they which are written. in the Lamb's book of life.

Q. 6. What is the first inference from hence?

A. That death fhould be lovely and defirable in the eyes of believers; Phil. i. 23. Having a defire to depart, and to be with Chrift; which is far better.

Q. 7. What is the second inference ?

A. That God hath provided fingular relief for his people that now groan under their fins, and many imperfections ; Cor. xiii. 12. For now we fee through a glafs darkly; but then face to face: Now I know in part; but then fhall I know, even as I am known.

Q. 8. What is the third inference?

A. That the heavenly ftate is infinitely above and beyond whatever we enjoy here; 1 Cor. ii. 9. But as it is written, eye hath not feen, nor ear heard, neither have entred into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

Q. 9. What is the fourth inference?

A. That believers are but at a small distance from the fatisfaction of all their defires; Rom. xiii. 11. For now is our falvation nearer than when we believed.

Q. 10. What is the fifth inference?

A. That the faints fhould earneftly pursue that perfection, even in this imperfect ftate; Phil. iii. 13, 14. Brethren, Í count not myself to have apprehended; but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth to thofe things which are before, I press towards the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Q11. What is the fixth inference?

A. That death to the faints is better than life; Phil. i. 21. For to me to live is Chrift, and to die is gain.

Q. 12. What is the laft inference?

A. That faith is abfolutely neceffary to entitle us to this perfect state.

Of immediate Glorification.

Queft. 1. O all that die in Chrift immediately pass into

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glory?

A. Yes, they do; Luke xxiii. 43. To day fhalt thou be with me in Paradife; Phil. i. 23. Having a defire to depart, and to be with Christ.

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Q. 2. What is the first reason for their immediate glorification?

A. Because heaven is prepared and ready for them; Matth. xxv. 34. Come, ye bleffed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

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