called you by our Gospel to the obtaining of the Glory of the Lord Jesus Christ John 16.8 And when he is come he will reprove the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgmnent whereby convincing us of our Sin and Misery (b) Acts 2.37 Now when they heard this they were pricked in their hearts and said unto Peter and to the rest of the Apostles Men and Brethren what shall we do inlightning our Minds in the Knowledge of Christ (c) Acts 26.18 To open their eyes and to turn them from darkness unto 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 and renewing our Wills (d) Ezek. 36.26 A new heart also will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I will give you hearts of flesh V. 27. And I will put my Spirit within you and will cause you to walk in my statutes and ye shall keep my judgments and do them he doth perswade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ freely offered to us in the Gospel (e) John 6.44 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 V. 45. As it written in the Prophets and they shall be all taught of God every Man therefore that hath heard and hath learned of the Father cometh unto me Phil. 2.13 For it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure John 7.37 In the last day that great day of the feast Jesus stood and cried saying If any man thirst let him come unto me and drink 39. They who are effectually called do receive and partake of many Benefits by Christ Some in this Lise before they die some at their Deaths and some at the Resurrection in the last day 40. Q. What Benefits do they that are effectually called partake of in this Life A. They that are effectually called do in this life partake of (f) Rom. 8.30 Moreover whom he did predestinate them he also called and whom he called them he also justified and whom he justified them he also glorified Justification (g) Ephes 1.5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of Children by Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his Will. Adoption (h) 1 Cor. 1.30 Of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us Wisdom and Righteousness and Sanctification and Redemption Sanctification and the several Benefits which in this Life do either accompany or flow from them 41. Q. What is Justification A. Justification is an Act of God's free Grace wherein he pardoneth all our sins (i) Rom. 3.24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ V. 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 Rom. 4.6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works V. 7. Saying Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered V. 8. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin and accepteth us as righteous in his sight (k) 2 Cor. 5.19 To wit that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself not imputing their trespasses unto them and hath committed to us the word of reconciliation V. 21. For he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him only for the Righteousness of Christ imputed to us (l) Rom. 5.17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one Jesus Christ V. 18. Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men unto condemnation even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life V. 19. As by one man's disobedience many were made sinners so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous and received by Faith alone (m) Gal. 2.16 Knowing that man is not justified by the works of the Law but by the faith of Jesus Christ even we have believed in Jesus Christ that we might be justified by the faith of Christ and not by the works of the Law for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified Phil. 3.9 And be found in him not having mine own righteousness which is of the law but that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousness which is of God by faith 42. Q. What is Adoption A. Adoption is an Act of God's (n) 1 Joh. 3.1 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 free Grace whereby we are received into the number and have a right to all the privileges of the Sons of God (o) Joh. 1.12 As many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God even to them that believe on his Name Rom. 8.17 And if children then heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ if so be we suffer with him that we may be glorified also together 43. Q. What is Sanctification A. Sanctification is the work of God's free Grace (p) 2 Thess 2.13 God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and the belief of the truth whereby we are renewed in the whole Man after the Image of God (q) Ephes 5.23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind V. 24. And that ye put on that new Man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness and are enabled more and more to die unto Sin and live unto Righteousness (r) Rom. 6.4 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 should also walk in newness of life V. 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 Rom. 8.1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit 44. Q. What are the Benefits which in this Life do accompany or flow from Justification Adoption and Sanctification A. The Benefits which in this Life do accompany or flow from Justification Adoption and Sanctification are Assurance of God's Love Peace of Conscience (Å¿) Rom. 5.1 Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with
