Of affurance, the fruit of justification,
An Exposition of the Affembly's Catechifm.
ty,untoiniquity ; even ſo nowyield your members ſervants to righteouſneſs, unto holineſs.
Q. 13. Maygreat ſinners be ſanctified ?
A. Yes ; the Spirit of God can ſanctifythe vileſt heart ; 1 Cor. vi. 11. Andfuch were ſome ofyou ; but ye arewaſhed, but ye are ſanctified.
OfAffurance, the Fruit of Justification.
W Hat are the benefits which in this lifedo Queſt. 36. either accompany, or flow from justification, adoption, and ſanctification ?
A. The benefits whichin this lifedo either accompany, orflow fromjustification, adoption, andfanctification, areaffurance of God'slove, peace of confcience,joy in the holyGhost, increaseof grace, andperseverance therein tothe end.
Q. 1. Is aſſurance poſſible to be attained in this life ?
A. Yes ; for ſome have had it; Cant. vi. 3. I am my beloved's, andmybeloved ismine. And all Chriſtians are commanded to ſtrive for it ; 2 Pet. i. 10. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence, to makeyour calling and election ſure.
Q. 2. How many forts of affurance are there ?
A. There is an objective aſſurance ; 2 Tim. ii. 19. Nevertheless, the foundation ofGod ſtandeth ſure, having this ſeal,
The Lord knoweth them that are his. And a ſubjective or perſonal affurance ; Gal. ii. 20. Who loved me, and gave himſelf for me.
Q. 3. Is perſonal aſſurance perfect in this life ?
A. No ; it admits ofdoubts and fears, which interrupts it, and it is not always at one height ; 1 Cor. xiii. 10. When that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part ſhallbe doneaway.
Q.4. On what teſtimony is perſonal aſſurance built ?
A. Uponthe teſtimony ofGod's Spirit witneffing with ours ; Rom. viii. 16. The Spirit itſelf beareth witneſs withour ſpirit, that we are the children ofGod.
Q. 5. Doth the Spirit make use of ſigns in us to aſſure us ?
A. Yes; ordinarily he doth ; 1 John iii. 14. We know thatwe are paſſed from death to life, becauſe we love the brethren. Andver. 24. Hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which hehath given us.
Q. 6. How is true affurance difcerned frompreſumption ?
A. True aſſurance humbles the foul; Gal. ii. 20. I am crucifiedwith Chriſt : nevertheless I live ; yetnot I, but Chrift liveth inme. Andmakes the foul afraid of fin ; 2 Cor. vii.
An Exposition of the Affembly's Catechism.
1. Having therefore theſe promifes, dearly beloved, let us cleanſe ourſelves from all filthineſs ofthe flesh and ſpirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Q.7. What is theuſualſeaſon ofafſurance?
A. The time ofgreatest ſufferings for Chriſt ; 1 Pet. iv. 14.
Ifye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory, and ofGod reſteth upon you.
Q. 8. Is perfonal aſſurance abſolutelyneceffary to ſalvation ?
A. No ; a man may be ſaved,and in Chrift, without it , Ifa. 1. 10. Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his ſervant, thatwalketh indarkneſs, and hath no light ? Let him truſt inthe name of the Lord, and ſtayupon his God.
. Q. 9. What is the fruit ofafſurance ?
A. Joy unſpeakable amidst outward troubles; Rom. v. 1 14 Andnot only fo, but we alſo joy inGod, through our Lord
Jeſus Chriſt, by whomwe have now receivedthe atonement.
Q. 10. What fins uſuallyeclipſeour afſurance?
A. Negligence in duty ſtarves it; 2 Pet. i. 10. Give diligence to make your calling and election ſure : For if ye do theſe things ye ſhall never fall. And ſinning against light, ſtabs it; Pfalm li. 8. Makeme tohear joy and gladneſs ; that thebones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
Q. 11. What is the firſt inference from this doctrine ?
A. That no unregenerate perſon can have any aſſurance; for it is the fruit ofjustification, adoption, and fanctification.
