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world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of Gon, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself, even as he is pure.For as many as are led by the Spirit of Gon, they are the sons of God. And if children, then heirs: heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. Eph. 1.3-6.1 John 3.1-3. Rom. 8. 14, 17. || John 1. 12. Gal. 4. 4-6. 2 Cor. 6. 18. Prov. 3. 12. Ps. 103. 13. Prov. 14. 26. Mat. 6. 32. Eph. 2. 19-22.

How great the condescension of God in adopting worms of the dust! What evidence have you that you are a child of GOD?

60. Are those whom "God hath from the beginning chosen to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth," called with an internal holy calling?

Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.- Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers. That the Gon of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints. Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.- And we know that all things work together for good, to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Jude 1. 2. Eph. 1. 15-18.2 Tim. 1. 9. 2 Pet. 1. 3. Rom. 8. 23. || Heb. 3. 1. 1 Cor. 1. 9, 26, 27. Rom. 8. 30. Eph. 4. 1, 2. 2 Thes. 1, 11, 12.

Have you experienced this internal calling? What effects has it produced?

61. What is REGENERATION? (k)

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a

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man be born of water, and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.- Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.- And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh, with the affections and lusts.- But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus. That ye put off, concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind. And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. John 3. 5. 2 Cor. 5. 17. Gal. 5. 24. and 6. 14. Eph. 4. 21-24. || Rom 8. 9, 10. and 6. 4-6. Phil. 3. 7-9. Col. 3. 1, 2, 9, 10. Ps. 51. 10. 2 Cor. 4. 6. and 3. 18. Ez. 36. 26.

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Have you new and holy views, affections and pursuits? Do you love holiness and hate sin ?

62. IS REGENERATION indispensably necessary to salvation? Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily; verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh, is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit, is spirit. As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after Gon. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.- The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, who can know it? As in water, face answereth to face; so the heart of man to man.And I John saw the holy city, NEW JERUSALEM, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And there shall in no wise 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. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. John 3.3, 6. Rom. 3. 10-12. Jer. 17.9. Prov. 27. 19. Rev. 21. 2, 27. Heb. 12. 14. || Mat 5. 20. and 18. 3. Luke 13. 2, 3, 24.

Have you felt the necessity of this radical, moral change of the heart? Have you experienced it?

63. As. Christians in themselves have no strength for perseverance, does the unchangeable love, (1) and covenant grace of God stand pledged that saints shall in the strength of the Lord persevere ?

(1) See Appendix, Note L.

The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.- Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. Gon is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.- Although my house be not so with God; yet, he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure; for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow.- Nevertheless, the foundation of Gon standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his. And let every one that nameth the name of Christ, depart from iniquity.- Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you. Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time. Jer. 31. 3. 1 Cor. 1. 8, 9. 2 Sam. 23. 5. 2 Tim. 2. 19. 1 Pet. 1.3-5. || Jer. 32. 40. 1 John 2. 27, 28. Heb. 13. 20, 21.

Does your hope excite in you desires and efforts to persevere? Is any other hope safe?

64. What directions and promises respect trusting in God? Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord. Trust in the Lord, and do good, so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself, also in the Lord, and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord, trust also in him and he shall bring it to pass. And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him. Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.- Trust ye in the Lord forever; for in the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green, and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. Ps. 4. 5. and 37. 3-5, 40. and 55. 22. Is. 26. 3, 4. Jer. 17.7, 8. || Ps. 25. 2. and 31. 19, 20. and 56.3, 4. Eph. 1. 12, 13.. Can you repose entire confidence in God? Can you commit your all to him?

65. How is love to God manifested?

And we have known and believed the love that Gon hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in Gon, and God in him.- There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love: Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of Gon; and every one that loveth him that begat, loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of Gon, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of GOD, that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not grievous.- Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.- Love worketh no ill to his neighbour; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. 1 John 4. 16, 18. and 5. 1-3, 1 Cor. 13. 4-7. Rom. 13. 10. 1 Tim. 1. 5. 1 John 2. 5, 15. and 4. 20, 21. ITS PRIV ILEGES. Ps. 145. 20. Rom. 8. 28.1 Cor. 2. 9.

Is your love for God scriptural? Is it manifested by keeping his commandments?

66. What are signs of self deception and hypocrisy ?

There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness. Which say, stand by thyself, come not near to me, for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others. Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.- But wo unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint, and rue, and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Prov. 30. 12. Is. 65. 5.

Luke 18.9-14. and 11. 42. || Mat. 23. 25, 27, 28, 33. and 15. 7-9. Job 27. 10. (m)

Do you think highly of your own moral goodness? Are you more solicitous how you shall appear to men than how you ap pear to God?

67. What is the character and destination of those that fear

the Lord?

Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another; and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God, and him that serveth him not. Mal. 3. 16-18. || Prov. 22. 4. Is. 50. 10. Ps. 147. 11.

How wonderful that redeemed sinners should be the chief treasure of Jehovah! Are you prepared by grace to be a gem in the New Jerusalem?

68. What is the language of those who glorify God in their bodies and in their spirils?

Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.- I have set the Lord always before me: because he is on my right hand, I shall not be moved.- Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.- Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk: for I lift up my soul unto thee. Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me. Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my GoD: thy Spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness. Ps. 73. 24-26. and 16. 8. and 32. 11. and 143.8-10. || Ps. 62. 7. and 63.1-4. and 92. 1, 2, 4. and 118. 23, 24. and 119. 5, 14-16, 32, 64, 111, 128, 133, 166. and 145. 1, 2. and 146. 2. and 116. 12. and 139. 17, 18. Hab. 3. 17, 18.

Do you habitually look to God as your guide? Have you chosen him for your portion?

69. What was St. Paul's manner of life, before he became a Christian, as described by himself?

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