A. They do not; for though they boast of him in words, yet in deeds they deny c Jesus the only deliverer and Saviour; for one of these two things must be true, that either Jesus is not a complete Saviour; or that they, who by a true faith receive this Saviour, must find all things in him d necessary to their salvation.

c 1 Cor. 1. 13, 31. Gal. 5. 4. d Col. 2. 20. Isa. 9. 6, 7. Col. 1. 19, 20.

XII. LORD'S DAY.

Q. 31. Why is he called CHRIST, that is, anointed?

A. Because he is ordained of God the Father, and a anointed with the Holy Ghost, to be our 6 chief Prophet and teacher; who has fully revealed to us the secret counsel and will of God concerning our redemption; and to be our only High Priest, c who by the one sacrilice of his body, has redeemed us, and makes continual intercession with the Father for us; and also to be our eternal King, e who governs us by his word and Spirit; and who defends and ƒ preserves us in (the enjoyment of) that salvation, he has purchased for us.

a Heb. 1. 9. 6 Deut. 18. 18. Acts 3. 22. John 1. 18. and 15. 15. Mat. 11. 27. c Psa. 110. 4. Heb. 7. 21. and 10. 14. d Rom. 8. 34. e Psa 2. 6. Luke 1.33. ƒ Mat. 28. 18. John 10. 28.

Q. 32. But why art thou called a Christian?

A. Because I am a member of Christ g by faith, and thus am partaker h of his anointing; that so I may i confess his name and present myself a living j sacrifice of thankfulness to him; and also that with a free and good conscience I may fight against sin and k Satan, in this life: and afterwards 7 reign with him eternally, over all creatures.

g 1 Cor. 6. 15. h 1 John 2. 27. Joel 2. 28. i Mat. 10. 32. j Rom. 12. 1. Apo. 1. 6. k Eph. 6. 11, 12. 1 Tim. 1. 18, 19. 2 Tim. 2. 12

XIII. LORD'S DAY

Q. 33. Why is Christ called the only begotten Son of God, since we are also the children of God?

A. Because Christ alone is the eternal and natural Son of a God; but we are children b adopted of God, by grace, for his sake.

a John 1. 1. Heb. 1. 2. b Rom. 8. 15, 16, 17. Eph. 1. 5, 6.

Q. 34. Wherefore callest thon him our Lord?

A. Because he hath redeemed us, both soul and body, from all our sins, not with gold or silver, c but with his precious blood, and hath delivered us from all the power of the devil; and thus hath made us his own property. c 1 Pet. 1. 18, 19. 1 Cor. 6. 20.

XIV. LORD'S DAY.

Q. 35. What is the meaning of these words-"He was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary?"

A. That God's eternal Son, who a is, and continueth true and eternal b God, took upon him the very nature of man, of the flesh and c blood of the Virgin Mary, by the operation of the Holy Ghost; d that he might also be the true seed of David, e like unto his brethren in all things. f sin excepted. a John 1. 1. Col. 1. 15. Psa. 2. 7. b Rom. 9. 5. 1 John 5. 20 c John 1. 14. Gal. 4. 4. d Mat. 1. 18. Luke 1. 35. c Psa. 132. 2 Acts 2. 30.Rom. 1. 3. f Phil. 2. 7. Heb. 4. 15. Q. 36. What profit dost thou receive by Christ's holy conception and na tivity?

A. That he is our g mediator; and with his innocence and perfect holiness, covers in the sight of h God, my sins, wherein I was conceived and brought forth!

g Heb. 2. 16, 17. h Psa. 32. 1. 1 Cor. 1. 30. Rom. 8. 34.

XV. LORD'S DAY.

Q 37. What dost thou understand by the words, "He suffered ?"* A. That he, all the time that he lived on earth, but especially at the end of his life, a sustained in body and soul, the wrath of God against the sins of all mankind: that so by his passion, as the only 6 propitiatory sacrifice, b he might redeem our body and soul from everlasting damnation, and obtain for us the favour of God, righteousness and eternal life.

a 1 Pel. 2. 24. Isa. 53. 12. b 1 John 2. 2. Rom. 3. 25.

Q. 38. Why did he suffer under Pontius Pilate, as his judge?

A. That he, being innocent, and yet condemned c by a temporal judge, might thereby free us from the severe judgment of God to which we were exposed. d

c Luke 23. 14. John 19. 4. Psa. 69. 4. d Gal. 3. 13, 14.

