God", whereby out of the sight and sense, not only of the danger!, but also of the filthiness and odiousness of his sins", and upon the apprehension of God's mercy in Christ to such as are penitent", he so grieves for and hates

his

ID

I will go

have pierced, and they shall mourn will hedge up thy way with thorns, for him, as one mourneth for his on. and make a wall, that she shall not ly son, and shall be in bitterness for find her paths. Ver. 7. And she him, as one that is in bitterness for shall follow after her lovers, but she his first-born.

shall not overtake them; and she k Acts xi. 18. When they heard shall seek them, but shall not find these things, they held their peace, them : then shall she say, and glorified God, saying, Then hath and return to my first husband, for God also to the Gentiles granted re- then was it better with me than now. per tance unto life. Ver. 20. And m Ezek. xxxvi. 31. Then shall ye some of them were men of Cyprus remember your own evil ways, and and Cyrene, which, when they were your doings that were not good, and come to Antioch, spake unto the shall loathe yourselves in your own Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. sight, for your iniquities, and for Ver. 21. And the hand of the Lord your abominations. Isa. XXX. 22. was with them : and a great number Ye shall defile also the covering of believed, and turned unto the Lord. thy graven images of silver, and the

I Ezek. xviii. 28. Because he con- ornament of thy molten images of sidereth, and turneth away from all gold : thou shalt cast them away as his transgressions that he hath com- a menstruous cloth : thou shalt say mitted, he shall surely live, he shall unto it, Get thee hence. not die. Ver. 30. Therefore I will n Joel ii. 12. Therefore also now, judge you, O house of Israel, every saith the Lord, Turn ye even to one according to his ways, saith the me with all your heart, and with Lord God: repent, and turn your- fasting, and with weeping, and with selves from all your transgressions; mourning ; Ver. 13. And rend your so iniquity shall not be your ruin. heart, and not your garments, and Ver. 32. For I have no pleasure in turn unto the Lord your God : for the death of him that dieth, saith he is gracious and merciful, slow the Lord God: wherefore to anger, and of great kindness, yourselves, and live ye. Luke xv. and repenteth him of the evil. 17. And when he came to himself, • Jer. xxxi. 18. I have surely he said, How many hired servants heard Ephraim · bemoaning him. of my father's have bread enough self thus, Thou hast chastised me, and to spare, and I perish with and I was chastised, as a bullock hunger! Ver. 18. I will arise, and unaccustomed to the yoke: turn go to my father, and will say thou me, and I shall be turned ; unto him, Father, I have sinned for thou art the Lord my God against Heaven, and before thee. Ver. 19. Surely after that I was Hos. ii. 6. Therefore, behold, I turned I repented ; and after that I

was

turn

his sins P, as that he turns from them all to God', purpos, ing and endeavouring constantly to walk with him in all the ways

of new obedience r. Q. 77. Wherein do justification and sanctification differ?

A. Although sanctification be inseparably joined with justification, yet they differ, in that God in justification imputeth the righteousness of Christ'; in sanctification

his

nances

was instructed I smote upon my

Psal. cxix. 6. Then shall I not thigh; I was ashamed, yea, even con- be ashamed, when I have respect founded, because I did bear the re- unto all thy commandments. Ver. proach of my youth.

59. I thought on my ways, and turn. P 2 Cor. vii. 11. For, behold, this ed my feet unto thy testimonies. self-same thing, that ye sorrowed Ver. 128. Therefore I esteem all after a godly sort, what carefulness thy precepts concerning all things to it

wrought in you ; yea, what clear. be right; and I hate every false ing of yourselves; yea, what indig- way. Luke i. 6. And they were nation ; yea, what fear; yea, what both righteous before God, walking vehement desire ; yea, what zeal; in all the commandments and ordi yea, what revenge! In all things ye

of the Lord blameless. have approved yourselves to be clear 2 Kings xxiii. 25. And like unto him in this matter.

was there no king before him, that 9 Acts xxvi. 18. To open their turned to the Lord with all his eyes, and to turn them from dark- heart, and with all his soul, and ness to light, and from the power of with all his might, according to Satan unto God, that they may re

all the law of Moses ; neither ceive forgiveness of sins, and inherit- after him arose there any, like ance among them which are sanctified him. by faith that is in me. Ezekxiv. 6. 77. S i Cor. vi. 11. And such Therefore say unto the house of were some of you : but ye are wash. Israel, Thus saith the Lord God, ed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are Repent, and turn yourselves from justified in the name of the Lord your idols, and turn away your faces Jesus, and by the Spirit of our from all your abominationis. 1 Kings God.

