A. Because there is the same reason for all, as for any one : But some are immediately glorified ; Luke xxiii. 43. To-day shalt thou be with me in Paradise.
Q. 6. What is the fifth reason for it ?
A. Because Christ longs for their coming to him, and they for his enjoyment ; and these longings are in vain, if not satisfied ; Ilev. xxii. 17, 20. And the Spirit, and the bride say. Come. And let him that heareth, say. Come. And let him that is athirst, come : And who- soever will, let him take the water of life freely. He which testifieth these things, saith. Surely I come quickly. Amen, Even so come, Lord Jesus.
Q. 7. What is the first instruction from hence ?
A. That the apparition of departed saints ordinarily are but fa- bles: They wander not; Rev. iii. 12. Him that overcometh, will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall 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 alleged to countenance it, grossly abused ; 1 Pet. iii. 19. By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison.
Q. 9. What is the third inference ?
A. That heaven must needs be a marvellous surprise to believers, how long soever they have conversed with it here.
Q. 10. What is the fourth inference ;
A. The consideration of this should provoke saints to work hard to finish all they have to do on earth ; Eccles. ix. 10. Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
Q. 11. What is the fifth inference ?
-4. That there is no reason to grieve excessively for departed saints; 1 Thess. iv. 14. Even so them also which sleep in Jesus, will God bring with him.
210 AN EXPOSITION OF THE ASSEMBLY'S CATECIIISaT.
Q. 12. What is the last inference ?
A. That Christless ones are immediately in hell; Luke xvi. 22, 2S^ The rich man also died, and was buried ; and in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments.
Of Rest in the Grave.
Quest. 1. T y HY must believers come to the grave ?
A. Because where sin has been, death by the law must follow ; Kom. y. 12. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the worlds and death by sin ; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. Rom. viii. 10. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin ; but the spirit is life, because of righteousness.
Q. 2. What is the first privilege of their bodies there ?
A. It is the privilege of their bodies to be there in union with Christ; 1 Thess. iv. 14. Them also which sleep in Jesus, will God bring with him.
Q. 3. What is their second privilege ?
A. Their graves are places of rest ; not prisons, but beds of rest ; Isa. Ivii. 2. He shall enter into peace ; they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.
Q. 4. What is the first evil they rest from ?
A. All the toils, and troubles, and afflictions, of this life ; Rev. xiv. ] 3. They may rest from their labours ; and their works do fok low them.
Q. 5. What is the second evil they rest from ?
A. They rest from all persecutions from men ; Job iii. 17. There the wdcked cease from troubling ; and there the weary be at rest.
Q. 6. What is the third evil they rest from ?
A. They rest from sin, never to feel temptation or inclination to sin ; Heb. xii. 23. And to the spirits of just men made perfect.
Q. 7. How long shall the bodies rest in the grave ?
A. Not for ever, but till the day of the resurrection ; Job xix. 26. And though after my skin, worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.
Q. 8. What is the first inference from hence ?
A. That union with Christ redounds to the singular advantage of the body, as well as the soul ; Rom. viii. 11. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead, dwell in you ; he that raised up Christ from the dead, shall also quicken your mortal bodies, by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Q. 9. What is the second inference ?
A. That death dissolves not the union betwixt Christ and the souls or bodies of his ; Mat. xxii. 32. I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob ; God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
Q. 10. What is the third inference ?
AN fiXrosiTIOX OF THE ASSEMBLY'S CATECHISM. Sll
A. That seeing our bodies are to have so long and so sweet rest in the grave, we should not spare them in God's service 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 tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.
Q. 11. What is the fourth inference?
A. That (christians should neither too much fear their own, nor sorrow for others death; Rom. viii. 38, 39- For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers,
nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love
of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 1 Thess. iv. 13. But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
Quest. 1. JtS the resurrection 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. S4. Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, nor the power of God ? The power of God assures us it ma}^ be so, and the word of God tells it must be so.
Q. 3. Is it sinful to doubt of the doctrine of the resurrection ?
A. It is not only a sin to doubt it, but an heresy to deny it, it being a fundamental article ; Heb. vi. 2. And of the resurrection of the dead. 1 Cor. xv. 13, 14. But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen ; and if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
Q. 4. Who must rise again at the resurrection ?
A. All men, good and bad, must rise again ; Acts xxiv. 15. And have hope towards God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust, Rev. xx. 12, 13, 14. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God, &c.
Q. 5. What is the first difference betwixt the resurrection of the just and unjust ?
A. Saints rise by virtue of their union with Christ ; Rom. viii. 11. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead, dwell in you ; he that raised up Christ from the dead, shall also quicken your mortal bodies, by his Spirit that dwelleth in you; But the ^vicked by his power.
Q. 6. What is the second difference ?
A. The second and main difference will be in the contrary ends to which they rise; some to life, and some to condemnation; Dan. xii. 2. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awak^.