Q. 39. Is there any thing more in his being crucified, than if he had died some other death?

A. Yes [there is]; for thereby I am assured, that he took on him the curse which lay upon me; for the death of the cross was e accursed of God. e Deut. 21. 23. Gal. 3. 13

XVI. LORD'S DAY.

Q. 40. Why was it necessary for Christ to humble himself even unto death?

A. Because with respect to the justice and truth of God, satisfaction for our sins could be made a no otherwise, than by the death of the Son b of God. a Gen. 2. 17 b Heb. 2. 9, 10. Phil. 2. 8.

Q. 41. Why was he also "buried?"

A. Thereby to prove that he c was really dead.

c Acts 13. 29. Mark 15. 43-46.

Q. 42. Since then Christ died for us, why must we also die?

A. Our death is not a sausfaction for our sins, but only an abolishing of sin, and a passage into d eternal life.

d John 5. 24. Phil. 1. 23.

Q. 43. What further benefit do we receive from the sacrifice and death of Christ on the cross?

A. That by virtue thereof, our old man is crucified, dead, and e buried with him; that so the corrupt inclinations of the flesh may no more ƒ reign in us; but that we may g offer ourselves unto him a sacrifice of thanks giving.

e Rom. 6. 6, 7, &c. ƒ Rom. 6. 12. g Rom. 12. 1.

Q. 44. Why is there added, "he descended into hell?"

A. That in my greatest temptations, I may be assured, and wholly com fort myself in this, that my Lord Jesus Christ, by his inexpressible anguish, pains, terrors, and hellish agonies, in which he was plunged during all his sufferings, but especially on the cross, hath h delivered me from the anguish and torments of hell.

h Isa. 53. 10. Mat. 27. 46.

XVII. LORD'S DAY.

Q. 45. What doth the resurrection of Christ profit us?

A. First by his resurrection he hath overcome death, that he might e make us partakers of that righteousness which he had purchased for us by his death; secondly, we are also by his power, b raised up to a new life; and lastly, the resurrection of Christ is a c sure pledge of our blessed re surrection.

a 1 Cor. 15. 16. b Rom. 6. 4. Col. 3. 1, &c. c1 Cor. 15. Rom. 8. 11.

XVIII. LORD'S DAY.

Q 46. How dost thou understand these words, "he ascended into heaven?" A. That Christ, in sight of his disciples, was a taken up from earth into neaven; and that he continues there for our interest, until he come again to judge the quick and the dead.

a Acts. 1.9. Mark 16, 19. 6 Heb. 4. 14. Rom. 8. 34. Eph. 4. 10. Q. 47. Is not Christ then with us even to the end of the world, as he hath promised?

C

A. Christ is very man and very God: with respect to his e human nature, be is no more on earth; but with respect to his Godhead, majesty, grace and spirit, he is at no time absent from us.

c Acts 3. 21. John 3. 13. John 16. 28. Mat. 28. 20.

Q. 48. But if his human nature is not present, wherever his Godhead is, are not then these two natures in Christ separated from one another?

A. Not at all; for since the Godhead is incomprehensible and d omnipresent, it must necessarily follow that e the same is not limited with the human nature he assumed, and yet remains personally united to it.

d Acts 7. 49. Mat, 24. 30. e Mat. 28. 20. John 16. 28. and 17. 11. John 3. 13. Q. 49. Of what advantage to us is Christ's ascension into heaven?

A. First that he is our g advocate in the presence of his Father in heaven: secondly, that we have our flesh in heaven, as a sure pledge that he, as the head, will also h take up to himself, us, his members: thirdly, that he i sends us his Spirit as an earnest, by whose power we "seek the things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God, j and not things on earth."

g Heb. 9. 24. 1 John 2. 2. Rom. 8. 34. h Jöhn 14. 2. Eph. 2. 6. i John 14. 16. 2 Cor. 1. 22. 2 Cor. 5. 5. j Col. 3. 1. Phil. 3. 20.

XIX. LORD'S DAY.

Q. 50. Why is it added, " and sitteth at the right hand of God ?”

A. Because Christ is ascended into heaven for this end, that he might there a appear as head of his church, by whom the Father b governs all things. a Eph. 1. 20, 21, 22. Col. 1. 18. b Mat. 28. 18. John 5. 22.

