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by which we are called; 2 Theff. ii. 14. Whereunto he called you by our gospel.

Quest. 33.

Of Juftification.

HAT is juftification ?

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A. Juftification is an act of God's free grace, wherein he pardoneth all our fins, and accepteth us as righteous in his fight, only for the righteousness of Chrift imputed to us, and received by faith alone.

Q. I. What are the parts of juftification?

A. It confists of two parts. First, The pardon of fin ; A&ts xiii. 39. And by him all that believe are juftified from all things, from which ye could not be juftified by the law of Mofes. Secondly, The acceptation of our perfons as righteous; Rom. v. 1, 2, 3. Therefore being juftified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jefus Chrift, by whom alfo we have accefs by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Q. 2. Whofe act is it to justify finners?

A. It is the act of God alone; Rom. viii. 33. It is God that juftifieth. Man's justifying of himself is nothing; Luke xvi. 15. And he faid unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men, but God knoweth your hearts; for that which is highly efteemed amongst men, is abomination in the fight of God. Nor other mens juftifying of us; Rev. iii. 1. I know thy works, that thou haft a name to live, and art dead.

Q3. Is there any thing in man to merit his juftification? A. No; it is an act of free grace in God; Rom. iii. 24. Being juftified freely by his grace, through the redemption which is in Jefus Chrift.

Q. 4. If it be not for any inherent righteousness; how then? A. It is for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us; Rom. iv. 6. Even as David also defcribeth the bleffedness of the man unto whom, God, imputeth righteouels without works.

Q. 5. How is Chrift's righteoufness made ours?

A. By application of it to us by faith; Gal. ii. 16. Knowing that a man is not juftified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jefus Chrift, even we have believed in Jefus Chrift, that we might be juftified by the faith of Chrift, and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law fhall no flesh be justified.

Q. 6. Is it not partly by Chrift's righteoufpefs made ours, and partly our own ?

A. No; by Chrift's righteousness, without any mixture of ours; Rom. iii. 28. Therefore we conclude, that a man is juftified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Q. 7. But doth not James fay otherwise, James ii. 14. What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man fay he hath faith and have not works; Can faith fave him?

A. The two apostles contradict not one another; Paul speaks of juftification before God; and James of justifying our faith before men.

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

A. Yes, very great; they that believe, must 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. Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. Q. 10. What is the first inference from hence ?

A. The happy state of believers who are now at peace with God; Rom. v. 1. Therefore being juftified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jefus Chrift. And whom he juftifieth he glorifieth. Rom. viii. 30. Whom he justified, them he alfo glorified.

Q. 11. What is the fecond inference from hence?

A. The excellency and neceffity of faith; Rom. iii. 30. The circumcifion is justified by faith, and the uncircumcifion through faith.

Q. 12. What is the third inference?

A. That the greatnefs of fin is no bar to faith, fince it is the righteousness of Chrift that justifieth; 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 last inference?

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

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Quest. 34.

of Adoption.

Hat is adoption?

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A. Adoption is an aft of God's free grate, whereby we are received into the number, and have a right to all the privileges of the Sons of God.

Q. 1. How many forts of Sons 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;

John iii. 1. Behold what manner of love the Father hath beftowed 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. 12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the fons of God.

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

A. It is a coftly relation; Gal. iv. 4. When the fulness of time was come, God fent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive 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.Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed on us, that we fhould 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. According as he hath chofen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we fhould be holy and without blame before him in love. Having predeftinated us unto the adoption of children, by Jefus Chrift to himself, 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 fhall 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 house for ever.

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

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

Q.9. What is the second 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. Seafonable and fanctified afflictions; Heb. xii. 6. He fcourgeth every fon whom he receiveth.

Q. II. What is the fourth privilege ?

A. The attendance and ministry of angels; Heb. i. 14. Are they not all miniftring fpirits, fent forth to minifter for them who fhall 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 fhould 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. 9. Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh, 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 dependance on him; Matth. v. 32. For your heavenly Father knoweth that you have need of all these things.

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A. 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 unto fin, and live unto righteousness.

Q. I. What are the parts of fanctification?

A. 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.

Q. 2. Who is the Author of fanctification?

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

Q3. What is the inftrument of it?

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

Q4. What part of man is fanctified?

A. Every part, both of foul and body; 1 Thef. 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?

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 shall 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 maner of conversation. 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 and righteousness before him all the days of our life.

Q. 9. What is oppofite to fanctification?

A. All filthiness of flesh and spirit; 2 Cor. vii. 1. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthinefs of flesh and spirit.

Q. 10. 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, reserved in heaven for you.

Q. 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 fhall 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 iniqui

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