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80 Of Afurance, the Fruit of Juftification.

A. No, it admits of Doubts and Fears, which interrupts it, and it is not always at one Height, 1 Cor. xiii. 10. When that which is perfect is come, then that which is in Part fhall be done away.

Q. 4. On what Testimony is perfonal Affurance built?

A. Upon the Teltimony of God's Spirit, witneffing with ours, Rom. viii. 16. The Spirit itself beareth Witness with our Spirit, that we are the Children of God.

Q5. Doth the Spirit make use of Signs in us to affure us ?

A. Yes, ordinarily he doth, 1 John iii. 14. We know that we are paffed from Death to Life, because we love the Brethren. And ver. 24. Hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

I am

Q. 6. How is true Affurance difcerned from Prefumption? A. True Affurance humbles the Soul, Gal. ii. zo. crucified with Chrift; nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Chrift liveth in me. And makes the Soul afraid of Sin, 2 Cor vii. 1. Having therefore thefe Promifes, dearly beloved, let us cleansfe our felves from all Filthiness of Flesh and Spirit, perfecting Holinefs in the Fear of God.

Q. 7. What is the ufual Season of Affurance?

A. The Time of greateft Sufferings for Chrift, 1 Pet. iv. 14. If ye be reproached, for the Name of Chrift, happy are ye; for the Spirit of Glory and of God refleth upon you.

Q. 8. Is perfonal Affurance abfolutely neceffary to Salvation?

A. No; a Man may be faved, and in Chrift, without it, Ifa. 1. 10. Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the Voice of his Servant, that walketh in Darkness, and bath no Light? Let him trust in the Name of the Lord, and flay upon his God?

11.

Q9. What is the Fruit of Affurance?

A. Joy unfpeakable amidst outward Troubles, Rom. v. And not only fo, but we alfo joy in God through our Lord Jefus Chrift, ly whom we have now received the Atonement. Q. 10. What Sins ufually eclipfe our Affurance?

A. Negligence in Duty ftarves it, 2 Pet. i. 10. Give Diligence to make your Calling and Eleation fure. For if ye do thefe Things ye shall never fall. And finning against Light

ftabs

ftabs it, Pfal. li. 8. Make me to hear Joy and Gladness, that the Bones which thou haft broken may rejoice.

Q. 11. What is the firft Inference from this Doctrine?

A. That no unregenerate Perfon can have any Affurance; for it is the Fruit of Juftification, Adoption and Sanctifica

tion.

Q. 12. What is the fecond Inference?

A. That all the Joys of Heaven are not to come; but fome communicated in this Life, 1 Pet. i. 8. Whom having not feen ye love; in whom though now ye fee him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with Joy unspeakable and full of Glory. Q. 13. What is the third Inference?

A. That affured Believers need to be circumspect Perfons, that they grieve not the Spirit, Eph. iv. 30. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are fealed unto the Day of Redemption.

Quest. 1.

Of Peace of Confcience.

HAT doth the Word Peace fignify in

WScripture ?

A. In the Language of the Old Teftament it fignifies all temporal Good, 1 Sam. xxv. 6. Peace be both to thee, and Peace be to thine Houfe, and Peace be unto all that thou haft. And in the New Testament all special Good; as 2 Thef. iii. 16. Now the Lord of Peace give you Peace always.

Q. 2. What are the Kinds of fpecial Peace ?

A. There is a twofold special Peace; One without us, by Reconciliation, Rom. v. I. Therefore being juftified by Faith, we have Peace with God. And Peace within us by Way of Confolation, Col. iii. 15. And let the Peace of God

rule in your Hearts.

Q3. What did our Peace coft Chrift?

A. It colt him bloody Stripes and Sufferings, Ifa. liii. 5. The Chaftifement of our Peace was upon him, and by his Stripes we are healed.

Q4. Can none have true Peace but fuch as are in him? A. No; others may have falfe Peace, Luke xi. 21. When a ftrong Man armed keepeth his Palace, his Goods are in Peace. But Believers only have true Peace, Rom. v. I.

Therefore

Therefore being juftified by Faith, we have Peace with God through our Lord Jefus Chrift.

Q5. Have ali Believers Peace in their Confciences at all Times ?

A. No, they are always in a State of Peace, but have not always the Senfe of Peace, Ifa. 1. 10. Who is among you that feareth the Lord, and 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.

Q6. What is that which hinders the Senfe of Peace in Believers?

A. Their Sins against the Lord, and grieving of his Spirit, Ifa. lix. 2. But your Iniquities have jeparated between you and your God; and your Sins have hid his Face from you, that

he will not hear.

Q7. What maintains the State of Peace when the Senfe of Peace is loft?

A. Chrift's continual and potent Interceffion with the Father for us, 1 John ii. 1, 2. My little Children, thefe Things write I unto you, that ye fin not; and if any Man fin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jefus Chrift the righteous.