1 Cor. i. 30. But of him are vii. 47. Yet if they shall bethink ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is themselves in the land whither they made unto us wisdom, and righteous. were carried captives, and repent, ness, and sanctification, and redempand make supplication unto thee, in

tion. the land of them that carried them i Rom. iv. 6. Even as David also captives, saying, We have sinned, describeth the blessedness of the man and have done perversely, we have

whom God imputeth righteouscommitted wickedness ; Ver. 48. ness without works. Ver. 8. Blessed And so return unto thee with all their is the man to whom the Lord will heart, and with all their soul.com not impute sin.

Ezek

W

his Spirit infuseth grace, and enableth to the exercise thereofo; in the former, sin is pardoned w; in the other, it is subdued *: the one doth equally free all believers from the revenging wrath of God, and that perfectly in this life, that they never fall into condemnation » ; the other is neither equal in all?, nor in this life perfect in any', but growing up to perfection.

Q. 78. Whence

u Ezek. xxxvi. 27. And I will put cause ye have known him that is my Spirit within you, and cause you from the beginning. I have written to walk in my statutes, and ye shall unto you, young men, because ye are keep my judgments, and do them.

strong, and the word of God abideth w Rom. iii. 24. Being justified free- in you, and ye have overcome the ly by his grace, through the redemp- wicked one.

Heb, v. 12. For when tion that is in Jesus Christ : Ver. 25. for the time ye ought to be teachWhom God hath set forth to be a ers, ye have need that one teach you propitiation through faith in his blood, again which be the first principles to declare his righteousness for the of the oracles of God; and are be. remission of sins that are past, come such as have need of milk, and through the forbearance of God. not of strong meat. Ver. 13. For * Rom. vi. 6. Knowing this, that

every one that useth milk is unskilour old man is crucified with him, ful in the word of righteousness : for that the body of sin might be de- he is a babe. Ver. 14. But strong stroyed, that henceforth we should meat belongeth to them that are of not serve sin. Ver. 14. For sin shall full age, even those who by reanot have dominion over you: for ye son of use have their senses ex. are not under the law, but undergrace.ercised to discern both good and

y Rom. viii. 33. Who shall lay any evil. thing to the charge of God's elect? 1 John i. 8. And if we say that It is God that justifieth, Ver. 34. we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, Who is he that condemneth? It is and the truth is not in us. Ver. 10. Christ that died, yea rather, that is If we say that we have not sinned, risen again, who is even at the right we make him a liar, and his word is hand of God, who also maketh inter- not in us. cession for us.

-b 2 Cor. vii. 1. Having therefore 2 1 John ïi. 12. I write unto you, these promises, dearly beloved, let little children, because your sins are us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness forgiven you for his name's sake. of the flesh and spirit

, perfecting holiVer. 13. I write unto you, fathers, ness in the fear of God. Phil. ii. 12, because ye have known him that is Not as though I had already attain. from the beginning

I write unto

ed, either were already perféct ; but you, young men, because ye have I follow after, if that I may appreovercome the wicked one. I write hend that for which also I am appreunto you, little children, because ye Kended of Christ Jesus. Ver. 13. have known the Father. Ver. 14, Brethren, I count not myself to have I have written unto you, fathers, be apprehended : but this one thing I do;

forgetting

Q. 78. Whence ariseth the imperfection of sanctification in believers ?

A. The imperfection of sanctification in believers ariseth from the remnants of sin abiding in every part of them, and the perpetual lustings of the flesh against the spirit ; whereby they are often foiled with temptations, and fall into many sins, are hindered in all their spiritual services, and their best works are imperfect and defiled in the sight of God

Q. 79. May not true believers, by reason of their imperfections, and the many temptations and sins they are overtaken with, fall away from the state of grace ?