Q. 12, What is theſecond inference?
A. That all the joys ofheaven are not to come ; but ſome communicated in this life; 1 Pet. i. 8. Whom having not ſeenye love ; in whom thoughnowye ſee himnot, yet believing, ye rejoice withjoy unspeakable, and full ofglory.
Q. 13. What is the third inference ?
A. That affured believers need to be circumſpest perfons, that they grieve not the Spirit; Eph. iv. 30. And grieve not the holy Spirit ofGod, whereby ye are fealed unto the day of redemption.
Queſt. 1.W Of Peace of Confcience.
Hatdoth thewordPeace fignify in ſcripture?
A. In the language of the Old-Teftament it ſignifies all temporal good; I Sam. xxv. 6. Peace be both to thee, and peace be in thine houſe, and peace be unto allthat thouhaft. And in the New-Teftament all ſpecial good ; as 2Theff. iii, 16. Now the Lord ofpeace himselfgive you peace always.
i An Exposition of the Affembly's Catechisms
Q. 2. What are the kinds of ſpecial peace ?
A. There is a twofold peace; one withoutus,by reconciliation ; Rom. v. 1. Therefore, being justified byfaith, we have peacewithGod. Andpeace within us, bywayofconfolation; Col. iii. 15. And let the peace ofGod rule inyourhearts.
Q. 3. Whatdid our peace coſt Chriſt ?
A. It coſt him bloody ſtripes and fufferings; Ifa. liii. 5.
The chaſtiſement of our peace was upon him ; and byhis ſtripes we are healed.
Q. 4. Cannone have true peace but ſuch as are in him ?
A. No ; others may have falſe peace; Luke xi. 21. When aſtrong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are inpeace.
But believers only have true peace; Rom. v. 1. Therefore, beingjuſtifiedby faith, we have peace with God through our
Lord Jesus Chrift Q. 5. Have allbelievers peace in their confciences at all times?
A. No, theyare always in a ſtate ofpeace,buthave not always the ſenſe ofpeace ; Ifa. 1. 10. Who is among you that feareth the Lord, and obeyeth the voice of his ſervant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light ? Lethim truſt in the name ofthe Lord, and stayupon hisGod.
Q. 6. What is that whichhinders the ſenſe ofpeace inbelievers?
A. Their fins against the Lord, and grieving ofhisSpirit ; Ifa. lix. 2. Butyour iniquities haveſeparated between you and yourGod; and your fins have hid his face from you, that he willnothear .
९. 7. What maintains the ſtate of peacewhenthe ſenſe of peace is loft ?
A. Chriſt's continualandpotent interceffion with theFather for us ; 1 John ii. 12. My little children, theſethings write I unto you, that ye fin not: And if any man fin, we have an Advocatewith the Father, Jeſus Chrift the righteous.
Q. 8. What is thebestwayto maintainourpeacewithGod ?
A. Strict walking by gofpel rules ; Gal. vi. 16. And as many as walk according to this rule ; peacebe onthem.
Q. 9. Doth this peace come and go with outward peace?
A. No ; wemayenjoy this when no peace is tobe hadin theworld; John xvi. 33. Theſe things I have ſpoken unto you, that in meye might have peace. In the worldye ſhall have tribulation; but be ofgood cheer, I have overcome the world.
VOL. VIII.
An Exposition of the Assembly's Catechifm.
Q. 10. What is the firſt inſtruction from hence ?
A. That the wicked are in a fad cafe at alltimes, but eſpecially in evil times ; Ifa. lvii. 20, 21. But the wicked are like thetroubled feawhen it cannot reft, whoſe waters caſt up mire anddirt. There is no peace, faith my God, to thewicked.
Q. 11. What is the fecond inftruction from hence ?
A. That the chief care of a Chriſtian ſhould be to keep his peace with God ; Jer. xvii. 17. Be not a terror to me ; thou art my hope in the day ofevil.
