Man Sin entred into the World, and Death by Sin, and fo Death paffed upon all Men, for that all have finned.

Q. 2. What is the first Privilege of their Bodies there ?

A. 'Tis the Privilege of their Bodies to be there in Union with Chrift, Thef. iv. 14. Them also which fleep in Jefus will God bring with him.

Q. 3. What is their fecond Privilége?

A. Their Graves are Places of Reft; not Prisons, but Beds of Reft, Ifa. lvii. 2. He shall enter into Peace, they shall reft in their Beds, each one walking in his Uprightness.

Q. 4. What is the firft Evil they reft from?

A. All the Toils, and Troubles, and Afflictions of this Life, Rev. xiv. 13. They may reft from their Labours, and their Works do follow them.

Q5. What is the fecond Evil they reft from?

A. They reft from all Perfecutions from Men, Job iii. 17. There the wicked ceafe from troubling, and there the weary be at reft.

Q. 6. What is the third Evil they reft from?

A. They reft from Sin, never to feel Temptation or Inclination to Sin, Heb. xii. 23. And to the Spirits of juft Men made perfect.

Q. 7. How long fhall the Bodies reft in the Grave?

A. Not for ever, but till the Day of the Resurrection, Job xix. 26. For though after my Skin Worms deftroy this Body, yet in my Flesh fhall I fee God.

Q. 8. What is the first Inference from hence ?

A. That Union with Chrift redounds to the fingular Advantage of the Body as well as the Soul, Rom. viii. 11. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jefus from the Dead, dwell in you, he that raifed up Chrift from the Dead, shall alfo quicken your mortal Bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Q. 9. What is the fecond Inference?

A. That Death diffolves not the Union betwixt Chrift and the Souls or Bodies of his, Mat. xxii. 32. I am the God of Abraham, the God of Ifaac, and the God of Jacob; God is not the God of the Dead, but of the Living.

Q. 10. What is the third Inference?

A. That feeing our Bodies are to have so long and fo fweet reft in the Grave, we should not fpare them in God's Ser

vice now, 2 Pet. i. 13, 14. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this Tabernacle, to stir you up, by putting you in Remembrance, knowing that shortly I must put off this my Tabernacl, even as our Lord Jefus Chrift bath showed me.

Q. 11. What is the fourth Inference?

A. That Chriftians fhould neither too much fear their own, nor forrow for others Death, Rom. viii. 38. For I am perfuaded, that neither Death, nor Life, nor Angels, nor Prin cipalities, nor Powers,- nor any other Creature fhall be able to feparate us from the Love of God which is in Chrift Jefus our Lord, 1 Thef. iv. 13. I would not have you to be ignorant concerning them which are afleep, that ye forrow not even as others which have no Hope.

Queft. 1.

I

Of the Refurrection.

S the Refurrection a credible Doctrine? A. Yes, it is, Acts xxvi. 8. Why should it be thought a Thing incredible with you, that God should raise the Dead?

Q. 2. Why then doth it seem incredible to Man?

A. Because they err, not knowing the Scriptures, and the Power of God, Mark xii. 24. Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the Scriptures, neither the Power of God? The Power of God affures us it may be fo, and the Word of God tells us it must be so.

Q3. Is it finful to doubt of the Doctrine of the Refurrection ?

A. 'Tis not only a Sin to doubt it, but an Herefy to deny it, it being a fundamental Article, Heb. vi. 2. And of the Refurrection of the Dead, 1 Cor. xv. 13, 14. But if there be no Refurrection of the Dead, then ́is Chrift not risen; and if Christ be not rifen, then is our preaching vain, and your Faith is alfo vain.

Q. 4. Who muft rife again at the Refurrection?

A. All Men, good and bad, muft rife again, Acts xxiv. 15. And have Hope towards God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a Refurrection of the Dead, both of the Fuft and the Unjust, Rev. xx. 12, 13, 14. And I faw the Dead Small and great, ftand before God, &c.

5: What is the firft Difference betwixt the Refurrection of the Juft and the Unjust?

A. Saints rife by virtue of their Union with Christ, Rom. viii. 11. But if the Spirit of him that raifed up Jefus from the Dead dwell in you; be that raised up Chrift from the Dead, fall alfo quicken your mortal Bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. But the Wicked by his Power.

Q. 6. What is the second Difference?

A. The fecond and main Difference will be in the contrary Ends to which they rife, fome to Life, and fome to Condemnation, Dan. xii. 2. And many of them that fleep in the Duft of the Earth fhall awake, fome to everlasting Life, and Jome to Shame, and everlasting Contempt.

Q7. What is the Glory to which Saints Bodies shall be raised?

A. In the Likeness of Chrift's glorious Body, Phil. iii. 21. Who shall change our vile Body, that it may be fashioned like to his glorious Body.

