Mark xiii. 37. Watch. 1 Cor. ix. 24. Know ye not that they which run in a race, run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run that ye may obtain. 25. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things: Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible.

What I say unto you, I say unto all,

Phil. iii. 8. I count all things but loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things. 11. If by any means I might attain to the resurrection of the dead: 12. Not as though I had already attained; either were already perfect. 13. But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14. I press toward the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

2 Peter iii. 17. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing, ye know these things before, beware lest ye also being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. 18. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Eph. vi. 10. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

1 John ii. 14. 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.

64th Q.-May not the soul which thus obtains the victory over sin, attain to a state of perfection, or freedom from sin?

A. Yes, for as the soul advances to a state of maturity in Christ, righteousness or holiness becomes, as it were, the element in

which it lives; the contrary nature and spirit which once had the dominion, and brought it under condemnation, being crucified and slain, Christ reigns unrivalled in the heart, and it is sanctified and made perfect according to its present capacity; " yet doth this perfection still admit of a growth; and there remaineth always in some part a possibility of sinning, where the mind doth not most diligently and watchfully attend unto the Lord."*

Rom. vi. 18. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 20. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. 22. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness.

2 Cor. vii. 1. Dearly beloved, Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Eph. iv. 11. And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists: 12. For the perfecting of the saints: 13. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.

Col. i. 21. And you that were sometime alienated, and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled, 22. In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable, and unreprovable in his sight. 27. To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you the hope of glory: 28. Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect, in Christ Jesus.

* Barclay's Apology, Prop. viii. (8th edit. p. 241.)

Matt. v. 48. Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

1 Thess. v. 23.

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Peter v. 10. The God of all grace who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 11. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever, Amen.

65th Q.-Is it possible for those who have been renewed by the grace of God that brings salvation, finally to fall away from it?

A. Yes; we are therefore exhorted to make our calling and election sure; for if, through unwatchfulness, any fall away after they have tasted of the heavenly gift, and been made partakers of the Holy Spirit; they make shipwreck of faith; and the relapsed state of such is more hopeless than their first unconverted state.

1 Cor. ix. 27. I keep under my body and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means when I have preached to others, I myself should be a cast-away.

2 Peter ii. 20. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world, through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome; the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

§. IV.

66th Q.-How does a Christian give proof of his being in the faith?

21.

Matt. vii. 18. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit: neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 20. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Titus i. 16. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

James ii. 14. What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him? 15. If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food; 16. And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be you warmed, and filled: notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17. Even so faith, if it hath not works is dead being alone. 18. Shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

67th Q.-What are these works?

A. The performance, 1st. Of our duty, to God. 2dly. Of our duty to man.

68th Q.-What is our duty to God?

A. To fear, reverence, love, and serve him, by giving him our hearts, and offering to him the prayer and worship he requires of

us; to keep ourselves, through his divine aid, sober, chaste, and temperate: to obey all his commands, and sustain with patience and resignation whatever distress or affliction he may suffer to befall us, whether of body or of mind.

Deut. x. 12.

What doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul.

Matt. xxii. 37. Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

Prov. xxiii. 26. My son, give me thine heart.

Phil. iv. 6. Be careful for nothing: but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.

Col. iv. 2. Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.

Rom. xii. 11. [Be] fervent in spirit, serving the Lord: 12. Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.

Phil. iv. 11. I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where, and in all things I am instructed. See also Tit. ii. 11, 12.

69th Q.-What is our duty to man?

A. Honour and conscientious obedience to those who have the rule over us; sincerity and honesty towards those with whom we have connexion or intercourse; and to do good, as far as is in our power, to all men, whether they be friends, strangers, or enemies.