Q. 51. What profit is this glory of Christ, our head, unto us ?

A. First, that by his Holy Spirithe c poureth out heavenly graces upon us nis members: and then that by his power he defends d and preserves us against all enemies.

c Eph. 4. 8. d Psa. 2. 9. John 10. 28.

Q. 52. What comfort is it to thee that "Christ shall come again to judge the quick and the dead?"

A. That in all my sorrows and persecutions, with uplifted head e I look for the very same person, who before offered himself for my sake, to the tribuna! of God, and hath removed all curse from me, to come as judge from heaven: who shall cast all his ƒ and my enemies into everlasting condemnation, but shall translate g me with all his chosen ones to himself, into heavenly joys and glory.

e Luke 21. 28. Rom. 8. 23, 24. 1 Thes. 4. 16. f 2 Thes. 1. 6, 7, 8, 9. Mat 25.41. Mat. 25. 34.

XX. LORD'S DAY.

Of God the Holy Ghost.

Q. 53. What dost thou believe concerning the Holy Ghost?

A. First, that he is true and co-eternal God with the Father and the a Son secondly, that he is also given b me, to e make me by a true faith, partaker of Christ and all his benefits, that he may d comfort me and e abide with me for ever.

a Gen. 1. 2. Isa. 48, 16. 1 Cor. 3. 16. 6 Mat. 28. 19. 2 Cor. 1. 22. e Gal. 3. 14. 1 Pet. 1 2. d Acts 9. 31. e John 14, 16. 1 Pet. 4. 14.

XXI. LORD'S DAY.

Q. 54. What believest thou concerning the "Holy Catholic church" of Christ?

A. That the Son of God a from the b beginning to the end of the world, gathers, c defends, and d preserves to himself by his e spirit and word, out of the f whole human race, a g church chosen to everlasting life, agreeing in true faith; and that I am and for ever shall remain, a ħ living member thereof.

a John 10. 11. b Gen. 26. 4. c Rom. 9. 24. Eph. 1. 10. d John 10. 16. e Isa 59. 21. ƒ Deut. 10. 14, 15. g Acts 13. 48. h1 Cor. 1.8, 9. Rom 8. 35, &c. Q. 55. What do you understand by "the communion of saints?”

A. First, that all and every one who believes, being members of Christ, are in common, i partakers of him, and of all his riches and gifts: secondly, that every one must know it to be his duty, readily and j cheerfully to em ploy his gifts, for the advantage and salvation of other members.

i John 1. 3, 4. Rom. 8. 32. 1 Cor. 12. 13. j1 Cor. 13. 5. Phil. 2. 4, 5, 6. Q. 56. What believest thou concerning "the forgiveness of sins?"

A. That God, for the sake of k Christ's satisfaction, will no more I remember my sins, neither my corrupt nature, against which I have to struggle all my life long; but will graciously impute to me the righteousness of Christ, that I may never be m condemned before the tribunal of God.

k1 John 2. 2. 2 Cor. 5. 19, 21. Jer. 31. 34. Psa. 103. 3, 4, 10, 11. Rom. & 1, 2, 3. m John 3. 18.

XXII. LORD'S DAY.

Q. 57. What comfort doth the "resurrection of the body" afford thee? A. That not only my soul after this life shall be immediately taken a up to Christ its head; but also, that this my body, being raised by the power of Christ, shall be reunited with my soul, and b made like unto the glorious body of Christ.

a Luke 23. 43. Phil. 1. 23. 61 Cor. 15. 53. Job 19. 25, 26.

Q. 58. What comfort takest thou from the article of "life everlasting ?" A. That c since I now feel in my heart the beginning of eternal joy, after this life, d I shall inherit perfect salvation, which e "eye hath not seen, not ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man" to conceive! and that, to praise God therein for ever.

c2 Cor. 5. 2, 3, 6. Rom. 14. 17. d Psa. 10. 11. e 1 Cor. 2. 9.

XXIII. LORD'S DAY.

Q. 59. But what doth it profit thee now that thou believest all this? A. That I am righteous in Christ, before God, and an heir of eternal life. a a Rom. 5. 1. Rom. 1. 17. John 3. 36.

