ed, as that they more and more die unto sin, and rise unto newness of life 5. Q. 76. What is repentance unto life? A. Repentance unto life is a saving grace h, wrought in the heart of a sinner by the Spirit and word of God, whereby out of the sight and sense, not only of the danger', f Jude, Ver. 20. But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost. Heb. vi. 11. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence, to the full assurance of hope unto the end: Ver. 12. That ye be not slothful, but followers of them, who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Eph. iii. 16. That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; Ver. 17. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, Ver. 18. May be able to comprehend with all saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; Ver. 19. And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Col. i. 10. That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Ver. 11. Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyful. ness. g Rom. vi. 4. Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Ver. 6. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. Ver. 14. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. Gal. v. 24. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh, with the affections and lusts. 76. ¿ 2 Tim. ii. 25. In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledg ing of the truth. i Zech. xii. 10. And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications, and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his first-born. Acts xi. 18. When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. Ver. 20. And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. Ver. 21. And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. / Ezek. xviii. 28. Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die. Ver. 30. Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one aocording to his ways, saith the Lord God: repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Ver. 32. For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God; wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye. Luke xv. 17. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! Ver. 18. I will arise, and go to my Father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven, and before thee. Hos. ii. 6. Therefore, behold, I S 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 sins P, as that he turns from them all to God, purposing and endeavouring constantly to walk with him in all the ways of new obedience. Q. 77. Wherein do justification and sanctification differ? will hedge up thy way with thorns, and make a wall, that she shall not find her paths. Ver. 7. And she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them; and she shall seek them, but shall not find them: then shall she say, I will go and return to my first husband, for then was it bet-ter with me than now. m Ezek. xxxvi. 31. Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall loathe yourselves in your own sight, for, your iniquities, and for your abominations. Isa. xxx. 22. Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold; thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth: thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence. n Joel ii. 12. Therefore also now, saith the Lord, Turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning; Ver. 13. And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. o Jer. xxxi. 18. I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus, Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the Lord my God. Ver. 19. Surely after that I was turned I repented; and after that I was instructed I smote upon my thigh; I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth. p 2 Cor. vii. 11. For, behold, this self-same thing, that ye sorrowed affor a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you; yea, what clearing of yourselves; yea, what indignation; yea, what fear; yea, what vehement desire; yea, what zeal; yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter. q Acts xxvi. 18. To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. Ezek. xiv. 6. Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God, Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols, and turn away your faces from all your abomina tions. 1 Kings viii. 47. Yet if they shall bethink themselves in the land whither they were carried captives, and repent, and make supplication un to thee, in the land of them that carried them captives, saying, We have sinned, and have done perversely, we have committed wickedness; Ver. 48. And so return unto thee with all their heart, and with all their soul. r Psal. cxix. 6. Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments. Ver. 59. I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. Ver. 128. Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way. Luke i. 6. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless 2 Kings xxiii. 25. And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him. A. Although sanctification be inseparably joined with justification, yet they differ, in that God in justification imputeth the righteousness of Christ; in sanctification his Spirit infuseth grace, and enableth to the exercise thereof "; 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 2, but growing up to perfection". 77. s 1 Cor. vi. 11. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Cor. i. 30. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. t Rom. iv. 6. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man unto whom God imputeth righteous ness without works. Ver. 8. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. u Ezek. xxxvi. 27. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. w Rom. iii. 24. Being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ: Ver. 25. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. x Rom. vi. 6. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. Ver. 14. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. y Rom. viii. 33. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth, Ver. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.. z 1 John ii. 12. I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. Ver. 13. I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young, men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto yon, little children, because ye have known the Father. Ver. 14. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. Heb. v. 12. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. Ver. 13. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. Ver. 14. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. a 1 John i. 8. And if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. Ver. 10, If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. b 2 Cor. vii. 1. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Phil. iii. 12. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect; but I follow after, if that I may apprehend 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 imper fections, 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 decree and covenant to give them perseverance 3, that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Ver. 13. Brethren, I' count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do; forget ting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, Ver. 14. I press toward the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 78. c Rom. vii. 18. For I know, that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me, but how to perform that which is good I find not. Ver. 23. But I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. Mark xiv. 66. to the end. And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the highpriest, &c. Gal. ii. 11. But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. Ver 12. For before that certain came from James. he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew, and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. d Heb. xii. 1. Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. e Isa. lxiv. 6. But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags, and we all do fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. Exod. xxviii. 38. And it shall be upon Aaron's forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts ; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the Lord. 79. f Jer. xxxi. 3. The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love; therefore with loving-kindness. have I drawn thee. g 2 Tim. ii. 19. Nevertheless, the foundation of God 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. Heb. xiii. 20. Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep through theblood of the everlasting covenant, Ver. 21. Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 2 Sam. xxiii, 5. 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. 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 m. 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 extraordinary 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, and bearing witness with their spirits that they are the 1 Cor. i. 8. Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ, Ver. 9. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. i Heb. vii. 25. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Luke xxii. 32. But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not; and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. 1 John iii. 9. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 1 John ii. 27. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you; and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. Jer. xxxii. 40. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me. John x. 28. And I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand." m 1 Pet. i. 5. Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto sal vation, ready to be revealed in the last time. 80. n 1 John ii. 3. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. o 1 Cor. ii. 12. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God: that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 1 John iii. 14. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the bre.. thren he that loveth not his brother, abideth in death. Ver. 18. My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed, and in truth. Ver. 19. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. Ver. 21. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence towards God. Ver. 24. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him and hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which, he hath given us. 1 John iv. 13. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. Ver. 16. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him, Heb. vi. 11. And we desire that every one of you do shew the |