that hath enough in him to draw all Men to him yet all and every Man come not We must from the Event expound the words All Men Joh. 12.32 with limitation unto all sorts degrees and Nations and not of individuals and particular Men even as Paul was to be a Witness to All Men Acts 22.15 and Joh. 12.19 i.e. many 7. In vain do Men speak of a good Life without Regeneration or Faith in Christ and Gospel Assistances are not sufficient without the effectual operation of the spirit Assistances do only suppose infirmity in us and they who are regenerate are subject to weakness but unregenerate are worse than impotent or weak and weak believers have inward Life as well as outward assistances Joh. 15.4 Col. 1.11 Phil. 4.13 Therefore outward means are not sufficient to un regenerate dead Sinners 8. The work of effectual calling doth convince us what we are by nature before it we are Ignorant Averse Dead Rebellious A new Heart will I give you not a new faculty but a Will made free from its Love to evil and Enmity to good God effectually perswades and also enables us to believe in Christ The effectually called are justified 1. To justify is all one as in English to make just but in this point it is to be taken as in a course of Law to absolve acquit discharge to repute a Man as just who is guilty subject to accusation and condemnation 2. We agree that in this gracious act God doth acquit the believer who is penitent also from deserved condemnation and doth put him into the condition of a Righteous Person 3. There is a concurrence of free grace and satisfaction and redemption in this act See Rom. 3.24 God's love and Christs Death Rom. 5.9 4. He that is justified is accepted and look'd upon as Righteous in the sight of God. 5. God justifieth as both gracious and just Rom. 3.24 with ver 26. the Sinner is in himself unrighteous the righteous God looks for a perfect Righteousness the Righteousness of Christ is most perfect called the Righteousness of God by Faith Rom. 3.22 and the Righteousness of one Rom. 5.17,18 With this alone the just God is satisfied who doth graciously impute or reckon it to every one who believeth by faith we are invested in it and entituled to it by Gods free gift 6. The just God set forth Christ a propitiation or atonement by the Sacrifice of himself Rom. 3.25 With this God was satisfied and it being intended for him that believes it is accounted to him and he receives and applies it for his justification 7. The Person being untighteous and guilty is not justified as an innocent Righteous Person in himself but for Christs sake He doth repent and confess his iniquity and guilt 1 John 1.9 and is taught to plead as we see Rom. 8.33,34 He is taught to shew cause why he is not condemned 8. It is the nature of Faith in general to answer to and correspond with the gracious Acts of God so it doth in Justification Here 's a gift of Righteousness and Faith humbly receiveth it and because that perfect Righteousness of Christ is that by which a guilty offender is justified Rom. 3.19 and faith alone doth receive appropriate and apply it therefore we are justified by faith alone Rom. 3.22,25,26,28 9 I humbly conceive Faith is not imputed for Righteousness Rom. 4.5 as that which is accepted instead of a perfect personal Righteousness thus if we have faith it shall serve and be taken where perfect Righteousness is not to be had For 1. The Person justified is in himself unrighteous and guilty and God doth not justify him for that which is taken instead of Personal Righteousness for then God would seem to have respect to a Man 's own Personal Righteousness in defect of which he takes what may be had 2. Because God looks upon our Mediator as Obeying Dying Satisfying and not upon us who are unable to satisfy See Rom. 3.22,24,25,26 3. Because our Faith is not to be taken separately from its object Christ It was not looking but looking on the Serpent that healed so it is believing in Christ that justifies and saves Joh. 3.14,16 Faith without works is imputed but not without Christ. I do not say that Faith is imputed as taken for its object i. e. Christ is imputed nor that faith is imputed as taken in lieu of Personal Righteousness but Faith with its object Christ is imputed for Faith cannot be separated from him its object for the Righteousness of Christ and Faith in Christ are required to justification the one with and not without the other 10. Not to impute Sin is not to reckon it to condemnation and it is not so reckoned because Christ died and when it is not imputed to condemnation it is pardoned Ephes 1.7 11. They who say we are justified by Faith as a condition and are not Socinians do mean soundly and no more but that Faith is required to justification and to ascribe as little as may be to Faith and as much as may be to Christ To say that Faith is a condition without which a Man is not justified is to speak too little because it is positively required not as that without which but as that by which a Man is justified And they who say as the Glorious Reformers spake we are justified by Faith as by an instrument produce warrant from the Scripture make up the number of Causes compleat and ascribe but the lowest degree of causality to Faith both agree in the main Doctrines and differ in manner of Explication 12. He who is justified by Faith in Christ is also justified by Works The Person spoken of by Paul is a guilty unrighteous Sinner Rom. 3.19 The Person spoken of by James is a formal professor who saith he hath Faith chap. 2.14 He hath no true Faith who hath not Works to his Faith and therefore cannot be justified 13. The way of justification even before Christ was by Faith in him Rom. 3.21,22 14. No Man is actually justified before he doth believe The believer was intentionally justified from eternity in decree meritoriously from the Death of Christ 15. A Justified Person is taught to pray for pardon Mat. 6.12 and to confess his Sin 1 Joh. 1.9 Are Adopted 1. To adopt is to make or take one for a Child who by Nature is not a Child and he hath the Name State Dignity and privileges of a Child 2. Adoption is an Act of Grace and if that which follows our effectual Calling and justification be an Act of grace then surely Vocation and Justification must be by Grace 3. Adoption is the foundation of our Coheirship with Christ 4. The privileges and honour belong to them who believe Joh. 1.12 they have a right to them tho' they may want the comfort of them through unbeleif 5. By regeneration we partake of the New Nature by Adoption we are admitted to the condition of Sons 6. Gods People under