Q. 12. What is the laſt inſtruction from hence ?
A. Letthe faints long to be inheaven, the ſtate of full and perfect peace ; Ifa. lvii. 2. He shall enter into peace ; they thall reſt in theirbeds, each onewalking in his uprightneſs.
Of Joy in the Holy Ghost.
HOM OWmany forts ofjoy arethere amongmen ?
Queſt. 1.
A. There is a ſenſitive joy ; Acts xiv. 17.
Nevertheleis he left not himselfwithout witneſs, inthathe did good, and gave us rain from heaven and fruitful ſeaſons, filling our hearts with food and gladneſs. Afinful joy ; Prov. xv. 21. Folly is joy to him that is deſtitute of wisdom. And a fpiritual joy ; Rom. v. 11. Andnot only fo,but we alfojoy inGod through our Lord Jesus Chrift.
Q. 2. Why is fpiritualjoy calledjoy inthe holyGhost ?
A. Becauſe the holyGhoſt isthe author ofit ; Gal. v. 22.
But the fruit ofthe Spirit is love, joy, peace, &c.
Q. 3. What is the first thingbegetsjoy in the faints ?
A. The first thing theyjoy in is, their juftification before God ; Ifa. lxi . 10. I will greatly rejoice inthe Lord ; my foul ſhall be joyful in myGod ; for he hath cloathed me with the garments of falvation, he hath covered me with the robes of righteouſneſs. Rom. v. 11. And not only fo, butwe alſojoy inGod, through our Lord Jeſus Chrift, by whom we have now received the atonement.
Q.4. What is the ſecondthing thatbreeds this joy ?
A. Hope ofglory breeds joy in the faints ; Rom. v. 2.
And rejoice, inhope ofthe glory ofGod.
Q. 5. What is the inftrumentby which the Spirit conveys thisjoy?
A. Faith is the instrument ofit; Phil. i. 25. Andhaving this confidence, Iknow that I shall abide and continue with you all, for your furtherance andjoy of faith.
O. 6. What is the firſt propertyofthis joy ?
A. It is joy unfpeakable, and full of glory; Pet. i. 8.
An Exposition of the Affembly's Catechism.
Believing,yerejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory.
Q. 7. What is the ſecond property ofit ?
A. That it is not in the power of men to deprive the faints ofit; John xvi . 22. And yourjoy no man taketh from you.
Q. 8. What isthethird property of it ?
A. Itmakes the foul free and chearful in the ways ofobedience ; Pfal . cxix. 32. I will run the ways of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge myheart.
Q. 9. What is moſt deſtructive to a Chriſtian's joy ?
A. Sin, eſpecially fin against light ; Pfalm li. 8. Make me tohearjoy and gladness, that the bones which thou hast brokenmay rejoice.
Q. 10. What should be the main care of a Chriſtian in this world ?
A. To maintain hisjoy inGod to the last ; Acts xx. 24.
But none of theſe things move me ; neither count Imy life dearunto myſelf, ſothat I might finiſh my courſe withjoy..
Q. 11. Have nothypocrites theirjoys as well as real Chriſtians?
A. Yes; butthejoyof thehypocrite is notgrounded upon fcripture-warrant, and will vanish away, and will come to nothing at last; John v. 35. He was aburning and a ſhining light ; andye were willing for a ſeaſon to rejoice in his light.
Q. 12. What is the firſt inference from hence ?
A. Let all thatexpectjoy in theholy Ghoſt, ſee that they preſerve purity of confcience and converſation ; 2 Cor. i. 12.
For our rejoicing is this,the teftimony ofour confcience, that in ſimplicity, andgodly fincerity, not with fleſhly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our converſation in the world, andmore abundantly toyou-wards.
Q. 13. What is the laſt inference ?
A. That religionisno melancholy thing, butthe fountain of alljoy and pleaſure ; Prov. iii. 17. Her ways are ways of pleafantneſs, and all her paths arepeace.
