juftification before God; and James of juftifying our faith before

men.

Q. 8. Is no regard then to be had to good works?

A. Yes, very great; they that believe muft be careful to maintain good works; Tit. iii. 8 That they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

Q.9. Why can none be justified by works?

A. Because all are guilty before God; Rom. iii. 29. Is he the God of the Jews only? Is he not alfo of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles alfo. And the law curfes all that are under guilt; Gal. iii. 10. Curfed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

Q. 19. What is the first inference from hence?

A. The happy ftate of believers who are now at peace with God; Rom. v. 1. Therefore being juflified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jefus Chrit. And whom he justifieth he glorifieth. Rom. viii. 30. Whom he juftified, them he also glorified. Q. 11. What is the second inference from hence ?

A. The excellency and neceflity of faith; Rom. iii. 30. The cir cumcifion is justified by faith, and the uncircumcifion through faith. 12. What is the third inference?

That the greatnefs of fin is no bar to faith, fince it is the righteousness of Chrift that juftifieth; 2 Cor. v. 21. For he hath made him to be fin for us, who knew no fin, that we may be made the righteousness of God in him.

Q.13. What is the laft inference?

A. That believers ought to be exceeding humble, and far from boafting. The law of faith excludes boafting; Rom. iii. 27. Where is boafting then? It is excluded: By what law? of works? nay, but by the law of faith,

Quest. 34.

Of Adoption.

HAT is adoption?

WA. Adoption is an a&t of God's free grace, whereby

we are received into the number, and have a right to all the privileges of the fons of God.

Q. How many forts of fons are there?

A. There is one by generation, and another by adoption; John i. 12, 13. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the fons of God, even to them that believe in his name; which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Q.2. What moves God to adopt any man?

A. Nothing but his free love; 1 John iii. 1. Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed on us, that we should be called the fons of God.

Q. 3. Is this privilege common to all men?

A. No; it is peculiar to them that receive him; John i. 1 as many as received him, to them gave he power to become t' of God.

Q. 4. What is the first property of adoption?

A.It is a coftly relation; Gal. iv. 4. When the fulness was come, God fent forth his Son, made of a woman, made ui law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might the adoption of fons.

Q. 5. What is the fecond property of adoption?

A. It is an high and honourable relation; 1 John iii. 1. what manner of love the Father hath bestowed on us, that we be called the fons of God.

Q.6. What is the third property of adoption?

A. It is a free relation on God's part; Eph. i. 4, 5. Accordi he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, th thould be holy and without blame before him in love. Having deftinated us unto the adoption of children, by Jefus Chrift to hin felf, according to the good pleafure of his will. And it makes us free; John viii. 36. If the Son therefore fhall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Q.7. What is the fourth property of adoption?

A. It is a permanent relation; John viii. 35. The Son abideth in the houfe for ever.

Q. 8. What is the firft privilege of the adopted?

A. They have an intereft in God, as children in a father; 2 Cor. vi. 18. And I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my fons and daughters, faith the Lord Almighty.

Q.9. What is the fecond privilege?

A. Being God's fons, they are heirs of God, and joint heirs with Chrift; Rom. viii. 17. And if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Chrift.

Q. 10. What is the third privilege?

A. Seasonable and fanctified afflictions; Heb. xii. 6. He fcourgeth every fon whom he receiveth.

Q. II. What is the fourth privilege?

A. The attendance and miniftry of angels; Heb. i. 14. Are they not all miniftring fpirits, fent forth to minifter for them who thall be heirs of falvation?

Q. 12. What is the fifth privilege?

A The affiftance of the Spirit in prayer; Rom. viii. 15. For we have not received the fpirit of bondage again to fear, but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. And God's audience of their prayers; 1 John v. 14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, That if we afk any thing according to his will, he heareth us.

Q. 13. What ufe should we make of this?

A. It teacheth us to carry ourselves as children to our heavenly Father. First, In our imitation of him; Eph. v. 1. Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children. Secondly, In our fubmiffion to him; Heb. xii. ç. Furthermore, we have had fathers of our fleth, who corrected us, and we gave them reverence; fhall we not much rather be in fubjection to the Father of fpirits, and live? Thirdly, In our dependence on him; Matth. v. 32. For your heavenly Father knoweth that you have need of all these things.

Of Sanctification.

HAT is fanctification?

Quest. 35. W. Sanctification is the work of God's free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die under fin, and live unto righteousness. Q. What are the parts of fanctification?

4. Dying unto fin, and living unto God; Rom. vi. 11. Likewife reckon ye alfo yourselves to be dead indeed unto fin, but alive unto God, through Jefus Christ our Lord.

Q2. Who is the Author of fanctification?

A. God only; Jude ver. 1. To them that are fanctified by God the Father.

Q. 3. What is the inftrument of it?

A. The word of God; John xvii. 17. fanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth.

Q. 4. What part of man is fanctified?

4. Every part, both of foul and body; I Theff. v. 23. And the very God of peace fanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole fpirit, foul, and body be preferved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jefus Chrift.

