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pentance and engagements to be the Lord's, are more heinous than the same sins committed before repentance and such engagements; so also sins committed after admonitions and censures, are more heinous than the same sins committed before such admonitions and

censures.

Q. 9. What is the fourth aggravation of sin?

A. The fourth aggravation of sin is from the manner: thus sins against knowledge, are more heinous than sins through ignorance: sins through wilfulness and presumption, are more heinous than sins through weakness and infirmity: sins through custom and with deliberation, are more heinous than sins through sudden passion and the hurry of temptation: sins with delight and greediness, are more heinous than sins committed with regret and backwardness: sins committed impudently and with boasting, are more heinous than the same sins committed with shame and blushing: sins often repeated and long continued in, are more heinous than sins but once or seldom committed, and which are broken off by repentance.

Q. 84. What doth every sin deserve?

A. Every sin deserveth God's wrath and curse, both in this life, and that which is to come.

Q. 1. What is meant by God's wrath and curse, which every sin doth deserve?

A. By God's wrath and curse, which every sin doth deserve, is meant all those punishments which God in his wrath hath threatened to inflict upon sinners for their sins.

Q. 2. What are those punishments which God in his wrath hath threatened to inflict upon sinners for their sins?

A. The punishments which God in his wrath hath threatened to inflict upon sinners for their sins, are either in this life, such as all temporal and spiritual judgments here; or in the life which is to come, such as the pun ishment of hell; of both which we see before in the explication of the ninth answer.

Q. 3. Doth every sin deserve God's wrath and curse, both in this life and that which is to come?

A. Every sin doth deserve God's wrath and curse, both in this life and that which is to come, because every sin is committed against an infinitely holy and righteous God, and his, justice doth require infinite satifaction; and if some sinners do escape some temporal punishments, they cannot escape the eternal punishments of hell, which is the only satisfying punishment, unless they have an interest in the satisfaction made by Christ. 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. Matth. xxv. 41, Then shall he say unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlast ing fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.

Q. 85. What doth God require of us, that we may escape his wrath and curse due to us, for sin?

A. To escape the wrath and curse of God, due to us for sin, God requireth of us faith in Jesus Christ, repentance unto life, with the diligent use of all the outward means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption..

Q. 1. How many things doth God require of us to escape his wrath and curse due to us for sin?

A. God requireth three things of us, that we may escape his wrath and curse due to us for sin : 1. Faith in Jesus Christ. 2. Repentance unto life. 3. The diligent use of all outward means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption.

Q. 2. Why doth God require of us faith in Jesus Christ, that we may escape his wrath and curse?

A. God requireth of us faith in Jesus Christ to escape his wrath and curse, because by faith in Jesus Christ, we have an interest in Jesus Christ, and his imputed righteousness, and the promise he hath made of remission and salvation unto us. Philip. iii. 9, And be found in him not having mine own righteousness, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is

of God by faith. Acts x. 43, To him give all the proph ets witness, that, through his name, whosoever believeth in him, shall receive remission of sins. Eph. ii. 8, By grace we are saved, through faith. ́

Q. 3. Why doth God require of us repentance unto life, that we may escape his wrath and curse?

A. God requireth of us repentance unto life, that we may escape his wrath and curse, because the promise of forgiveness of sin is made to repentance, as a concomitant of faith; and it is not for God's honour to pardon and save any that go on still in their trespasses. Acts iii. 19, Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out. Acts xx. 21, Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Q. 4. Why doth God require of us the diligent use of all outward means, that we may escape his wrath and curse?

A. God doth require of us the diligent use of all outward means to escape his wrath and curse, because although God could save without means, yet it is his will to appoint means, which having his institution, we cannot expect the benefits of redemption and salvation should be communicated to us any other way. 1 Cor. i. 21, It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. Acts viii. 22, Pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

Q. 86. What is faith in Jesus Christ?

A. Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace, whereby we receive and rest upon him alone for salvation, as he is offered to us in the gospel.

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Q. 1. How is faith a saving grace?

A. Faith is a saving grace, not by the act of believing, as an act; for then it would save as a work whereas we are saved by faith in opposition to all works: But faith is a saving grace, as an instrument, apprehending and applying Jesus Christ and his perfect righteousness, whereby alone we are saved. John iii. 16, For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have

everlasting life. Acts xvi. 31, And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved. Rom. iii. 22, Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all, and upon all them that believe. Q. 2. Who is the author af faith in Jesus Christ? A. The author of faith in Jesus Christ, is God, whose gift it is, and who works this grace of faith in the soul by his Spirit. Eph. ii. 8, Ye are saved through faith h; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Col. ii. 12, You are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God.

Q. 3. How doth God work this grace of faith in the souls of men?

A. God doth work this grace of faith in the souls of men, ordinarily by hearing of the word preached. Rom. x. 17, So then, faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 1 Cor. xv. 11, So we preach and so believed.

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Q. 4. What is the object of this grace of faith?

A. The object of this grace of faith is the Lord Jesus. Christ and his righteousness, and the promises which are made through him in the covenant of grace. John iii. 18, He, that believeth on him, is not condemned. Rom. i. 17, For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, The just shall live by faith. Gal. iii. 22, The scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ, might be given to them that believe.

Q.5. What is the subject of faith in Jesus Christ?

A. 1. The subject of denomination, or the persons in whom alone this grace of faith is to be found, are the elect only. Titus i. 1, According to the faith of God's elect. Acts xiii. 48, And as many as were ordained to eternal life, believed. 2. The subject of inhesion, or the parts of the soul in which faith is placed and doth inhere, is not only the mind and understanding, but also the will and heart. Heb. vi. 13, These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them. The persuasion of the truth of the promises, is the act of the understanding; the embracement of the things promi

sed, is the act of the will. Rom. x. 10, With the heart man believeth unto righteousness.

Q. 6. What are the acts of faith in Jesus Christ?

A. The acts of faith in Jesus Christ are, 1. A receiv ing of Jesus Christ. John i. 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. 2. A resting upon Christ alone for salvation: this is implied in all those scriptures which speak of believing in Christ, and believing on his name.

Q. 7. How is Jesus Christ to be received by faith? A. Jesus Christ is to be received by faith, as he is of fered to us in the gospel.

Q. 8. How is Jesus Christ offered to us in the gospel? A. Jesus Christ is offered to us in the gospel, as priest, prophet, and king; and so we must receive him, if we would be saved by him.

Q. 9. When doth the soul rest upon him for salvation? A. The soul doth rest upon Christ for salvation, when being convinced of its lost condition by reason of sin, and its own inability, together with all creatures, insufficiency to recover it out of this estate, and having a discovery and persuasion of Christ's ability and willingness to save, it doth let go all hold on the creatures, and renounce its own righteousness, and so lay hold on Christ, rely upon him, and put confidence in him, and in him alone for salvation.

Q. 87. What is repentance unto life?

A. Repentance unto life is a saving grace, whereby a sinner, out of a true sense of his sin, and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ, doth with grief and hatred of his sin, turn from it unto God, with full purpose of, and endeavour after new obedience.

Q. 1. Why is repentance called repentance unto life? A. Repentance is called repentance unto life, because it is a saving grace, and a necessary mean for the attaining life and salvation; and that it might be distinguished from the sorrow of the world which worketh death. Acts xi. 18, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. Ezek. xviii. 21, If the wicked will

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