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 doAmen. minion for ever and ever, 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 having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. SECT. IV. 66th Q.-How does a christian give proof of his being in the faith. A. By his works. : 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. 21. 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 suffer to befall us, whether of body he Deut. x. 12. What doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but the fear of 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 ene mies. Titus iii. 1. Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, 2. To speak evil of no man, but [to be] gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men. Rom. vii. 7. Render to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due, custom to whom custom, fear to whom fear, honour to whom honour. Titus ii. 1. Speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: 2. That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, 3. The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, 4. That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, 5. To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, that the word of God be not blasphemed. 6. Young men likewise exhort to be sober-minded. Col. iii. 18. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. 19. Husbands, love your wives and be not bitter against them. 20. Children obey your parents; for this is well-pleasing unto the Lord. 21. Fathers provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. 22. Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God. iv. 1. Masters give unto your servantse that which is just and equal, knowing that ye also have a master in heaven. Rom. xii. 10. Be kindly affectioned one to another, with brotherly love, in honour preferring one another, 11. Not slothful in business. 13. Distributing to the necessities of saints, given to hospitality. 14. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 15. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 16. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate : Be not wise in your own conceits. 17. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Matt. vii. 12. Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them. Isaiah lviii. 7. Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out, to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him, and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh. 70th Q.-If our Rulers or Governors require obedience in things repugnant to our duty to God, are we to obey them? A. Certainly not, as God is to be obeyed rather than man.. 19. Acts iv. 18. And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all, nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God, to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. Acts v. 27. And the high priest asked them, 28. Saying, Did not we straitly command you, that you should not teach in this name [of Jesus]? 29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. 71st Q.-Is this doctrine illustrated by practice? : A. It is for instance, several christians have refused to take oaths, as being contrary to the express command of our Saviour; and to engage in war, as being repugnant in its nature and principles to the meek and forgiving spirit of the Prince of Peace, who |