1 tion m, not only affenteth to the truth of the promife of the gofpel n, but receiveth and refteth upon Chrift and his righteouf nefs therein held forth, for pardon of fin o, and for the accep- i ting and accounting of his perfon righteous in the fight of God for falvation p. Q.73. How doth faith justify a finner in the fight of God? A. Faith juftifies a finner in the fight of God, not because of those other graces which do always accompany it, or of good works that are the fruits of it q; nor as if the grace of faith or any act thereof, were imputed to him for his juftification r; but only as it is an inftrument, by which he receiveth and applieth Christ and his righteousness f m Acts ii. 37. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their hearts, and faid unto Peter, and to the rest of the apoftles, Men and brethren, what fhall we do? Acts xvi. 30. And brought them out, and faid, Sirs, what muft I do to be faved? John xvi. 2. And when hey is come, he will reprove the world of fin, and of righteoufnefs, and of judgment: v. 9. Of fin, because they believe not in me. Rom. v. 6. For when we were yet with out ftrength, in due time Chrift died for the ungodly. Eph. ii. r. And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trefpaffes and fins. A&ts iv. 12. Neither is there falva. tion in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby me must be faved. "Heb. i. 13. In whom ye also trusted after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your falvation, in whom alfo after that ye believed, ye were fealed with that holy Spirit of promife. a John i. 12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the funs of God, even to them that believe on his name. Acts xvi. 31. And they faid, believe on Phil. iii. 9. And be found in him, 73.9 Gal. iii. 11. But that no r Rom. iv. 5. But to him that Q. 74. What is adoption? A. Adoption is an act of the free grace of God t, in and for his only Son Jefus Chrifto, whereby all those that are juftified are received into the number of his children w, have his name put upon them, the Spirit of his Son given to themy, are under his fatherly care and difpenfations z, admitted to all the liberties and privileges of the fons of God,, made heirs of all the promises, and fellow heirs with Chrift in glory a. ceived him, to them gave he power to become the fons of God, even to them that believe on his name. Phil. iii. 9. And be found in him, Dot having mine own righteoufnefs, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Chrift, the righteoufnefs which is of God by faith. Gal. ii. 16. Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jefus Christ, even we have believed in Je fus Chrift, that we might be juftified by the faith of Chrift, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law fhall no flesh be justified. 74. John iii. r. Behold, what manner of love the Father hath be ftowed upon us, that we should be called the fons of God. Eph. i. 5. Having predeftinated us to the adoption of children, by Jefus Chrift to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. Gal. iv. 4. But when the fulness of the time was come, God fent forth his Son made of a woman, made under the law, v. 5. To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of fons. Johni. 12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the fons of God, even to them that believe on his name, Q. 75. x 2 Cor. vi. 18. And will be a ye Father unto you, and fhall be my fons and daughters, faith the Lord almighty, Rev. iii. 12. Him that overcometh, will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerufalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. y Gal. iv, 6. And because ye are fons, God hath fent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. z Pfal. ciii. 13. Like as a father pitieth his children: fo the Lord pitieth them that fear him. Prov. xiv, 26. In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children fhall have a place of refuge. Mat. vi. 32. For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. a Heb. vi. 12. That ye be not flothful, but followers of them, who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Rom. viii. 17. And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs wit Chrift: if fo be that we fuffer with him, that we may be alfo glorified together. 75. Eph. Q. 75. What is fanclification? A. Sanctification is a work of God's grace, whereby they' whom God hath before the foundation of the world chofen to be holy, are in time, through the powerful operation of his Spirit b, applying the death and refurrection of Chrift unto them c, renewed in their whole man after the image of God d; having the feeds of repentance unto life, and all other faving graces put into their hearts e, and those graces so stirred up, increased and strengthened f, as that they more and more die 75.6 Eph. i. 4. According as he hath chofen us in him, before the foundation of the world, that we fhould be holy, and without blame before him in love. 1.Cor. v. 11. And fuch were fome of you: but ye are washed, but ye are fanctified, but ye are juftified in the rame of the Lord Jefus, and by the Spirit of our God. 2 Theff. ii. 13. But we are bound to give thanks to God alway for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, becaufe God hath from the beginning chofen you to falvation, through, fanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth. Rom. vi. 4. Therefore we are buried with him by baptifm into death: that like as Chrift was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even fo we alfo fhould walk in newness of life. v. 5. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death: we fhall be also in the likeness of his refurrection: v. 6. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of fin might be deftroyed, that henceforth we fhould not ferve fin. d Eph. iv, 23. And be renewed in the fpirit of your mind; v. 24. And that ye put on the new man, which after cod is created in righteoufnefs, and true holiness. Aces xi. 18. When they heard unto thefe things, they held their peace, and glorified ood, faying, Then hath God alfo to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. 