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Have you felt yourself the chief of sinners? Are you penitent and believing?

54. Why was it necessary, that the Mediator between the Father and sinners should be man?

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.- But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of GoD should taste death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. And for this cause he is the Mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption, of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. Heb. 2. 14, 9, 10. and 9. 13—15. || Gal. 4. 4, 5. Heb. 2. 16. and 4. 14-16.

Do you discern the admirable wisdom of GoD in the incarnation of Christ? Can you glory in his cross?

55. What is the Scripture doctrine of the ATONEMENT?

But Christ being come a high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood; he entered once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls, and of goats, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to GOD, purge your conscience from dead works, to serve the living GOD.Surely he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of GOD, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. My little children; these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: For he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Heb. 9. 11-14. Is. 53. 4-6. 1 John 2. 1, 2. || John 1, 29. Heb. 10. 19-24. 1 Pet. 2. 24. and 3. 18.

Can you renounce all dependance on your own doings for justification, and rely on the atonement? Do you build your hopes of heaven exclusively on this?

56. Was the humiliation of Christ designed to display the glory of God, in the sanctification and salvation of perishing sinners?

And the word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.- And Jesus answered them, saying, the hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.- Looking unto Jesus the author and the finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of GOD. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.- For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. John 1. 14. and 12. 23, 27, 28. and 15. 8. Heb. 12. 2, 3. 2 Cor. 8. 9. || Mat. 5. 17. Rom. 5. 19. Heb. 2. 17. Rom. 4. 25. Phil. 2. 5-8.

Have you beheld the glory of divine grace in the humiliation of Christ? Does it fill you with admiration and gratitude'

57. Is Christ King in Zion?

Him hath GOD exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. Wherefore GoD also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of GOD the Father. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.- The Lord said unto my Lord, sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion; rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: The Lord

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hath said unto me, thou art my son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Acts 5. 31. Phil. 2. 9-11. 1 Cor. 15. 25. Ps. 110. 1, 2. and 2.6-8. || Rev. 14. 11–16. and 1. 8. and 3. 21. || Ps.

2. 12.

Do you rejoice that the King of Zion is now extending his conquests in our world? Have you submitted to him? Are you governed by him and aiding his conquests?

58. Are any of the human race given to Christ in the covenant of redemption?

Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life; he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me and him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me, I should lose nothing: but should raise it up at the last day. No man can come unto me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him; and I will raise him up at the last day. Is. 53. 10, 11. John 6. 35, 37, 39, 44. || and 10. 14-16 26-28. and 17. 6-11. Is. 42. 5-7.

Are you pleased that some are given to Christ? Do you rely on sanctification as the only sure evidence of being given to him?

59. Are some of mankind adopted as children and heirs of God?

Blessed be the GOD and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love; having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved.Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of GoD: therefore the

world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of GOD, 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 God, 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 Gop?

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 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 Gop 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 Gon, 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. 28. || 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 (k) See Appendix, Notę K.

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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 to 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.

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 GOD. 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.

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