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ture which is under Heaven, whereof 1 Paul am made a Minifter.

Q. 2. Do all that profefs Chrift, continue in him?

A. No; many that at firft zealously profefs him, afterwards fall away, John vi. 66. From that Time many of his Difciples went back, and walked no more with him.

Q3. Why do not all perfevere?

A. Because all Profeffors have not a good Root and Foundation, Matt. xiii. 20, 21, But be that received the Seed in ftony Places, the fame is he that heareth the Word, and anon with Joy receiveth it, yet hath he not root in himself, but endureth for a while; for when Tribulation, or Perfecution arifeth because of the Word, by and by he is offended.

Q4. What is the firft Ground of the Saints Perfeverance?

A. God's electing Love, in which they are given to Chrift, John x. 29. My Father which gave them me, is greater than all, and no Man is able to pluck them out of my Father's Hand.

Q5. What is the fecond Ground of Perfeverance?

A. The immortal Nature of fanctifying Grace, John iv. 14. But whofoever drinketh of the Water that I fall give him, fhall never thirst; but the Water that I shall give him, fhall be in him a Well of Water, Springing up into everlasting Life, John iii. 9. For his Seed remaineth in him.

Q. 6. What is the third Ground of it?

A. The Covenant of Grace, Jer. xxxii. 40. I will make an everlafting 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.

Q. 7. What is the fourth Ground of it?

A. Chrift's effectual Interceffion, Luke xxii. 32. But I have prayed for thie, that thy Faith fail not.

Q. 8. Are there no Declinings of Grace in the Saints ? A. Yes, there are, Rev. ii. 4. Nevertheless I have fomewhat against thee, because thou haft left thy firft Love. Yet Grace cannot be totally or finally loft. For the Seed of God remaineth in the fanctified, 1 John iii. 9. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit Sin, for his feed remaineth in bim; and he cannot fin, because he is born of God. Q. 9.

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Q. 9. Is there no Hope of Salvation for final Apoftates? A. No; the Gofpel gives none, Heb. x. 38. But if any Man draw back, my Soul fhall have no Pleasure in him.

Q. 10. What is the first Inftruction hence?

A. It warns all Men to lay a good Foundation, left the Buildings of Hope be overturned when the Storm comes, Mat. vii. 24, 25. Therefore, whofoever heareth thefe Sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him to a wife Man which built his Houfe upon a Rock, and the Rain defcended, and the Floods came, aad the Winds blew, and beat upon that Houfe, and it fell not; for it was founded upon a Rock.

Q. 11. What is the fecond Instruction ?

A. That all Men fhould look to themselves left they lose the Things which they have wrought, 2 Epift. of John, ver. 8. Look to yourselves, that ye lofe not thofe Things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full Reward.

Q. 12. What is the laft Inftruction ?

A. Let no true Chriftian be difcouraged, how weak foever for God is able to make him ftand, Rom. xiv. 4. Who art thou that judgest another Man's Servant? to his own Mafer be ftandeth or falleth, yea, he shall be bolden up ; for God is able to make him stand.

Quest. 37.

Of Perfection at Death.

W

HAT Benefits do Believers receive from
Chrift at their Death?

A. The Souls of Believers are at their Death made përfect in Holiness, and do immediately pafs into Glory; their Bodies being ftill united to Chrift, do rest in their Graves till the Refurrection.

Q. What is the State of perfect Holiness?

A. It confifts in a perfect Freedom from Sin, or any of the leaft Inclination to Sin, Eph. v. 27. That he may prefent it to himself a glorious Church, not having Spot or Wrinkle, or any fuch Thing, but that it should be holy and without blemifh.

Q. 2. Wherein elfe doth Perfection confift?

A. It confifts in the Attainment of the higheft Measures and Degrees of Holiness the Creature is capable of, Eph. iv.

12, 13.

12, 13. For the perfecting of the Saints,

-till we all come in the Unity of the Faith, and of the Knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect Man, unto the Measure of the Stature of the fulness of Chrift.

Q3. Cannot this be attained whilft in the Body.

A. No; for here all our Graces are imperfect, 1 Cor. xiii. 12. For now we fee through a Glass darkly, but then Face to Face. And we live at a Distance from God, 2 Cor. 5, 6. Whilft we are at Home in the Body, we are abfent from

the Lord.

Q. 4. How is this attained at Death?

A. At Death the Roots of Sin are pulled up out of the Believer's Nature, Heb. xii. 23. And to the Spirits of juft Men made perfect.

