Of Perfection at Death
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 to yourselves, that ye lose not these things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. 1 Cor. 10:12. 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. 15:4. 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. WHAT benefits do believers receive from Christ at their death?
A. The souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness, and do immediately pass into glory; and their bodies being still united to Christ, 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 the least inclinations to sin; Eph. 5:27. 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 degrees of holiness the creature is capable of; Eph. 4:12, 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. 13:12. For How we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face. And we live at a distance from God; 2 Cor. 5:6. 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. 12:23. 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 imperfection; Rev. 21:27. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie, but they which are written in the Lamb'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 believers; Phil. 1:23. Having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better.
Q. 7. What is the second inference?