A. When a new temptation makes us easily let go our former confidence; Luke xxiv. 21. But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel : And besides all this, to-day is the third day since these things were done.
Q. 10. What is the fifth sign of a weak faith ?
A. The prevalence of carnal fears, in times of trouble, argues weak faith ; Matth. viii. 26. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fear- ful, O ye of little faith ? <SfC.
Q. 11. What is the sixth sign of a weak faith ?
A. Too much carefulness and anxiety about the things of this life ; Matth. vi. 30. Wherefore if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith ?
Q. 12. What is the first benefit of a strong faith ?
d. A strong faith gives much glory to God ; Rom. iv. 19, 20. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years olrl, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb. He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God.
Q. 13. What is the second benefit of a strong faith ?
A. It gives the soul the ravishing foresight and foretastes of hea-^ ven upon earth ; 1 Pet. i. 8. Whom having not seen, ye love ; in
266 AN EXPOSITION OF THE ASSEMBLY'S CATECHISxV,
whom though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice witli joy unspeakable, and full of glory.
Q. 14. What is the last office faith doth for a believer in this- world ?
A. It supports and encourages him at death by the promises, when all other comforts fail ; Heb. xi. 13. These all died in faith, not hav- ing received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Of saving Repentance.
Quest. 87. ▼ V HAT is repentance unto life ?
A. Repentance unto life is a saving grace, whereby a sinner, out of a true sense of his sin, and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ, doth "tcith grief and hatred of his sin, turn J'rom it unto Gody with full purpose of and endeavour after new obedience.
Q. 1. Who is the author of saving repentance ?
A. The Spirit of God is the author of it ; the heart by nature is so hard, that none but the Spirit can break it ; Ezek. xxxvi. 26, 27. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you : And I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an lieart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, &c.
Q. 2. In what act doth all true repentance begin ?
A. It begins in a true sight and sense of sin, and the danger and misery we are in- by sin ; Acts ii. 37. Now when they heard this, they were pricked hi their hearts, &c.
Q. 3. Way doth God work such a sense of sin and misery ?
A. He doth it to make Christ desirable in the sinner's eyes, that he may fly to him ; Matth. ix. 12, 13. But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them. They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, and I will have mercy, and not sacrifice ; for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Q. 4. Is the sight of sin sufficient to repentance ?
A. No; there must be apprehension of mercy and forgiveness ■with God, or else no man can sincerely repent ; Rom. ii. 4. Not know- ing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance. And this mercy must be discerned in and through Christ ; Zech. xii. 10. And they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him as one moumeth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him as one that is in bitterness for his first-born.
Q. 5. Wherein doth repentance chiefly consist ?
A. It consists in real inward sorrow for sin, as committed against God: Psalm Ii. 3, 4. For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight, &c. A loathing of ourselves for it ; Ezek.
AN EXPOSTTIOX OF THE ASSEMBLY'S CATECHISM* ^T
xxxvi. 31. And shall lothe yourselves in your own sight, for your iniquities, and for your abominations. And of our best duties, as sin- ful and insufficient things ; Isa. Ixiv. 5, 6. We are all as an unclean thino- ; and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags, kc.
Q. 6. Wherein else doth it consist ?
J. In turning from sin, as well as grieving for it ; Isa. Iv. 7. Let tlie wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, &c. Prov. xxviii. 13. He that covereth his sins, shall not prosper ; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them, shall have mercy.
Q. 7. Is turning from sin sufficient ?
A. No, that is but the negative part of religion ; there must be also a sincere turning to God ; Psalm cxix. 59. I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies ; Acts xi. 23. And exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.
Q. 8. Is all sorrow for sin saving.?
A. No ; there is a repentance that doth no good ; Matth. xxvii. 3. Then Judas which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, &c. And a repentance unto life ; Acts xi. 18. Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repen- tance unto life.
Q. 9. What are the signs of true repentance ?
A. Fear of sin ; care to preserve ourselves from it ; and zeal to honour God by new obedience ; 2 Cor. vii. 11. For behold, this self- same thing that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you ; yea, what clearing of yourselves ; yea, what indig- nation ; yea, what fear ; yea, what vehement desire ; yea, what zeal; yea, what revenge.'' In all things you have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
Q. 10. Is there a necessity of repentance in order to forgiveness?
A. Yes, there is; and they are therefore conjoined in scripture; Acts V. 31. For to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins* And destruction threatened to the impenitent : Luke xiii. 3. Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Q. 11. AVhat is the first inference hence ?
A. That it is a false doctrine which teaches us that sins are ac- tually forgiven from eternity ; and therefore no need either of re- pentance or prayer, save only for the manifestation of pardon.
Q. 12. What is the second inference hence ?
A. That an hard heart is a dreadful sign of a lost state of soul ; Rom. ii. 5. But after thy hardness and impenitent heart, treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.
Q. 13. What is the last inference hence ?
A. That there is no cause to despair of the vilest sinner, seeing there is power enough in the Spirit of God to break the hardest heart;
268 AN ExrosiTiON of the assembly's catechism.
Ezek. xxxvi. 26. I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
OfChrisfs Ordinances.