Q. 5. Why must the Soul be made perfect at Death?

A. Because the Purity of the heavenly State admits no Sin or Imperfection, Rev. xxi. 27. And there fhall in no wife enter into it; any Thing that defileth, neither whatsoever. worketh Abomination, or maketh a Lye; but they which are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

Q. 6. What is the firft Inference from hence?

A. That Death fhould be lovely and defirable in the Eyes of Believers, Phil. i. 23. having a Defire to depart, and to be with Chrift, which is far better.

Q7. What is the fecond Inference?

A. That God hath provided fingular Relief for his People that now groan under their Sins, and many Imperfections, 1 Cor. xiii. 12, 13. And now we fee 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.

Q. 8. What is the third Inference?

A. That the heavenly State is infinitely above and beyond whatever we enjoy here, i Cor. ii. 9. But as it is written, Eye hath not feen, nor Ear heard, neither have entred into the Heart of Man, the Things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

Q. 9. What is the fourth Inference?

A. That Believers are but a fmall Distance from the Satisfaction of all their Defires, Rom. xiii. 11. Now is our Salvation nearer than when we believed.

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Q. 10.

Q. 10. What is the fifth Inference?

A. That the Saints fhould earnestly pursue that Perfection, even in this imperfect State, Phil. iii. 13, 14. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended; but this one Thing I do, forgetting thofe Things which are behind, and reaching forth to thofe Things which are before, I press towards the Mark, for the Price of the bigh Calling of God in Chrift Jefus.

Q. 11. What is the fixth Inference?

A. That Death to the Saints is better than Life, Phil. i. 21. For to me to live is Chrift, and to die is gain.

Q. 12. What is the laft Inference ?

A. That Faith is abfolutely neceffary to entitle us to this perfect State.

Quest. 1.

D

Of immediate Glorification.

O all that die in Chrift immediately pass into Glory?

A. Yes, they do, Luke xxiii. 43. To Day shalt thou be with me in Paradife, Phil. i. 23. Having a Defire to depart, and to be with Chrift.

Q. 2. What is the firft Reafon for their immediate Glorification ?

A. Because Heaven is prepared and ready for them, Mat. xxv. 34. Come ye blefed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the Foundation of the World.

Q. 3. What is the fecond Reason for it?

A. Because at Death they are as ready for Heaven as ever they fhall be, John ix. 4. Imuft work the Work of him that fent me while it is Day, the Night cometh, when no Man can work. Q. 4. What is the third Reafon for it?

A. Becaufe Death elfe could not be gain, as it is, Phil. i. 21. For to me to live is Chrift, and to die is gain

Q. 5. What is the fourth Reason for it?

A. Becaufe there is the fame Reafon for all, as for any one: But fome are immediately glorified, Luke xxiii. 43. To Day halt thou be with me in Paradife.

Q6. What is the fifth Reafon for it?

A. Becaufe

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A. Because Chrift longs for their coming to him, and they for his Enjoyment; and thefe Longings are in vain, if not fatisfied, Rev. xxii. 17, 20. And the Spirit and the Bride Jay, Come; and let him that heareth fay, come; and let him that is a Thirft, fay, come; and whosoever will, let him take of the Water of Life freely; he which teftifieth thefe Things, faith, Surely, I come quickly, Amen, even fo, come Lord Jesus.

Q. 7. What is the firit Inftruction from hence ?

A. That the Apparitions of departed Saints ordinarily are but Fables. They wander not, Rev. iii. 12. Him that overcometh will I make a Pillar in the Temple of my God, and he fall go no more out.

Q. 8. What is the second Inference?

A. That Purgatory is a groundless Fable, and Invention of Men; and the Scriptures alledged to countenance it, grofly abused, 1 Pet. iii. 19. By the which also he went and preacht unto the Spirits in Prifon.

Q. 9. What is the third Inference from it?

A. That Heaven muft needs be a marvellous Surprize to Believers, how long foever they have converfed with it here. Q. 10. What is the fourth Inference?

A. The Confideration of this fhould provoke Saints to work hard to finish all they have to do on Earth, Ecclef. îx. 10. Whatsoever thy Hand findeth to do, do it with thy Might; for there is no Work, nor Device, nor Knowledge, nor Wijdom in the Grave whither thou goeft.

Q. 11. What is the fifth Inference?

A. That there is no Reason to grieve exceffively for departed Saints, 1 Thef. iv. 14. Even fo them also which fleep in Jefus will God bring with him.

Q. 12. What is the last Inference?

A. That Chriftlefs ones are immediately in Hell, Luke xvi. 22, 23. The rich Man alfo died, and was buried, and in Hell be lift up his Eyes, being in Torment.

Queft. 1.

Of reft in the Grave.

WH

HY muft Believers come to the Grave?
A. Because where Sin has been, Death,

by the Law,, muft follow, Rom. v. 12. Wherefore as by one

Man

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