212 AN EXPOSITION 01" THE ASSEMBLY'S CATECHISM.
some to everlasting life, and some to shame, and everlasting con* tempt.
Q. 7. What is the glory to which saints bodies shall be raised ?
A. In the likeness of Christ's glorious body; Phil. iii. 21. Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like to his glo- rious body.
Q. 8. What is the first inference from hence ?
A. That every man should strive to the uttermost to attain to the resurrection of the just ; Phil. iii. 10, 11. That I may know him, and the power of his resurection, and the fellowship of his suiTerings, being made conformable unto his death, if by any means I might attain to the resurrection of the dead.
Q. 9. What is the second inference ?
A. Comfort to them that now groan under manifold distempers, 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 Christ by faith, as you expect a joyful resur- rection ; John xi. 25. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life ; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.
Q. 11. W^hat is the fourth inference ?
A. Saints should not fear death ; Gen. xlvi. 3. Fear not to go down into Egypt.
Q. 12. What is the last inference.?
A. Employ your bodies for good now.
Of Christ'' s acknowledging Believers.
Quest. 38. ▼ V HAT benefit do believers receive from Christ at the resurrection ?
A. At the resurrection believers being raised up in glory, shall be openly acknowledged, and acquitted in the day of judgment, and 7nade perfectly blessed in the full enjoyment of God to all eternity.
Q. 1. What is it to be acknowledged by Christ.?
A. It is Christ's owning of the special relation betwixt him and them ; Mat xxv. 34. Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
Q. 2. Whom will Christ acknowledge for his?
A. Such as confess Christ now; Mat. x. 32. Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
Q. 3. Before whom will Christ confess them ?
A. Before his Father, angels and men ; Rev. iii. 5. He that over- cometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment, and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name befoie my Father, and before his angels.
AN EXPOSITION OF THE ASSEMBLY'S CATECHISM. SIB
Q. 4. Who shall be denied by Christ in that day ?
A. All that now deny Christ, shall be denied by him ; 2 Tim. ii. 12. If we deny him, he also will deny us, Tit. i. 16. They profess that they know God ; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
Q. 5. Why will Christ openly acknowledge them ?
A. To wipe off all aspersions and censures that now are cast upon them ; Isa. Ixvi. 5. Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified ; but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.
Q. 6. What will be the efect of Christ's acknowledgment ?
A, It will put a full end to all doubts, fears and jealousies of themselves; 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 judgment ; yea, I judge not my own self; for I know nothing by myself, yet I am not here- by justified; but he that judgeth me, is the Lord.
Q. 7. What other effect will it produce in them ?
A. Joy unspeakable and transcendent : hence called time of re- freshing ; Acts iii. 19. When the time of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
Q. 8. Is this the only time Christ acknowledgeth them ?
A. No ; he acknowledgeth them b)^ his Spirit's testimony now, but that is private in their bosoms ; Rom. viii. 16. The Spirit itself bear- eth witness with our spirits, that we are the children of God.
Q. 9. What is the first inference from hence ?
A. To warn all how they pass rash censures on Christ's servants; Psal. Ixxiii. 15. If I say, I will speak thus; behold I should offend against the generation of thy children.
Q. 10. What is the second inference ?
A. Let none be afraid or ashamed to confess the person, office, or any truth of Christ, for any loss or danger that may threaten them ; Luke xii. 8, 9. Also I say unto you. Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God. But he that denieth me before men, shall be denied before the angels of God.
Q. 11. W^hat is the third inference ?
A. Let Christians abound in good works. Every act of charity for Christ shall be acknowledged by him in the day of judgment ; Mat. XXV. 35. For I was an hungered, 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 Christians love and long for the day of Christ's appear- ing; 2 Tim. iv. 8. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge shall give me at that day, and not to me only, but unto them ajso that love his ap- pearing.
^14 AN EXPOSITION 0^ THE ASSEMBLY'S CATECHISM,
Of Chris£s acquitting Believers.
Quest. 1. W HAT is it to be acquitted by Christ?
A. It is to be discharged and cleared from all the guilt of sin, and punishment due to it by the law, upon the account of Christ's right- eousness imputed by God, and received by faith ; Rom. v. 1. There- fore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Rom. viii. 1. There is therefore now no con- demnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.
Q. 2. How many ways are believers acquitted ?
A. They are acquitted now in the court of heaven ; Rom. viii. 33. Wlio shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect ? It is God that justifieth. In the court of their own consciences ; 1 John iii. 21. Beloved, if our hearts condemn us not, then have we confidence to- wards God. And in the day of judgment : both particular, Heb. ix. 27. As it appeared unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. And general; Acts iii. 19. Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out. Their sins are then blotted out.
Q. 3. How doth Christ's acquittance now, differ from that at judgment ?
A. They differ in respect of publicness ; this is secret in the believ- er's bosom, and that open before men and angels ; Rev. iii. 5. I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
Q. 4. What is the second difference ?
A. They differ in respect of subjective certainty and assurance. A bsliever may doubt of this, but not of that ; 1 Cor. iv. 4, 5. For I know nothing of myself, yet am I not hereby justified ; but he that judgeth me, is the Lord; therefore judge nothing before the time, initil the Lord come.
Q. 5. What is the third difference betwixt them ?