1 John iii. 9. Whofoever is born of God doth not commit fid; for his feed remaineth in him; and he cannot fin, be cause he is born of God. Jude 20. But ye beloved, builds ing up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost. Heb. vi. 11. And we defire that every one of you do fhew the fame diligence, to the full affurance of hope unto the end: v. 12. That ye be not flothful, but followers of them, who through faith and patience inherit the promifes. Eph. ii. 16. That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be ftrengthened with might, by his Spirit in the inner-man; v. 17. That Chrift may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye being rooted and grounded in love, v. 18. May be able to comprehend with all faints, what is the breadth and length, and depth, and height, v. 19. And to know the love of Chrift, which paffeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Col. i. 10. That ye might walk worthy of the Lord, unto all pleafing, being fruitful in every good work, and increafing in the knowledge of God; v. 11. Strength ened unto fm, and rife unto newness of life g. Q. 76. What is repentance unto life? 4. Repentance unto life is a faving grace b, wrought in the heart of a finner by the Spirit i and word of God k, whereby out of the fight and fenfe, not only of the danger /, but also of the filthinefs and odioufnefs of his fins m, and upon the apprehenfion ened with all might according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-faffering with joyfulness. g Rom. vi. 4. Therefore we are buried with him by baptifm into death: that like as Chrift was raifed up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even fo we alfo fhould walk in newness of life. v. 6. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of fin might be destroyed, that hence forth we should not ferve fin. v. 14. For fin fhall not have dominion over you for ye are not under the law, but under grace. Gal. v. 24. And they that are Chrift's have crucified the flesh, with the affections and lufts. 79. h 2 Tim. ii. 25. In meeknefs inftructing thofe that oppofe them felves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowJedging of the truth. i Zech, xii. 10. And I will pour upon the houfe of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerufalem, the fpirit of grace and of fupplications; and they fhall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they fhall mourn for him as one mourneth for his only fon; and fhall be in bitternefs for him, as one that is in bitternefs for his first born. k Acts xi. 18. When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, faying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. v. 20. And fome of them were men of Cyprus / Ezek. xviii. 23. Because he confidereth and turneth away from all his tranfgreffions that he hath committed, he fhall furely live, he fhall not die. v. 30. Therefore I will judge you, O houfe of Ifrael, every one according to his ways, faith the Lord God: repent, and turn yourfelves from all your tranfgreffions; fo iniquity fhall not be your ruin, v. 33. For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, faith the Lord God, wherefore turn yourfelves, and live ye. Luke xv. 17. And when he came to himself, he faid, How many hired fervants of my father's have bread enough, and to fpare, and I perifa with hunger! v. 18. I will arife, and go to my father, and will fay unto him, Father, I have finned against heaven, and before thee. Hof. ii. 6. Therefore behold, I will hedge up thy way with thorns, and make a wall, that the fhall not find her paths. v. 7. And the fhall follow after her lovers, but the fhall not overtake them; and the fhall feek them, but fhall not find them then fhall the fay, I will go and return to my first hufband, for then was it better with me than now. m Ezek. xxxvi. 31. Then shall ye remem henfion of God's mercy in Chrift, to fuch as are penitent n, he fo grieves for o, and hates his fins p, as that he turns from them all to God q, purpofing and endeavouring conftantly to walk with him in all the ways of new obedience r. remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and fhall lothe yourselves in your own fight, for your iniquities, and for your abominations, Ifa. xxx. 22.Ye fhall defile all the covering of thy graven images of filver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt caft then away as a menftruous cloth; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence. " Joel ii. 12. Therefore allo now, faith the Lord, Turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning. V. 13. And rent your heart and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, flow to anger, and of great kindnefs, and repenteth him of the evil. • Jer. xxxi. 18. I have furely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus, Thou hast chaftifed me, and I was chaftifed, as a bullock unaccuftomed to the yoke: Turn thou me, and I fhall be turned; for thou art the Lord my God. v. 19. Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was inftructed, I fmote upon my thigh: I was afhamed, yea, even confounded, be cause I did bear the reproach of my youth. p 2 Cor. vii. 11. For behold this felf-fame thing that ye forrowed after a godly fort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignati on, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement defire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge: in all things ye have Q77 approved yourselves to be clear in this matter. 9 Acts xxvi. 18. To open their eyes, and to turn them from darknefs to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of fins, and inheritance among them who are fanctified by faith that is in me. Ezek. xiv. 6. Therefore fay unto the house of Ifrael, thus faith the Lord God, Repent and turn yourfelves from your idols, and turn away your faces from all your abominations. 1 Kings viii. 47. Yet if they fhall bethink themselves in the land whither they were carried captives, and repent, and make fupplication to thee in the land of them that carried them captives, faying, We have finned, and have done perverfely," we have committed wickednefs; v. 48. And fo return unto thee with all their heart and with all their foul. r Pfal. cxix. 6. Then fhall not I be afhamed, when I have refpect unto all my commandments. v. 59. I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. v. 128. Therefore I efteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right, and I hate every falfe way. Luke i, 6. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord, blameless. 2 Kings xxiii. 25. and like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his foul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Mofes; neither |