Of the Increase of Grace.
Queſt. 1.
Oth all true grace increaſe and grow ?
D A. Yes, it doth, like the morning light ; Prov. iv. 18. The path ofthe juſt is as the ſhining light, that ſhineth more and more unto the perfect day. And for that end,Godhath appointed miniſters and ordinances ; Eph . iv.
11 , 12. And he gave ſome, apostles ; and ſome, prophets ; and fome, evangelifts ; and fome, paitors and teachers ; for D 2
An Expofition of the Affembly's Catechism.
theperfecting ofthe faints,forthework ofthe miniſtry, for the edifying ofthebody of Chrift.
Q. 2. Cannotfalſe, or ſeeming,gracegrow ?
A. Itmay ſpring up, and feem to flourish, for a time, but comes not to perfection ; Luke viii. 14. And that which fell among thorns,arethey,which whentheyhaveheard, goforth, and are choaked with the cares, and riches, andpleaſuresof this life, and bring no fruit toperfection.
Q. 3. What is the firſt reſpect in which grace grows ?
A. It growsby deeper rooting itselfin the foul ; Eph. iii.
17. That Chrift maydwell in your hearts by faith ; that ye being rooted and grounded in love, may be able, oc
Q. 4. What is the ſecond reſpector manner of its growth ?
A. It grows inreſpect of its greater fitneſs and readiness for acts of obedience ; Col. i. 11. Strengthened with all might, according tohis glorious power, unto all patience, and longfuffering, with joyfulneſs.
Q. 5. What isthe third reſpect or manner ofitsgrowth ?
A. It grows in reſpect of its abilities to fixthe mind more ſteadily on ſpiritual things. Hence grown Chriſtians are called ſpiritual men ; Gal. vi. 1. Ye which are ſpiritual, restore ſuch an onein the ſpirit ofmeeknefs.
Q.6. Why muſt all true grace grow ?
A. Becauſethere is a ſtature to which Chriſtians areappointed; Eph. iv. 13. Till we all come inthe unity of the faith, andof theknowledge of the Son ofGod, unto a perfect man, untothe meaſure ofthe ſtature ofthe fulness of Christ.
Q. 7. What are the cauſes ofa Chriſtian's growth?
A. Unionwith Chriſt ; John xv. 4. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itſelf, except it abide in the vine ; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. Andhis bleſſings on the ordinances ; Ifa. Iv. 10, 11. Foras the rain cometh down, andthe ſnow from heaven, and returneth not thither,but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give ſeedto the fower, and breadto the eater; ſo ſhallmywordbe that goeth forth out ofmymouth ; it ſhall not return unto me void, but it ſhall accomplish that which I pleaſe, and it ſhall profper in the thing whereto I fent it. And providences ;
Phil. i. 19. For I know that this ſhall turn to my ſalvation
thro' your prayers, andthe ſupplyofthe Spirit ofJeſus Chriſt.
Q. 8. May not truegrace ſometimes decay ?
A. Yes, it may; Rev. ii. 4. Nevertheless, I have ſomewhatagainstthee, becauſe thou hast left thy firſtlove. But
An Exposition of the Affembly's Catechism.
not utterly ; 1 John iii. 9. Whosoever isborn of God, doth notcommit fin ; for his feed remaineth in him.
Q. 9. What is the firſt inference fromhence ?
A. To bleſsGod for goſpel ordinances ; Pfalm xcii. 13, 14.
Thoſe that be planted in the houſe ofthe Lord, ſhall flourish inthe courts of our God; they ſhall ſtill bring forth fruitin oldage ; they ſhall be fat and flourishing.
Q. 10. What is the ſecond inference ?
A. Hence we fee the miferable ſtate of them, that grow worſe andworſe ; Jude,ver. 12. These are ſpots inyour feafts ofcharity,whenthey feaft withyou, feeding themſelves without fear: Clouds they are without water, carried about of winds :Trees whoſe fruitwithereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked upby the root.
