A. No : God's choice was not on foreseen works, but merely of his grace, and good pleasure of his will ; Eph. i. 5, 6. Having pre- destinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to him- self, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace.
Q. 3. Is this election of God made in time, and that according as men use their free-will, or from eternity ?
A. Election is an eternal act of God before the world was, and depends not on man's using his free-will ; as appears from Eph. i. 4, According as he hath chosen us in him, before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, and without blame before him in love.
Q. 4. Shall all that are elected be called and saved ?
A, Yes, the scripture is full and plain for it ; Acts xiii. 48. And when the Gentiles heard this, they wer6 glad, and glorified the word of the Lord ; and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. Rom. viii. 30. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called, &c.
Q. 5. By whom are the elect saved ^
A. By Christ, the only Redeemer ; Titus iii. 4, 5, 6. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour towards man appear- ed not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy, he saved us, by the washingof regeneration, and renew- ing of the Holy Ghost, which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Q. 6. Is there no other way of salvation but by Christ ?
A. No ; no other way is revealed in scripture ; Acts iv. 12. Nei- ther is there salvation in any other : for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Q. 7. What learn you from God's election ?
A. What cause we have to admire free-grace in our choice, who were no better than others ; Eph. ii. 3. And were by nature children, of wrath even as others.
Q. 8. What is the second instruction ?
A. It teaches us humility ; we made not ourselves to differ, but the free-grace of God made the difference ; 1 Cor. iv. 7. For who xnaketh thee to differ from another ?
Q. 9. AVhat is the third instruction ?
A. It teaches us diligence to make our election sure to ourselves, by our calling ; 2 Pet. i. 10. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give di* ligence to make your calling and election sure.
Q. 10. What is the fourth instruction ?
A. It is matter of comfort to God's elect, amidst all dangers in the world ; 2. Tim. ii. 19. Nevertheless, the foundation of God standcth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his.
Of the Covenant of Greece.
Quest. 1. ▼ T HAT is the covenant of grace?
A. It is a new compact, or agreement, made mth sinners, out of mere gi'ace, wherein God promiseth to be our God, and that we shall be his people, and to give everlasting life to all that believe in Christ ; Jer. xxxi. 33. But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel, after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts, and will be their God, and they shall be ray people.
Q. 2. How doth this covenant differ from the covenant of works ?
A. They differ many ways ; but principally in three things. Firsts The covenant of works had no Mediator ; the covenant of grace hath a Mediator ; Heb. xii. 24. And to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant. Secondly, In the former no place was found for re- pentance ; in the second^ God admits it ; Heb. viii. 10. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel, after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws in their minds, and write them in their hearts, and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people ; ver. 12. For I will be merciful to their unrighteous- ness, and their sins will I remember no more. Thirdly^ in their con- dition, the former requires exact obedience ; the latter faith and sin- cere obedience; Mark xvi. 16. * He that believeth, and is baptized* shall be saved.
Q. 3. May a sinner that hath no worthiness at all of his own, be taken into the covenant of grace ?
A. Yes, he may ; Isa. xliii. 25. I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. This covenant is not of works, but of grace, Rom. xi. 6. And if by grace, then it is no more of works, otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace, otherwise work is no more work.
Q. 4. Is this covenant changeable, or an unchangeable covenant ?
A. No, it is not changeable, but everlasting and unchangeable for ever; Isa. liv. 10. For the mountains shall depart, and thehilLs 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.
Q. 5. AVhat are the principal things bestowed in this covenant ?
A. God himself, and in and with him pardon and salvation; Jer. xxxi. 33. I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Q. 6. Can no sin be forgiven out of this covenant ?
A. No, God pardons none out of this covenant; John iii. 18. But he that believeth not is condemned already.
Q. 7. What is the first instruction hence ?
A. Humbled and believing sinners have singular supports from this
AV EXrOSlTIO:5^ OF THE ASSEMBLY'S' CATECHISK. 177
rrevf covenant, 1 John ii. 12. I write unto you, little children, be- cause your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.
Q. 8. What is the second instruction from hence ?
A. That it is the great concern of all men to examine whether they be in this covenant or no ; 2 Cor. xiii. 5. Examine yourselves, whe- ther ye be in the faith ; prove your ownselves ; know ye not your ownselves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates ?
Q. 9. What is the third instruction ?
A. See here the miserable state of the wicked, which have no in- terest in it : Psalm 1. 16. But unto the wicked God saith. What hast thou to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldst take my covenant in thy mouth ?
Q. 10. What is thfe last instruction ?
A. That Christians are obliged to walk as people in covenant with God ; 1 Pet. ii. 9. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.
Of the only Redeemer.
Quest. 21. T ▼ HO is the Redeemer of God*s elect ?
A. The only Redeemer of God's elect is the Lord Jesus Christy who, heing the eternal Son of God, became man, and so was, and continueth to be God and man, in two distinct natures, and one per^ son for ever.
Q. What doth the name Redeemer signify.^
A. It signifies one that frees another out of captivity and bondage, as Christ did us ; Matth, xx. 28. And to give his lite a ransom for many. .
Q. 2. What was the misery from which Christ delivered us .^