Trial of New Obedience section 1 For your better undertaking of it be pleased to observe what it is and why it is called New. New Obedience is an hearty sincere Respect or Aim at God's Glory in keeping all his Commandments or having a Respect to all God's Commandments and walking before God in Righteousness and Holiness all the Days of our Life being redeemed from the Hand of our Enemy It is called New Obedience in opposition to the Service of Sin or obeying the Law in our Members For we being Sinners by Nature and corrupted with Original Sin are inclined and given to serve Sin and to live after the Flesh Rom. 6.11,12,13,16,17,18,19,20 But when we are united to Christ in our Effectual Calling and have Repentance towards God and Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ then we become dead to Sin and free from the Dominion of it we are married unto Christ in Covenant that we may abound in Fruits of Righteousness which are by Jesus Christ to the Praise and Glory of God Philip. 1.11 Rom. 7.4 We are bound to do whatsoever he commandeth us Matth. 28.20 section 2 Now three things must be enquired after 1. The Subject and Principle or Root of this New Obedience 2. The Rule of it 3. The End and Design of it 1. Whence is it that you perform Service or Obedience unto God Do you serve him from Faith Love and unfeigned Repentance towards God Are you effectually called Remember what that is Are you united to Christ by Faith See what that is Are you turned from all Sin from your bosom darling costly Sin to God to obey his Law Try your Repentance Have you a new Heart Have you the Image of God renewed upon you Are you sanctified by the Spirit Look to Ans 35. For New Obedience proceeds from the Heart renewed and sanctified section 3 2. Try your Obedience by the Rule of it that is the whole Word and Will of God Psal 119.105 Thy word is a lamp to my feet c. V. 6. When I have respect to all thy Commandments at all times always even to the End Psal 119.112 Phil. 2.12 He that is such an one doth not live in any known Sin nor neglect any known Duty He makes Conscience of Duty to God and Man Act. 24.16 section 4 3. Try and examine the End of your Obedience what you aim at and design New Obedience proceeds from a Principle of Renewing Grace is regulated by the Word of God and directed to his Glory And so what you learn first in your Catechism is the End of your Conversation and Obedience See Col. 1.10 Phil. 1.11 1 Pet. 2.9 chap. 4.11 section 5 The second Duty is Preparation for the Lord's Supper Having examined your Hearts if you find these Graces in you then the Work of Preparation is to stir up the Grace of God given you in putting your Souls in a readiness to receive Jesus Christ as offered to you with all the Benefits of the New Covenant by adding to your Self-Examination humble Consession of Sin earnest Supplication for Forgiveness of Sin and Grace If you find a Want or Weakness of Grace then sharpen your Desires after it and pray for it and add your Thanksgiving for the Means of Grace and for Grace received Thus much for the Duties before the Sacrament CHAP. IV. Duties at and after the Communion together with Motives and Perswasions to perform the whole Duty in a due manner section 1 WHile you attend upon God at his Table shake off all Drowsiness and Vanity of Mind Consider at whose Table you are to eat and drink and what the Feast is Therefore draw near with an holy Reverence with a clear Knowledge and lively Faith. Attend to what is done before you the outward Signs and what is done according to the Institution of Christ Observe the breaking of the Bread the pouring out the Wine and the giving of both to you Know that you are to remember Jesus Christ to discern his Body and to shew his Death Thirst and hunger for him Receive him by Faith and the Benefits of the New Covenant Look unto Christ crucisied with a broken Heart sorrowing for Sin. Meditate on the Love of God in his Son Jesus on the Sufferings of Christ on the Satisfaction given Redemption and Victory obtained for thee Cast thy self upon him trust to him give thy self to him delight in his Love apply him for what thou dost most stand in need of renew thy Covenant and thy Engagement to be the Lord's and excite thy Love to all Saints and be thankful section 2 After the Sacrament reflect upon your selves re-view your Carriage 1. Consider Have you discerned the Lord's Body made an affectionate Remembrance of him Have you received him by Faith Are you nourished by him 2. If you find Quickning and Comfort then bless God for it beg a Continuance of it watch against Relapses fulfil your Vows encourage yourselves to a frequent Attendance on that Ordinance But 3dly If you find not present Benefits by it then you must more exactly review your Preparation and Carriage at the Sacrament in both which if you can approve your selves to God and your own Conscience then wait for the Fruit in due time But if you find that you have failed in either Preparation or Carriage you must be humbled and attend upon it afterwards with more Care and Diligence section 3 Having directed you and brought some Assistance towards the holy and comfortable receiving the Communion of the Body and Blood of the Lord I might expect that you will say you have now what you much desired and only wanted For so great should be the Forwardness and Zeal of every one who bears the Christian Name to obey every Command of Christ and particularly to address themselves to this holy Ordinance wherein the Love of Christ is set forth in his most precious Blood that they should not need Motives to spur them on But Alas how commonly do we see Men and Women excommunicate themselves and Non-Communicants crowding out at the Church-doors leaving but a little Flock behind to feed upon his Body and Blood who laid down his Life for the Sheep Truly to see many depart who have been earnestly invited to this Feast of Love hath brought to my Mind the Separation that will be in the last Day between the Sheep and the Goats Wo wo to them when Christ shall bid them depart from him who for Love of Ease Ignorance and wilful Impenitence go away from him represented at his Table I shall draw out a few Arguments to perswade poor Souls to a conscientious well-prepared Address to the Table of the Lord out of the same Store house your very Catechism section 4 Advantage or Dis-advantage are the prevailing Motives to perswade or disswade Now if you shall find the Advantages very great of right and worthy Receiving and the Loss and Sin great of Neglecting or unworthy Receiving then I hope you will be won