A. The immortal nature of sanctifying grace ; John iv. 14. But whosoever drinkethof the water that I shall give him shall never thirst, but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life, 1 John iii. 9. For his seed remain- eth in him.
Q. 6. What is the third ground of it .?
A. The covenant of grace; Jer. xxxii. 40. And I will make an everlasting 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 thej shall not depart from me.
Q. 7. What is the fourth ground of it ?
A, Christ's effectual intercession ; Luke xxii. 32. But I have pray- ed for thee, that thy failii fail not.
Q. 8. Are there no declinings of grace in the saints.?
A, Yes, there are ; Rev. ii. 4. Nevertheless I have somewhat
AN EXPOSITION OF THE ASSEMI}LY''s CATECHISM. SO?
against thee, because thou Jiast left thy first love. Yet grace cannot be totally or finally lost : For the seed of God remaineth in the sanc- tified; 1 John iii. 9. Whosoever is born of God, doth not commit sin ; for his seed remaineth in him : And he cannot sin ; because he is born of God.
Q. i). Is there no hope of salvation for final apostates ?
A. No, the gospel gives none ; Heb. x. 38. But if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
Q. 10. What is the first instruction from hence ?
A. It warns all men to lay a good foundation, lest the buildings of hope be over-turned when the storm comes; Matth. vii. 24, 25. Therefore, whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doth them, I will liken him unto a wise man which built his house upon a rock : And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house ; and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock.
Q. 11. What is the second instruction ?
A. That all men should look to themselves, lest they lose the things which they have wrought; 2 John, verse 8. Look toyourselves, that ye lose not these things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. 1 Cor. x. 12. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
Q. 12. What is the last instruction.''
A. Let no true Christian be discouraged, how weak soever, for
God is able to make him stand ; Rom. xv. 4. Who art thou that
judgest another man's servant ? To his own master he standeth or
falleth; yea, he shall be holden up, for God is able to make him stand.
Of Perfection at Death,
Quest. 37. ▼ T HAT benefits do believers receive from Christ at their death .?
A. The souls of believers are at their death made perfect in hoVu ness, and do immediately pass into glory ; and their bodies being 9till united to Christy do rest in their graves till the resurrection.
Q. 1. What is the state of perfect holiness.?
A. It consists in a perfect freedom from sin, or tlie least inclinations to sin ; Eph. v. 27. That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Q. 2. Wherein else doth perfection consist ?
A. It consists in the attainment of the highest measures and de- grees of holiness the creature is capable of; Eph. iv. 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, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.
Q. 3. Cannot this be attained whilst in the body ?
A. No, for here all our graces are imperfect ; 2 Cor. xiii. 12. For now we see through a glass darkly ; but then face to face. And we
20S AX EXPOSITION OF THE ASsE:irSLY''s cateciiIsm;
live at a distance from God ; 2 Cor. v. 6. Whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent 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 just 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 imper- fection ; Rev. xxi. 27. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or mak- eth a lie, but they which are written in the I^amb's book of life.
Q. 6. What is the first inference from hence ?
A. That death should be lovely and desirable in the eyes of believ- ers ; Phil. i. 23. Having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ ; which is far better.
Q. 7. What is the second inference ?
A. That God hath provided singular relief for his people that now groan under their sins, and many imperfections : 1 Cor. xiii. 12. For now we see through a glass darkly ; but then face to face : Now I know in part ; but then shall I know even as I am known.
Q. 8. What is the third inference ?
A. That the heavenly state is infinitely above and beyond \vhaU ever we enjoy here; 1 Cor. ii. 9. But as it is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered 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 at a small distance from the satisfaction of all their desires ; Rom. xiii. 11. For now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
Q. 10. What is the fifth inference?
A. That the saints should earnestly pursue that perfection, evei^ in this imperfect state; Phil. iii. 13, 14. Brethren, I count not my^ self to have apprehended ; but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth to those things which are before, I press towards the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Q. 11. What is the sixth inference.
A. That death to the saints is better than life ; Phil. i. 21. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Q. 12. What is the last inference.
A. That faith is absolutely necessary to entitle us to this perfect state.
Of immediate Glorification.
Quest. 1. JLIO all that die in Christ immediately pass into glory ?
A. Yes, they do ; Luke xxiii. 43. To day-shalt thou be with me in paradise ; Phil. i. 23. Having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ.
A^NT EXPOSITION OF THE ASSEMBLY'S CATECHISM. l7l
Q. 2. What is the first reason for their immediate glorification ?
A. Because heaven is prepared and ready for them ; Matth. xxv. 34. Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
Q. S. What is the second reason for it ?
A. Because at death they are as ready for heaven as ever they shall be; John ix. 4. I must work the work of him that sent me, while it is day ; the night cometh, when no man can work.
Q. 4. What is the third reason for it ?
A. Because death else could not be gain, as it is, Phil. i. 21. For to me to live is Christ ; and to die is gain.
Q. 5. What is the fourth reason for it ?