Page images
PDF
EPUB

fight and kept the faith, are now in heaven, resting from their labours Eph. v. 27. Rev. iii. 21. xiv. 13.

Q. 6. Are not the church of the Jews, before the birth of Christ, and the church of the Christians since, two churches?

A. No, essentially they are but one, differing only in some outward administrations; Eph. ii. 12-16. 1 Cor. x. 3. Gal. iv. 26, 27. Heb. xi. 15, 26. 40.

Q. 7. Can this church be wholly overthrown on the earth? A. No, unless the decree of God may be changed, and the promise of Christ fail; Matt. xvi. 18. xxviii. 20. John xiv. 16. John xvii. 1 Tim. iii. 15. 2 Tim. ii. 19.

CHAP. XVII.

of faith.

Q. 1. By what means do we become actual members of this church of God?

A. By a lively justifying faith," whereby we are united unto Christ, the head thereof; Acts ii. 47. xiii. 48. Heb. xi. 6. xii. 22, 23. iv. 2. Rom. v. 1, 2. Eph. ii. 13, 14.

Q. 2. What is a justifying faith?

A. A gracious resting upon the free promises of God, in Jesus Christ for mercy, with a firm persuasion of heart, that God is a reconciled Father unto us in the Son of his love; 1 Tim. i. 16. John xiii. 15. xix. 25. Rom. iv. 5. Heb. iv. 16. Rom. viii. 38, 39. Gal. ii. 20. 2 Cor. v. 20, 21. Q. 3. Have all this faith?

A. None, but the elect of God; Tit. i. 1. John x. 26. Matt. xiii. 11. Acts xiii. 48. Rom. viii. 30.

Q. 4. Do not then others believe that make profession?

A. Yes, with, first, historical faith, or a persuasion, that the things written in the word are true; James ii. 9. secondly, temporary faith, which hath some joy of the affections, upon unspiritual grounds, in the things believed; Matt. xiii. 20. Mark vi. 20. John ii. 23, 24. Acts viii. 13.

a Of this faith the Holy Spirit is the efficient cause, the word, the instrumental; the law indirectly, by discovering our misery; the gospel immediately, by holding forth a Saviour.

b Faith is in the understanding, in respect of its being and subsistence in the will and heart, in respect of its effectual working.

CHAP. XVIII.

Of our vocation, or God's calling us.

Q. 1. How come we to have this saving faith?

A. It is freely bestowed upon us, and wrought in us, by the Spirit of God, in our vocation or calling; John vi, 29. 44. Eph. ii. 8, 9. Phil. i. 29. 2 Thess. i. 11.

Q. 2. What is our vocation, or this calling of God?

a

A. The free gracious act of Almighty God, whereby in Jesus Christ he calleth and translateth us from the state of nature, sin, wrath, and corruption, into the state of grace, and union with Christ, by the mighty, effectual workings of his Spirit, in the preaching of the word; Col. i. 12, 13. 2 Tim. i. 9. Deut. xxx. 6. Ezek. xxxvi. 26. Matt. xi. 25, 26. John i. 13. iii. 3. 8. Eph. i. 19. Col. ii. 12. 1 Cor. iv. 7. James i. 18. 2 Pet. ii. 20. Acts xvi. 14.

Q. 3. What do we ourselves perform in this change or work of our conversion?

A. Nothing at all, being merely wrought upon, by the free grace and Spirit of God, when in ourselves we have no ability to any thing that is spiritually good; Matt. vii. 18. x. 20. John i. 13. xv. 5. 1 Cor. xii. 3. ii. 5. 2 Cor. iii. 5. Eph. ii. 1. 8. Rom. viii. 26. Phil. i. 6.

Q. 4. Doth God thus call all and every one ?

A. All within the pale of the church, are outwardly called by the word, none effectually but the elect; Matt. xxii. 14. Rom. viii. 30.

CHAP. XIX.