Q. 8. What is the firft Inference from hence?

A. That every Man fhould ftrive to the uttermost to attain to the Resurrection of the juft, Phil, iii. 10, 11. That I may know him, and the Power of his Refurrection, and the Fillowship of the Sufferings, being made conformable unto his Death, if by any Means I might attain to the Refurrection of the Dead. Q. 9. What is the fecond Inference?

A. Comfort to them that now groan under manifold Diftempers, and Deformities of Body; they being made equal to Angels, Mark xii. 25. For when they shall rise from the Dead, they neither marry, nor are given in Marriage, but are as the Angels which are in Heaven.

Q. 10. What is the third Inference?

A. Get Union with Chrift by Faith, as you expect a joy. ful Refurrection, John xi. 25. Jefus faid unto her, I am the Refurrection, and the Life; he that believeth in me, though he avere dead, yet fhall be live.

Q. What is the fourth Inference?

A. Saints fhould not fear Death, Gen. xlvi. 3. Fear not to go down into Egypt.

3

Q. 12. What is the laft Inference?
A. Imploy your Bodies for good now.

Of

Of Chrift's acknowledging Believers.

Queft, 38. WHAT Benefits do Believers receive from

the Refurrection?

A. At the Refurrection Believers being raised up in Glory, shall be openly acknowledged, and acquitted in the Day of Judgment, and made perfectly bleffed in the full enjoyment of God to all Eternity.

Q. What is it to be acknowledged by Chrift?

A. It is Chrift's owning of the fpecial Relation betwixt him and them, Mat. xxv. 34. Come ye bleffed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the Foundation of the World.

Q. 2. Whom will Chrift acknowledge for his?

A. Such as confefs Christ now, Mat. x. 32. Whosoever therefore fall confefs me before Men, him will I confefs also before my Father which is in Heaven!

Q. 3. Before whom will Chrift confefs them ?

A. Before his Father, Angels, and Men, Rev. iii. 5. He that overcometh, the fame shall be cloathed in white Raiment, and I will not blot out his Name out of the Book of Life, but I will confejs his Name before my Father, and before Angels.

Q. 4. Who fhall be denied by Chrift in that Day? A. All that now deny Christ, thall be denied by him, 2 Tim. ii. 12. If we deny him, he also will deny us.

Q. 5. Why will Chrift openly acknowledge them? A. To wipe off all Afperfions and Cenfures that now are caft upon them, Ifa. lxvi. 5. Your Brethren that hated you, that caft you out for my Name's fake, faid, Let the Lord be glorified; but he shall appear to your Foy, and they shall be ashamed. Q. 6. What will be the Effect of Christ's Acknowledg

ment?

A. It will put a full End to all Doubts, Fears, and Jealoufies of themfelves, 1 Cor. iv. 3, 4. But with me it is a very Small Thing that I should be judged of you, or of Man's Fudgment; yea, I judge not my own felf, for I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby juftified, but he that judgeth me is

the Lord.

Q. 7. What other Effect will it produce in them?

A. Joy

A. Joy unfpeakable and transcendent: hence called time of refreshing, Acts iii. 19. When the time of refreshing shall come from the Prefence of the Lord.

Q. 8. Is this the only time Chrift acknowledgeth, them?

A. No, he acknowledgeth them by his Spirit's Teftimony now; but that's private in their Bofoms, Rom. viii. 16. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our Spirits, that we are the Children of God.

Q. 9. What is the firft Inference from hence ?

A. To warn all how they pafs rash Cenfures on Christ's Servants, Pfal. lxxiii. 15. If I say, I will speak thus, Behold I fhould offend against the Generation of thy Children.

Q 10. What is the second Inference?

A. Let none be afraid or ashamed to confefs the Perfon, Office, or any Truth of Chrift, for any Lofs or Danger, that may threaten them, Luke xii. 8, 9. Also I say unto you, Whofoever shall confefs me before Men, him fhall the Son of Man alfo confefs before the Angels of God. But he that denieth me before Men, fhall be denied before the Angels of God.

Q. 11. What is the third Inference?

A. Let Chriftians abound in good Works. Every Act of Charity for Chrift, fhall be acknowledged by him in the Day of Judgment, Mat. xxv. 35. For I was an hungred, and ye gave me Meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me Drink; I was a Stranger, and ye took me in.

Q. 12. What is the last Inference ?

A. Let all Chriftians love and long for the Day of Christ's appearing, 2 Tim. iv. 8. Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Fudge fhall give me at that Day, and not to me only, but unto them alfo that love his appearing.

Of Chrift's acquitting Believers.

Queft. 1. A. It is to be difcharged and cleared from W WHAT is it to be acquitted by Chrift?

all the Guilt of Sin, and Punishment due to it by the Law, upon the Account of Chrift's Righteoufnefs imputed by God, and received by Faith, Rom, v. 1. Therefore being juftified by Faith, we have Peace with God throngh our Lord Jesus Christ,

Rom.