Q. 60. How art thou righteous before God?

A. Only 6 by a true faith in Jesus Christ: so that, though my conscience accuse me, that I have grossly transgressed all the commands of God, and e kept none of them, and am still d inclined to all evil; notwithstanding, God, without any e merit of mine, but only of mere f grace, grants g and imputes to me, the perfect i satisfaction, righteousness and holiness of Christ; even so, as if I never had had, nor committed any sin: yea, as if I had fully j accomplished all that obedience which Christ hath accomplished for me; k inasmuch as I embrace such benefit with a believing heart.

b Rom. 3. 22, &c. Gal. 2. 16. Eph. 2. 8, 9. c Rom. 3. 9, &c. d Rom. 7. 23. e Rom. 3. 24. f Tit. 3. 5. Eph. 2. 8, 9. g Rom. 4. 4. 5. 2 Cor. 5. 19 h1 John 2. 1. i Rom. 3. 24, 25. j 2 Cor. 5. 21. k Rom. 3. 28. John 3, 18 Q61. Why sayest thou, that thou art righteous by faith only?

A. Not that I am acceptable to God, on account of the worthiness of my faith; but because only the satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ

is my righteousness before m God; and that I cannot receive n and apply the saine to myself any other way than by faith only.

7 Psa. 16. 2. Eph. 2. 8, 9. m 1 Cor. 1. 30. 1 Cor. 2. 2. n 1 John 5. 10.

XXIV. LORD'S DAY.

Q. 62. But why cannot our good works be the whole, or part of our righteousness before God?

A. Because, that the righteousness, which can be approved of before the tribunal of God, must be absolutely perfect, and in all respects a conformable to the divine law: and also, that our best works in this life are all imperfect and 6 defiled with sin.

a Gal. 3. 10. Deut. 27. 26. b Isa. 64. 6.

Q. 63. What! do not our good works merit, which yet God will reward in this and in a future life?

A. This reward is not of merit, but of grace c

c Luke 17. 10.

Q. 64. But doth not this doctrine make men careless and profane? A. By no means: for it is impossible that those, who are implanted into Christ by a true faith, should not bring forth fruits of d thankfulness.

d Matt. 7. 17, 18. John 15, 5.

XXV. LORD'S DAY.

Of the Sacraments.

Q. 65. Since then we are made partakers of Christ and all his benefits by faith only, whence doth this faith proceed?

A. From the Holy Ghost, who works a faith in our hearts by the preaching of the gospel, and b confirms it by the use of the sacraments.

a Eph. 2. 8. and 6. 23. Phil. 1. 29. b Mat. 28. 19. Rom. 4. 11.

Q. 66. What are the sacraments?

A. The sacraments are holy visible signs and seals, appointed of God for this end, that by the use thereof, he may the more fully declare and seal to us the promise of the gospel, viz. that he grants us freely the remission of sin, and c life eternal, for the sake of that one sacrifice of Christ, accomplished on the cross.

c Gen. 17. 11. Rom. 4. 11. Ex. 12. Lev. 6. 25. Acts 22. 16. and 2. 38. Mat. 25. 28.

Q. 67. Are both word and sacraments, then, ordained and appointed for this end, that they may direct our faith to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, as the only ground of our salvation?

A. Yes, indeed: for the Holy Ghost teaches us in the gospel, and assures us by the sacraments, d that the whole of our salvation depends upon that one sacrifice of Christ which he offered for us on the cross.

d Rom. 6. 3. Gal. 3. 27.

Q. 68. How many sacraments has Christ instituted in the new covenant, or testament?

A. e Two: namely, holy baptism and the holy supper.

e 1 Cor. 10. 2, 3, 4.

XXVI. LORD'S DAY.

Of Holy Baptism.

Q. 69. How art thou admonished and assured by holy baptism, that the one sacrifice of Christ upon the cross is of real advantage to thee?

A. Thus That Christ appointed a this external washing with water, adding thereto this b promise, that I am as certainly washed by his blood and spirit from all the pollution of my soul; that is, from all my sins, as I am c washed externally with water, by which the filthiness of the body is commonly washed away.

a Mat. 28. 19. Acts 2. 38. & Mark 16. 16. Mat. 3. 11. Rom. 6. 3. c Mark 1.4. Luke 3. 3.