2. 8. What is the best Way to maintain our Peace with

God?

A. Strict walking by Gofpel-Rules, Gal. vi. 16. And as mány as walk according to this Rule, Peace be on them.

Q. 9. Doth this Peace come and go with outward Peace? A. No, we may enjoy this when no Peace is to be had in the World, John xvi. 33. Thefe Things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have Peace; in the World ye shall have Tribulation, but be of good Chear, I have overcome the World. Q. 10. What is the firft Inftruction from hence?

A. That the Wicked are in a fad Cafe at all Times, but efpecially in evil Times, Ifa. lvii. 20, 21. But the wicked are like the troubled Sea when it cannot rejt, whofe Waters caft up Mire and Dirt; There is no Peace, faith my God, to the wicked. Q. 11. What is the second Inftruction from hence?

A. That the chief Care of a Chriftian fhould be to keep his Peace with God, Jer. xvii. 17. Be not a Terror to me, Thou art my Hope in the Day of Evil.

Q. 12. What is the last Inftruction ?

A. Let

A. Let the Saints long to be in Heaven; the State of full and perfect Peace, Ifa. lvii. 2. He shall enter into Peace; they Jhall reft in their Beds, each one walking in his Uprightness.

Quest. 1.

Of Foy in the Holy Ghoft.

H

OW many Sorts of Joy are there among

Men ?

A. There is a fenfitive Joy, Acts xiv. 17. Nevertheless he left not himself without Witness, in that he did good, and gave us Rain from Heaven, and fruitful Seafons, filling our Hearts with Food and Gladness A finful Joy, Prov. xv. 21, Folly is Joy to him that is defiitute of Wisdom. And a fpiritual Joy, Rom. v. 11 And not only jo, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jefus Chrift.

Q. 2. Why is fpiritual Joy called Joy in the Holy Ghost?

A. Because the Holy Ghoft is the Author of it, Gal. v. 22. But the Fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, &c. Q3. What is the first Thing begets Joy in the Saints ? A. The first Thing they joy in is, their Juftification before God, Ifa. lxi. 10. I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my Soul fall be joyful in my God; for he hath cloathed me with the Garments of Salvation, he hath covered me with the Robes of Righteousness.

Q4. What is the fecond 'Thing that breeds this Joy? A. Hopes of Glory breeds Joy in the Saints, Rom. v. z. And rejoice in Hopes of the glory of God.

Q5. What is the Inftrument by which the Spirit conveys this Joy?

A. Faith is the Inftrument of it, Phil. i. 25. And having this Confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all, for your furtherance and Joy of Faith.

Q. 6. What is the first Property of this Joy?

A. It is Joy unspeakable, and full of Glory, 1 Pet. i. 8. Believing, ye rejoice with Joy unspeakable, and full of glory. Q7. What is the fecond Property of it?

A. That it is not in the Power of Men to deprive the Saints of it, John xvi. 22. And your Joy no Man taketh from

you.

Q. 8. What is the third Property of it?

A. It makes the Soul free and chearful in the Ways of Obedience, Pfal. cxix. 32. I will run the Ways of thy Commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my Heart.

Q. 9. What is most deftructive to a Chriftian's Joy?

A. Sin, especially Sin against Light, Pfal. li. 8. Make me to hear Joy and gladness, that the Bones which thou haft broken may rejoice.

Q. 10. What fhould be the main Care of a Christian in this World?

A. To maintain his Joy in God to the laft, A&ts xx. 24. But none of thefe Things move me, neither count I my Life dear to myfelf, jo that I might finish my Courfe with Joy.

Q. 11. Have not Hypocrites their Jóys as well as real Chriftians?

A. Yes, but the Joy of the Hypocrite is not grounded upon Scripture-warrant, and will vanish away, and will come to nothing at laft, John v. 35. He was a burning and a Jhining Light, and ye were willing for a Seafon to rejoice in his Light.

Q. 12. What is the firft Inference from hence?

A. Let all that expect Joy in the Holy Ghoft, fee that they preferve Purity of Confcience and Converfation, 2 Cor. i. 12. Grace be to you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jefus Chrift.

Q. 13. What is the last Inference?

A. That Religion is no melancholy Thing, but the Fountain of all Joy and Pleafure, Prov. iii. 17. Her Ways are Ways of Pleasantness, and all her Paths are Peace.

Quest. 1.

D

Prov. iv. 18.

Of the Increase of Grace.

OTH all true Grace increase and grow? A. Yes, it doth, like the Morning Light, The Path of the Juft is as the fining Light, that fhineth more and more unto the perfect Day. And for that End God hath appointed Minifters and Ordinances, Eph. iv. 11, 12. And he gave fome Apofiles, and fome Prophets, and fome Evangelifts, and fome Paflors and Teachers; for the per

felling