remedy such miscarriages: if in publick, or in the presence of others, who are thereby likely to be provoked or defiled. Q. 152. What doth every sin deserve at the hands of God? A. Every sin, even the least, being against the sovereignty, goodness, and holiness of God, and against his righteous law, and walk after other gods whom ye know not; Ver. 10. And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations? Prov. vii. 14. I have peace-offerings with me; this day have I paid my vows. Ver. 15. Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee. John xiii. 27. And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. Ver. 30. He then, having received the sop, went immediately out: y Ezra ix. 13. And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this; Ver. 14. Should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of those abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us? 22 Sam. xvi. 22. So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house, and Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel. 1 Sam. ii. 22. Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel, and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. Ver. 23. And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people. Ver. 24. Nay, my sons for it is no good report that I hear; ye make the Lord's people to transgress. 152. James ii. 10. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. Ver. 11. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill.— b Exod. xx. 1. God spake all these words, saying, Ver. 2. I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. e Hab. i. 13. Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righte ous than he? Lev. x. 3. Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified.-Lev. xi. 44. For I am the Lord your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. Ver. 45. For I am the Lord that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy; for I am holy. d1 John P4 law, deserveth his wrath and curse, both in this life, and that which is to come; and cannot be expiated but by the blood of Christ ". Q. 153. What doth God require of us, that we may escape his wrath and curse due to us by reason of the transgression of the law? A. That we may escape the wrath and curse of God due to us by reason of the transgression of the law, he requireth of us repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ, and the diligent use of the outward means whereby d1 John iii. 4. Whosoever committeth sin, transgresseth also the law for sin is the transgression of the law. Rom. vii. 12. Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Eph. v. 6. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Gal. iii. 10. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. f Lam. iii. 39. Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? Deut. xxviii. from Verse 15. to the end. But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes, which I command thee this day, that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee. Ver. 16. Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field. Ver. 17. Cursed shall be thy basket and thy store, &c. e Mat. xxv. 41. Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. h Heb. ix. 22. And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. 1 Pet. i. 18. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation, received by tradition from your fathers; Ver. 19. But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish, and without spot. 153. i Acts xx. 21. Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. Mat. iii. 7. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers! who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Ver. 8. Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance. Luke xiii. 3, 5. I tell you, Nay: but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Acts xvi. 30. And (the jailer) brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? Ver. 31. And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thine house. John iii. 16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoso whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of his mediation k Q. 154. What are the outward means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of his mediation? A. The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicates to his church the benefits of his mediation, are all his ordinances; especially the word, sacraments, and prayer; all which are made effectual to the elect for their salvation1. Q. 155. How is the word made effectual to salvation? A. The Spirit of God maketh the reading, but especially the preaching of the word, an effectual means of enlightening' ever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Ver. 18. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, Prov. ii. 1. My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; Ver. 2. So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding: Ver. 3. Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding: Ver. 4. If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures: Ver. 5. Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. Prov. viii. 33. Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. Ver. 34. Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. Ver. 35. For whoso findeth me, findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord. Ver. 36. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death. 154. Matth. xxviii. 19. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the convincing, Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Ver. 20. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Acts ii. 42. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. Ver. 46. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness, and singleness of heart; Ver. 47. Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. 155. m Neh. viii. 8. So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. 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 sanctified by faith that is in me. Psal, xix. 8.-The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. P 5 n1 Cor. convincing, and humbling sinners"; of driving them out of themselves, and drawing them unto Christ°; of conforming them to his image, and subduing them to his will; of n1 Cor. xiv. 24. But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: Ver. 25. And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth. 2 Chron. xxxiv. 18. Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath given me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king. Ver. 19. And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the law, that he rent his clothes. Ver. 26. And as for the king of Judah, who sent you to enquire of the Lord, so shall ye say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel concerning the words which thou hast heard; Ver. 27. Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before me, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard thee also, saith the Lord. Ver. 28. Behold, I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace, Acts ii. 37. Now, when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Ver. 41. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thou sand souls. Acts viii. from Verse 27. to 39.-And, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority,-Ver. 28. Was returning, and sitting in his chariot, read Esaias the prophet. Ver. 29. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. Ver. 30. And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?-Ver. 35. Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. Ver. 36.-And the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? Ver. 37. And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of. God. Ver. 38.-And they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. P2 Cor. iii. 18. But we all with open face, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 92 Cor. x. 4. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds: Ver. 5. Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ: Ver. 6. And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedi ence of strengthening them against temptations and corruptions'; of building them up in graces, and establishing their hearts in holiness and comfort through faith unto salvation'. ence is fulfilled. Rom. vi. 17. But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin; but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Mat. iv. 4. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Ver. 7. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Ver. 10. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Eph. vi. 16. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Ver. 17. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Psal. xix. 11. Moreover, by them is thy servant warned; and in keeping of them there is great reward. 1 Cor. x. 11. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Acts xx. 32. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. 2 Tim. iii. 15. And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Ver. 16. All scripture is given by inspira Q. 156. Is tion of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: Ver. 17. That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. Rom. xvi. 25. Now to him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began. 1 Thess. iii. 2. And sent Timotheus our brother, and minister of God, and our fellow-labourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith: Ver. 10. Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith. Ver. 11. Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you: Ver. 13. To the end he may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. Rom. xv. 4. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning; that we, through patience and comfort of the scriptures, might have hope. Rom. x. 13. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Ver. 14. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? Ver. 15. And how shall they P 6 preach |