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it is committed, Pfal. li. 4, 5. —Against thee, thee only have I finned, and done this Evil in thy Sight, &c.

Q. 9:

What learn we from hence ?

A. Hence in the firft Place we learn the Impoffibility of fatisfying God's Juftice for the least Sin that ever we committed, Job vii. 20. I have finned, what shall I do unto thee, &c. Pfal. cxxx. 3. If thou Lord shouldst mark Iniquity, O Lord, who fall ftand?

Q. 10. What's the fecond Inftruction hence?

A. Hence we fee the Neceffity of a Mediatour betwixt God and us, Pfal. xl. 6, 7. Sacrifice and Offering thou didst not defire, &c.-Then faid I, lo, I come in the Volume of the Book it is written of me.

Q. 11. What is the third Inftruction hence?

A. That the greatest Suffering is rather to be chosen than the leaft Sin, Heb. xi. 25. Chufing rather to fuffer Affliction with the People of God, than to enjoy the Pleafures of Sin for à Scafon.

Q. 12. What is the fourth Inftruction hence?

A. It teacheth us what an invaluable Mercy, the full, free and final Remiffion of Sin is, Pfal. xxxii. 1, 2. Bleed is he whofe Tranfgreffion is forgiven, and whofe Sin is covered, &c. Q. 13. What is the fifth Inftruction hence?

A. It vindicates God in his fevereft Strokes on Sinners, Hof. vi. 5. Therefore have I bewed them by the Prophets: I have flain them by the Words of my Mouth, and thy Judgments are as the Light that goeth forth.

Q. 14. What is the lait Inftruction?

A. Hence we learn the Nature and infinite Value of Chrift's Sufferings, Rom. viii. 32. He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all: how shall be not with him alfo freely give us all Things?

Of what God requires of us.

Quest. 85. W may efcape his Wrath and Curfe due to

HAT doth God require of us that we

us for Sin?

A. Toefcape the Wrath and Curfe of God due to us for Sin, God requireth of us Faith in Jefus Chrift, Repentance

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unto Life, with the diligent Ufe of all the outward Means, whereby Chrift communicateth to us the Benefits of Redemp

tion.

Q. 1. What are the Things required of us to escape God's Wrath and Curfe due to us for Sin?

A. The Things required of us, are, (1.) Faith in Jefus Chrift, Acts xvi. 31. And they faid, believe on the Lord Jefus Chrift, aud thou shalt be faved, and thine Houfe. (2.) Repentance from Sin, A&ts iii. 19. Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your Sins may be blotted out, &c. (3.) Diligent friving in the Ufe of all God's appointed Means, Luke xiii. Strive to enter in at the ftrait Gate: for many, I say unto you, fhall feek to enter in, and shall not be able.

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Q. 2. Are thefe Things in Man's Power to perform that God requires of him?

A. Though they are our Duties, yet we have no Power in ourfelves by Nature to perform them, but the Power is of God, 2 Cor. iii. 5. Not that we are fufficient of ourselves to think any Thing as of ourselves, but our Sufficiency is of God.

Q. 3. But if Men be in Chrift, and juftified from Eternity, what Need of this?

A. Though God from Eternity decreed, and Christ long fince purchased the Salvation of the Elect; yet have they no Union with Chrift, till they believe, Ephef. iii. 17. That Chrift may dwell in your Hearts by Faith, that ye being rooted and grounded in Love. Nor Remiffion of Sin, Acts iii. 19. That your Sins may be blotted out, when the Times of refreshing fhall come from the Prefence of the Lord; but lie under Wrath as others do, Eph. ii. 3, 12. And were by Nature the Children of Wrath even as others. Ver. xii. That at that Time ye were without Chrift, being Aliens from the Commonaveclib of Ifrael, and Strangers from the Covenants of Promise, having no Hope, and without God in the World.

Q. 4. If it be God that can only work these Graces in us, to what Purpofe is our striving?

A. God's working doth not exclude Man's ftriving, but more excites and obliges us to it, Phil. ii. 12, 13.- Work out your own Salvation with Fear and Trembling: Fot it is is God which worketh in you both to will and to do, of his own good Pleafure.

Q. 5. To what Purpose is it to ftrive in the Ufe of Means, except we knew we were elected?

A. The Knowledge of our Election is not antecedent to our Diligence, but our Diligence is required antecedently to that Knowledge, z Pet. i. 10. Wherefore the rather, Brethren, give Diligence to make your Calling and Election fure,

&c.

Q. 6. Is it not legal to put natural Men upon striving in the Ufe of Means?

A. No, it is not; for Chrift himself enjoins it, Luke xiii. 24. Strive to enter in at the ftrait Gate, &c. And fo did the Apoftles after him, Acts viii. 22. Repent therefore of this thy Wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the Thought of thy Heart may be forgiven thee.

