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ritual services (d), and their best works are imperfect and defiled in the sight of God (e).

Q. 79. May not true believers, by reason of their imperfections, and the many temptations and sins they are overtaken with, fall away from the state of grace?

A. True believers, by reason of the unchangeable love of God (f), and his decree and covenant to give them perseverance (g), their inseparable union with Christ (h), his continual intercession for them (i), and the Spirit and seed of God abiding in them (k), can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace (1), but are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation (m).

Q. 80. Can true believers be infallibly assured that they are in the estate of grace, and that they shall persevere therein unto salvation ?

A. Such as truly believe in Christ, and endeavour to walk in all good conscience before him (n), may, without

and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin, which is in my members.

(d) Heb. 12. 1. Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.

(e) Isa. 64. 6. But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags, and we all do fade as a leaf, and our inquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

(f) Jer. 31. 3. The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: there fore with loving kindness have I drawn thee.

(g) 2 Tim. 2. 19. Nevertheless, the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

(h) 1 Cor. 1. 8. 9. Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

(i) Heb. 7. 25. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost, that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

(k)1 John 3. 9. Whosoever is born of God, doth not commit sin, for his seed remaineth in him, and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

(1) Jer. 32. 40. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away. from them, to do them good: but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.

(m 1 Pet. 1. 5. Who are kept by the power of God, through faith, unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

(n) 1 John 2. 3. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments

extraordinary revelation, by faith grounded upon the truth of God's promises, and by the Spirit enabling them to discern in themselves those graces to which the promises of life are made (o), and bearing witness with their spirits that they are the children of God (p), be infallibly assured, that they are in the estate of grace, and shall persevere therein unto salvation (q).

Q. 81. Are all true believers at all times assured of their present being in the estate of grace, and that they shall be saved?

A. Assurance of grace and salvation not being of the essence of faith (r), true believers may wait long before they obtain it (s); and, after the enjoyment thereof, may have it weakened and intermitted, through manifold distempers, sins, temptations, and desertions (t); yet are they never left without such a presence and support of the Spirit of God, as keeps them from sinking into utter despair (v).

Q. 82. What is the communion in glory which the members of the invisible church have with Christ?

A. The communion in glory, which the members of

(0) 1 Cor. 2. 12. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 1 John 3. 14. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren: he that loveth not his brother, abideth in death.

(P) Rom. 8. 16. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.

(9)1 John 5. 13. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

(r) Eph. 1. 13. In whom ye also trusted after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, after that ye believed, ye were

sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.

(8) Isa. 50. 10. Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God.

(t) Psalm 31. 22. For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes; nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications, when I cried unto thee. Psalm 22. 1. My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

(1 John 3. 9. Whosoever is born of God, doth not commit sin, for his seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. Job 13. 15. Though he slay me, yet will F trust in him: but I will maintain

the invisible church have with Christ, is in this life (w), immediately after death (x), and at last perfected at the resurrection and day of judgment (y).

Q. 83. What is the communion in glory with Christ, which the members of the invisible church enjoy in this life? A. The members of the invisible church have communicated to them, in this life, the first fruits of glory with Christ, as they are members of him their head, and so in him are interested in that glory, which he is fully possessed of (z); and, as an earnest thereof, enjoy the sense of God's love (a), peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Ghost, and hope of glory (b): as, on the contrary, sense of God's revenging wrath, horror of conscience, and a fearful expectation of judgment, are, to the wicked, the beginning of their torments which they shall endure after death (c).

Q. 84. Shall all men die ?

A. Death being threatened as the wages of sin (d), it

mine own ways before him. Isa. 54. 10. For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord, that hath mercy on thee.

(w) 2 Cor. 3. 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.

(x) Luke 23. 43. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

(y) 1 Thess. 4. 17. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

(Eph. 2. 5, 6. Even when we were dead in sins hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved). And hath

raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

(a) Rom. 5. 5. And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

(b) Romans 5. 1. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Rom. 14. 17. For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

(c) Genesis 4. 13. And Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear. Mat. 27. 4. Saying, I have sinned, in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. Heb. 10. 27. But a certain fearful looking for of judgment, and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

(d) Romans 6. 23. For the wages of sin is death; but the

is appointed unto all men once to die (e); for that all have sinned (f).

Q. 85. Death being the wages of sin, why are not the righteous delivered from death, seeing all their sins are forgiven in Christ?

A. The righteous shall be delivered from death itself at the last day, and even in death are delivered from the sting and curse of it (g), so that, although they die, yet it is out of God's love (h), to free them perfectly from sin and misery (i), and to make them capable of further communion with Christ in glory, which they then enter upon (k).

Q. 86. What is the communion in glory with Christ, which the members of the invisible church enjoy immedi ately after death?

A. The communion in glory with Christ, which the members of the invisible church enjoy immediately after death, is, in that their souls are then made perfect in holiness (1), and received into the highest heavens (m),

gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

(e) Heb. 9. 27. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.

(f) Rom. 5. 12. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; aud so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.

(g) 1 Cor. 15. 26, 55. The last enemy that shall be destroyed, is death. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

(h) Isa. 57. 1, 2. The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart; and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. He shall enter into peace; they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.

(i) Rev. 14. 13. And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead

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where they behold the face of God in light and glory (n), waiting for the full redemption of their bodies (o), which even in death continue united to Christ (p), and rest in their graves as in their beds (q), till at the last day they be again united to their souls (r). Whereas the souls of the wicked are, at their death, cast into hell, where they remain in torments and utter darkness, and their bodies kept in their graves, as in their prisons, till the resurrection and judgment of the great day (s).

Q. 87. What are we to believe concerning the resurrection ?

A. We are to believe, that, at the last day, there shall be a general resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust (t), when they that are then found alive shall in a moment be changed; and the self-same bodies of the dead which were laid in the grave, being then again united to their souls for ever, shall be raised up by the power

have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

(n) 1 John 3. 2. Beloved, now are we the sons of God; and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know, that when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 1 Cor. 13. 12. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: Now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

(o) Romans 8. 23. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our bodies. Psalms 16. 19. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.

(p) 1 Thess. 4. 14. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

(9) Isa. 57. 2. He shall enter

into peace; they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.

(r) Job 19. 26. And though, after my skin, worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.

(s) Luke 16. 23, 24. And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried, and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. Jude 6. 7. And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkRess, unto the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

Ct) Acts 24. 15. There shall

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