Of justification.

Q. 1. Are we accounted righteous and saved for our faith, when we are thus freely called?

Our effectual calling, is the first effect of our everlasting election.-We have no actual interest in, nor right unto, Christ, until we are thus called.

They who so boast of the strength of free-will, in the work of our conversion, are themselves an example what it is, being given up to so vile an error, destitute of the grace of God.

A. No, but merely by the imputation of the righteousness of Christ, apprehended and applied by faith, for which alone the Lord accepts us, as holy and righteous; Isa. xliii. 25. Rom. iii. 23-26. iv. 5.

Q. 2. What then is our justification, or righteousness before God?

A. The gracious free act of God, imputing the righteousness of Christ, to a believing sinner, and for that speaking peace unto his conscience, in the pardon of his sin, pronouncing him to be just, and accepted before him; Gen. XV. 6. Acts xiii. 38, 39. Luke xviii. 14. Rom. iii. 24, 26. 28. iv. 4-8. Gal. ii. 16.

Q. 3. Are we not then righteous before God, by our own works?

A. No, for of themselves, they can neither satisfy his justice, fulfil his law, nor endure his trial; Psal. cxxx. 3, 4. cxliii. 2. Isa. lxiv. 6. Luke xvii. 10.

CHAP. XX.

Of sanctification.

Q. 1. Is there nothing then required of us, but faith only?

A. Yes, repentance, and holiness, or new obedience; Acts xx. 21. Matt. iii. 2. Luke xiii. 3. 2 Tim. ii. 19. 1 Thess. iv. 7. Heb. xii. 14.

Q. 2. What is repentance?

A. Godly sorrow for every known sin committed against God, with a firm purpose of heart, to cleave unto him for the future, in the killing of sin, the quickening of all graces, to walk before him in newness of life; 2 Cor. vii. 9-11. Acts ii. 37. Psal. li. 17. xxxiv. 14. Isa. i. 16, 17. Ezek. xviii. 27, 28. Acts xiv. 15. Eph. iv. 21-24. Rom. vi. 12, 13. 18, 19. viii. 1, 2. Cor. v. 17. Gal. vi. 15.

a

Legal and evangelical justification differ; first, on the part of the persons to be justified; the one requiring a person legally and perfectly righteous, the other a believing sinner; secondly, on the part of God, who in one is a severe righteous judge, in the other, a merciful reconciled Father; thirdly, in the sentence, which in the one acquitteth, as having done nothing amiss, the other as having all amiss pardoned.

Repentance includeth, first, alteration of the mind, into a hatred of sin, before loved; secondly, sorrow of the affections, for sin committed; thirdly, change of the actions arising from both.-Repentance is either legal, servile, and terrifying, from the spirit of bondage; or, evangelical, filial, and comforting, from the spirit of free grace and liberty, which only is available.

Q. 3. Can we do this of ourselves?

A. No, it is a special gift and grace of God, which he bestoweth on whom he pleaseth; Lev. xx. 8. Deut. xxx. 6. Ezek. xi. 19, 20. 2 Tim. ii. 25. Acts xi. 18.

Q. 4. Wherein doth the being of true repentance consist, without which it is not acceptable?

A. In its performance according to the gospel rule, with faith and assured hope of divine mercy; Psal. li. 1 John ii. 1, 2. 2 Cor. vii. 10, 11. Acts ii. 38. Matt. xxvii. 4.

Q. 5. What is that holiness which is required of us?

A. That universal, sincere obedience, to the whole will of God, in our hearts, minds, wills, and actions, whereby we are in some measure made conformable to Christ our head; Psal. cxix. 9. 1 Sam. xv. 22. John xiv. 15. Rom. vi.. 9. Heb. xii. 14. Tit. ii. 12. 2 Pet. i. 5-7. Isa. i. 16, 17. 1 Chron. xxviii. 9. Deut. vi. 5. Matt. xxii. 37. Rom. viii. 29. 1 Cor. xi. 1. Eph. ii. 21. Col. iii. 1—3. 2 Tim. ii. 11, 12. Q. 6. Is this holiness or obedience in us perfect?