Q. 11. What is the thirdinference ?
A. Chriſtians ſhould not bediſcouraged at theirweakneſs in grace, for they have a merciful Chriſt; Ifaiah xlii. 3. A bruifedreedſhallhe not break ; and the ſmoaking flax fhall he not quench ; he ſhall bring forth judgment unto truth.
And a ſure promiſe ; Job xvii. 9. The righteous alſo ſhall holdon his way ; and he that hath clean hands, thall be ſtronger and ſtronger.
Q. 12. What is the laſt inference?
A. That all true Chriſtians draw daily nearer and nearer tothe heavenly and perfect ſtate ; 2 Cor. iv. 16. For which cauſewe faintnot; but though our outward man periſh, yet the inwardman is renewed day by day ; Rom. xiii. 11. For now is ourfalvation nearer than when we believed.
Queſt. 1 .W OfPerfeverance.
Hat is perfeverance tothe end ?
A. It isthe ſteady and conftant continuance of Chriftians in the ways ofduty and obedience, amidſt alltemptations and diſcouragements to the contrary ; Col. i.
23. Ifye continue inthe faith, grounded and fettled, and be not moved away fromthehope of the gospel, which ye have heard, andwhich was preached to every creature which is under heaven, whereofIPaul am made a minifter.
Q. 2. Do all that profeſs Chrift, continue inhim ?
A. No ; many that at firſt zealously profeſs him, afterwards fall away ; John vi. 66. From that time many ofhis diſciples went back, and walked no more with him .
Q. 3. Why do not all perſevere ?
A. Becauſe all profeſſors have not agood root and foundation ; Matth. xiii. 20, 21. Buthe that receivedthe feed into ſto-
An Exposition of the Affembly's Catechism. ny places, the fame is he that heareth the word, and anon withjoy receiveth it ; yet hath he not rootinhimſelf, but dureth for a while ; for when tribulation, or perſecution arifeth becauſe of the word, by andby he is offended.
९. 4. What is the firſtground ofthe faints perfeverance ?
A. God's electing love, inwhich they are given toChrift ; John x. 29. My Father which gavethem me, is greater than all ; and none is able to pluck themout of my Father's hand.
Q. 5. What is the ſecond ground of perfeverance ?
A. The immortal nature offanctifying grace ; John iv. 14.
But whoſoever drinketh of the water that I ſhall give him, fhall neverthirſt : but the water that I shall give him, ſhall be in him a well of waterſpringing up into everlasting life. I John iii. 9. For his feed remaineth in him.
Q. 6. What is the third ground of it ?
A. The covenant ofgrace ; Jer. xxxii. 40. And I willmake an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them to do them good ; butI will put my fear in their hearts, that they ſhall not depart from me.
Q. 7. What is the fourth ground of it ?
A. Chrift's effectual interceffion ; Luke xxii. 32. But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not.
Q. 8. Are there nodeclinings ofgracein the faints ?
A. Yes, there are ; Rev. ii. 4. Nevertheless I have fomewhat against thee, becauſe thou hast left thy firſt love.
Yet grace cannotbe totally or finally loft : Forthe feed ofGod remaineth in the fanctified ; 1 John iii. 9. Whofoever is born of God, doth not commit fin; forhis feed remaineth in him: And he cannot fin ; becauſe he is born of God.
Q. 9. Is there no hope of falvation for final apoftates ?
A. No, the goſpel gives none ; Heb. x. 38. But ifany man draw back, my foul ſhall have no pleaſure in him .
Q. 10. What is the firſt inſtruction from hence ?
A. Itwarns allmento layagood foundation, leftthe buildingsofhope be overturned when the ſtorm comes ; Matth . vii.
24, 25. Therefore, whosoever heareth theſe ſayings ofmine, 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 fecond inftruction ?
That all men ſhould look to themselves, left they loſe the things which they have wrought ; 2 John verſe 8.
Look to yourſelves, that we loſe not theſe things which we