Q. 5. Is fanctification perfected at once?

Q.5

A. No; but by degrees; 2 Pet. iii. 18. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift.

Q. 6. When will it be made perfect?

A. When we come to heaven, and not before; 1 Cor. xiii. 10, 11. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part fhall be done away.

Q. 7. What are the figns of true fanctification?

A. When it runs into all parts of our converfation; 1 Pet. i. 15. But as he which hath called you is holy, fo be ye holy in all manner of converfation. Secondly, And continues to the end; Rev. xxii. 11. Let him that is holy be holy ftill.

Q. 8. What is the infeparable companion of fanctification?

A. Righteoufnefs towards men; Luke i. 74, 75. That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness, and righteousnefs before him all the days of our

A. All filthiness of flesh and spirit; 2 Cor. vii. 1. Having there fore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanfe ourfelves from all filthiness of fleth and fpirit.

Q10. What is the privilege of the fanctified?

A. They are all elected, and fhall be glorified; 1 Pet. i. 2, 4. Elect according to the fore-knowledge of God the Father, through fanctification of the Spirit-to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, referved in heaven for you.

Q.11. What is the cafe of them who live and die unfanctified? A. They fhall never fee God; Heb. xii. 14. Follow peace with all men, and holiness; without which no man thall fee the Lord. Q. 12. What differenceth true from pretended fanctification? A. True fanctification purgeth the heart from the love of fin; Rom. vii. 15. For that which I do, I allow not. And the life from the dominion of fin; Rom. vi. 19. As ye have yielded your members fervants to uncleannefs, and to iniquity unto iniquity; even fo now yield your members fervants to righteoufnefs, unto holiness. Q. 13. May great finners be fanctified?

A. Yes; the Spirit of God can fanctify the vileft heart; 1 Cor. vi. 11. And fuch were fome of you; but ye are washed, but ye are fanctified.

Quest. 36.

Of Affurance, the Fruit of Juftification.

WHA

and fanctification?

HAT are the benefits which in this life do either accompany, or flow from juftification, adoption,

A. The benefits which in this life do either accompany, or flow from juftification, adoption, and fanctification, are affurance of God's love, peace of confcience, joy in the Holy Ghoft, increase of grace, and perseverance therein to the end.

Q. I. Is affurance poffible to be attained in this life?

A. Yes; for fome have had it; Cant. vi. 3. I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine. And all Chriftians are commanded to ftrive for it; 2 Pet. i. 10. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence, to make your calling and election fure.

22. How many forts of affurance are there?

A. There is an objective affurance; 2 Tim. ii. 19. Nevertheless, the foundation of God standeth fure, having this feal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And a fubjective or perfonal affurance; Gal. ii. 20. Who loved me, and gave himself for me.

2. 3. Is perfonal affurance perfect in this life?

A. No; It admits of doubts and fears, which interrupts it, and it is not always at one height; 1 Cor. xiii. 10. When that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part fhall be done away.

Q. 4. On what teftimony is perfonal affurance built?

A. Upon the teftimony of God's Spirit witneffing with ours; Rom

viii. 16. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our fpirit, that we are the children of God.

Q. 5. Doth the Spirit make use of figns in us to affure us?

A. Yes? ordinarily he doth; 1 John iii. 14. We know that we are paffed from death to life, because we love the brethren. And ver. 24. Hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us

Q. 6. How is true affurance difcerned from prefumption?

A. True affurance humbles the fou; Gal. ii. 20. I am crucified with Chrift: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. And makes the foul afraid of fin; 2. Cor. vii. t. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanfe ourfelves from all filthi ness of the flesh and fpirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Q7. What is the ufual feafon of affurance?

4. The time of greatest fufferings for Chrift; 1 Pet. iv. 14. If ye be reproached for the name of Chrift, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God refteth upon you.

Q. 8. Is perfonal affurance abfolutely neceffary to falvation?

A. No; a man may be faved, and in Chrift, without it; Ifa. 1. 10. Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his fervant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? Let him truft in the name of the Lord, and ftay upon his God.

Q9. What is the fruit of affurance?

A Joy unfpeakable amidst outward troubles; Rom. v. 11. And not only fo, but we also joy in God, through our Lord Jefus Chrift, by whom we have now received the atonement.

Q. 10. What fins ufually eclipse our affurance?

A. Negligence in duty ftarves it; 2 Pet. i. 10. Give diligence to make your calling and election fure: For if you do these things ye Thall never fall And finning against light, ftabs it; Pfalm li. 8. Make me to hear joy and gladnefs; that the bones which thou haft broken may rejoice.

Q. 11. What is the first inference from this doctrine ?

A. That no unregenerate perfon can have any affurance; for it is the fruit of juftification, adoption, and fanctification.

Q. 12. What is the fecond inference?

4. That all the joys of heaven are not to come; but fome communicated in this life; 1 Pet. i. 8. Whom having not feen ye love; in whom though now ye fee him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unfpeakable, and full of glory.

2 13. What is the third inference?

A. That affured believers need to be circumfpect perfons, that they grieve not the Spirit; Eph. iv. 30. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are fealed unto the day of redemption.

VOL. VI.

Сс