4. True believers, by reason of the unchangeable love of God', and his decreeand covenant to give them perseverances,

their

Jesus.

forgetting those things which are be- aside every weight, and the sin which hind, and reaching forth unto those doth so easily beset us, and let us run things which are before, Ver. 14. I with patience the race that is set bepress toward the mark, for the prize fore us. of the high calling of God in Christ e Isa. Ixiv. 6. But we are all as an

unclean thing, and all our righteous. 78. Rom. vii. 18. For I know, that nesses are as filthy rags, and we all do in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like no good thing: for to will is present the wind, have taken us away. Exod. with me, but how to perform that Xxvii. 38. And it shall be upon which is good I find not.

Ver. 23. Aaron's forehead, that Aaron may But I see another law in my members bear the iniquity of the holy things, warring against the law of my mind, which the children of Israel shall hal and bringing me into captivity to the low in all their holy gifts; and it law of sin which is in my members. shall be always upon his forehead, Mark xiv, 66. to the end. And as that they may be accepted before the Peter was beneath in the palace, there

Lord. cometh one of the maids of the high 79. f Jer. xxxi. 3. The Lord hath priest, &c. Gal. ii. 11. But when appeared of old unto me, saying, Peter was come to Antioch, I with- Yea, I have loved thee with an ever. stood him to the face, because he was lasting love : therefore with lovingto be blamed. Ver. 12. For before kindness have I drawn thee. that certain came from James, he did 8 2 Tim. ii. 19. Nevertheless, the tat with the Gentiles: but when they foundation of God standeth sure, hav. were come, he withdrew, and sepa- ing this seal, The Lord knoweth them rated himself, fearing them which that are his. And, Let every one were of the circumcision.

that nameth the name of Christ de. d Heb. xii. 1. Wherefore, seeing part from iniquity. Heb. xiii

. 20. We also are compassed about with so Now the God of peace, that brought great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay again from the dead our Lord Jesus,

their inseparable union with Christ , his continual intercession for them, and the Spirit and seed of God abiding in them", can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace', but are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation .

Q. 80, Can true believers be infallibly assured that they are in the estate of grace, and that they shall persevere therein unto salvation

A. Such as truly believe in Christ, and endeavour to walk in all good conscience before him", may, without extraordin- . ary revelation, by faith grounded upon the truth of God's promises, and by the Spirit enabling them to discern in themselves those graces to which the promises of life are made o,

and

that great Shepherd of the sheep, seed remaineth in him : and he can. through the blood of the everlasting not sin, because he is born of God. covenant, Ver. 21. Make you perfect 1 John ii. 27. But the anointing in every good work to do his will, which ye have received of him abid. working in you that which is well- eth in you; and ye need not that any pleasing in his sight, through Jesus man teach you: but as the same anChrist; to whom be glory for ever ointing teacheth you of all things, and and ever. Amen. 2 Sam. xxiii. 5. is truth, and is no lie, and even as it Although my house be not so with hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. God, yet he hath made with me an I Jer. xxxi. 40. And I will make everlasting covenant, ordered in all an everlasting covenant with them, things and sure for this is all my sal- that I will not turn away from them vation, and all my desire, although to do them good; but I will put my he make it not to grow.

fear in their hearts, that they shall hi Cor. i. 8. Who shall also con- not depart from me. John X. 28. firm you unto the end, that ye may And I give unto them eternal life, be blameless in the day of our Lord and they shall never perish, neither Jesus Christ. Ver. 9. God is faithful, shall any pluck them out of my by whom ye were called to the fel- hand. lowship of his Son Jesus Christ our mi Pet i. 5. Who are kept by the Lord.

power of God through faith unto i Heb. vii. 25. Wherefore he is able salvation, ready to be revealed in the also to save them to the utterniost last time. that come unto God by him, seeing 80. 1 John ii. 3. And hereby we he ever liveth to make intercession do know that we know him, if we for them. Luke xxii. 32. But I have keep his commandments. prayed for thee, that thy faith fail o i Cor. ii. 12, Now we have not; and when thou art converted, received, not the spirit of the strengthen thy brethren.

world, but the Spirit which is of ki John iii. 9. Whosoever is born

God: that we might know the of God doth not commit sin ; for his things that are freely given to uf

of