Q7. Is there no escaping God's Wrath and Curfe without Faith and Repentance?

A. No, it is impoffible to efcape them. John iii. 18-He that believeth not, is condemned already, Heb. ii. 3. How fhall we efcape if we neglect fo great Salvation.

Q. 8. But if a Man reform his Life, and live foberly and justly for Time to come, may he not that way escape God's Wrath and Curfe?

A. No, Sobriety and Reformation are Duties, but it's Faith and Regeneration that puts Men into Chrift, and out of Danger, Matth. v. 20. Except your Righteousness fall exceed the Righteoufnefs of the Scribes and Pharifees, ye shall in no Cafe enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, Titus iii. 5. Not by Works of Righteousness, which we have done, but according to his Mercy he faved us, by the Washing of Regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghoft.

Q. 9. Do all believing and penitent Sinners efcape God's Wrath and Curfe?

A. Yes, they do, and shall for ever efcape it, Rom. viii. 1. There is therefore now no Condemnation to them, which are in Chrift Jefus, &c. Col. i. 12, 13. Giving Thanks unto God the Father, which hath made us meet to be Partakers of the Inberitance of the Saints in Light; who hath delivered us from the Power of Darkness, and hath tranflated us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, Joh. v. 24. He that heareth my Word, and believeth on him that fent me, hath ever lafting Life, and hall

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not come into Condemnation: but is paffed from Death unto Life.

Q. 10. What is the firft Inference hence?

A. Hence it appears how falfe and dangerous the Antinomian Doctrine is, which teacheth that our Sins are pardoned before they are committed, or we either believe or repent, contrary to 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 fanctified by Faith, that is, in me, James v. 20. He which converteth the Sinner from the Error of his Way, fall fave a Soul from Death, &c. Acts x. 43. To him give all the Prophets Witness, that through his Name whofoever believeth in him fhall receive Remiffion of Sins..

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

A. Hence it follows that it is dangerous on the one Side not to ftrive in all the Ways of Duty for Christ and Salvation, contrary to Luke xiii. 24. Strive to enter in at the frait Gate, for many I fay unto you, will feek to enter in, and Jhall not be able. And as dangerous on the other Side to reft in, and depend on our own Works and Duties, Phil. iii. 9. And be found in him, not having mine own Righteousness which is of the Law; but that which is through the Faith of Chrift: the Righteoufnefs which is of God by Faith

Q. 12. What is the third Inference hence ?

A. Hence we learn the miferable State of all Unbelievers, and impenitent Perfons; the Curfe and Wrath of God lies upon them, Gal. iii. 10. For as many as are of the Works of the Law are under the Curfe, &c. And their Mittimus for Hell is already made, John iii. 18. He that believeth not, is condemned already.

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Q. 13. What is the fourth Inference hence?

A. Hence we learn the happy State into which Faith and Repentance brings the Souls of Men, A&ts xiii. 38, 39. By him all that believe are juftified from all Things from which could not be justified by the Law of Mofes.

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Queft. 86.

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Of Saving Faith.

HAT is Faith in Jefus Chrift? A. Faith in Jefus Chrift is a faving Grace, whereby we receive and reft upon him alone for Salvation, as he is offered to us in the Gospel.

Q. What is the Root or Caufe of Faith?

A. Not the Power of Man's Will, Eph. ii. 8. For by Grace ye are faved through Faith, and that not of your felves: it is the Gift of God. But the Spirit of God, Gal. v. 22. But the Fruit of the Spirit is Love, Foy, long-fuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, John i. 12, 13. But as many as received him, to them gave he Power to become the Sons of God, even to them that believe on 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. How doth the Spirit of God ordinarily produce Faith?

A. By the preaching of the Word he ordinarily begets it, Rom. x. 17. Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God; though fometimes he doth it immediately. Q3. Who are the proper Subjects of Faith?

9, 10.

A. Convinced and fenfible Sinners are the proper Subjects of Faith, John xvi. 8, And when he is come, he will reprove the World of Sin, of Righteousness, and of Judgment. Of Sin, because they believe not on me: of Righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye fee me no more: of Judgment, because the Prince of this World is judged.

Q4. What is the Seat or Habitation of Faith?

A. Not only the Head or Understanding, but principally the Heart and Will, Rom. x. 10.-With the Heart Man believeth unto Righteoufnefs, &c. Acts viii. 37. And Philip faid, if thou believeft with all thine Heart, thou mayeft.

5. But is not the Affent of the Understanding true Faith?

A. The meer Affent of the Understanding to the Truths of Scripture, is not fuch a Faith as will fave the Soul, Jam. ii. 19. Thou believeft that there is one God, thou dost well, the Devils alfo believe and tremble.

Q. 6. What's the A&t of Faith that juftifies a Sinner?

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A. It

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