A. Yes, in respect of the parts of it, but not in respect of the degrees wherein God requires it; 2 Kings xx. 3. John i. 1. Matt. v. 48. Luke i. 6. 2 Cor. vii. 1. Eph. iv. 24. Tit. ii. 12. Isa. lxiv. 6. Psal. cxxx. 3. Exod. xxviii. 38. Phil. iii. 8.

Q. 7. Will God accept of that obedience which falls so short of what he requireth?

A. Yes, from them whose persons he accepteth, and justifieth freely in Jesus Christ; Rom. xii. 1. Phil. iv. 18. Heb. xiii. 16. 1 John iii. 22. Eph. i. 6.

Q. 8. What are the parts of this holiness?

A. Internal, in the quickening of all graces, purging all sins; and external, in fervent and frequent prayers, alms, and all manner of righteousness; Heb. ix. 14. Eph. iii. 16, 17. Rom. ii. 29. vi. 12. Matt. v. 20. Rom. viii. 1, 2. Eph. iv. 22, 23. Tit. ii. 12. particular precepts are innumerable.

Q. 9. May not others perform these duties acceptably, as well as those that believe?

b Every part of popish repentance, viz. contrition, confession, and satisfaction, was performed by Judas.

All faith and profession without this holiness is vain and of no effect.-True faith can no more be without true holiness, than true fire without heat.

d Merit of works in unprofitable servants, no way able to do their duty, is a popish miracle.

• In Christ are our persons accepted freely, and for him cur obedience.

A. No, all their performances in this kind are but abominable sins before the Lord;f Prov. xv. 8. John ix. 31. Tit. i. 15. Heb. xi. 6.

CHAP. XXI.

Of the privileges of believers.

Q. 1. What are the privileges of those that thus believe and repent?

A. First, union with Christ; secondly, adoption of children; thirdly, Christian liberty; fourthly, a spiritual holy right to the seals of the new covenant; fifthly, communion with all saints; sixthly, resurrection of the body unto life eternal.

Q. 2. What is our union with Christ?

A. A holy spiritual conjunction unto him, as our head, husband, and foundation, whereby we are made partakers of the same Spirit with him, and derive all good things from him; 1 Cor. xii. 12. John xv. 1, 2. 5-7. xvii. 23. Eph. iv. 15. v. 23. Col. i. 18. 2 Cor. xi. 2. Eph. v. 25—27. Rev. xxi. 9. Matt. xvi. 18. Eph. ii. 20-22. 1 Pet. ii. 4-7. Rom. viii. 9. 11. Gal. iv. 6. Phil. i. 19. John i. 12. 16. Eph. i. 3. Q. 3. What is our adoption?

A. Our gracious reception into the family of God, as his children, and co-heirs with Christ; John i. 12. Rom. viii. 15. 17. Gal. iv. 5. Eph. i. 5.

Q. 4. How come we to know this?

A. By the especial working of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, sealing unto us the promises of God, and raising up our souls to an assured expectation of the promised inheritance; Rom. viii. 15. 17. Eph. iv. 30. 1 John iii. 1. Rom. viii. 19. 23. Tit. ii. 12.

Q. 5. What is our Christian liberty?

A. A holy and spiritual freedom from the slavery of

f The best duties of unbelievers, are but white sins.

a By virtue of this union, Christ suffereth in our afflictions; and we fill up in our bodies what remaineth as his.-From Christ as head of the church, we have spiritual life, sense, and motion, or growth in grace; secondly, as the husband of the church, love and redemption; thirdly, as the foundation thereof, stability and perseverance.

This is that great honour and dignity of believers, which exalts them to a despising all earthly thrones.

« PreviousContinue »