Of perfection at death, 3
An Exposition of the Affembly's Catechifm.
havewrought, but that we receive a full reward. 1 Cor. x. 12.
Wherefore let him that thinketh he ſtandeth, take heed left he fall.
Q. 12. What is the laſt inſtruction ?
A. Let no true Chriſtian be diſcouraged, how weak foever, for God is able to make him ſtand ; Rom. xv. 4. Who art thou that judgeſt another man's fervant ? 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 .
W Hatbenefits do believers receive from Chrift Queſt. 37. at their death ?
A. The fouls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness, anddo immediatelypaſs into glory ; and their bodies being ftill united to Christ, do rest in their graves till the refurrection .
Q. 1. What is the ſtate of perfect holiness ?
A. It confifts in a perfect freedom from fin, or the leaſt inclinations to fin ; Eph. v. 27.
That he might preſent it to himſelf a glorious church, not having ſpot or wrinkle, or any fuch thing ; but that it ſhould be holy and without blemish.
Q. 2. Wherein elſe doth perfection confift ?
A. It confifts in the attainment ofthe highest meaſures and degrees of holineſs the creature is capable of ; Eph. iv. 12, 13.
For the perfecting ofthe faints, Till we all come inthe unity ofthe faith, and of the knowledge ofthe Son of God, unto aperfectman, unto the meaſure of the ſtature of the fulneſs ofChrift.
Q. 3. Cannot this be attained whilſt in the body?
A. No, for here all our graces are imperfect ; 2 Cor. xiii. 12 .
For now we fee through a glaſs darkly; butthen face to face.
Andwe live at a diſtance from God ; 2 Cor. v. 6. Whilst we are at home in the body, we are abſent from the Lord.
Q. 4. How is this attained atdeath ?
A. At death the roots of fin are pulled up out of the believer's nature ; Heb. xii. 23. And to the ſpirits of juſt men made perfect.
Q. 5. Why muſt the foul be made perfect at death ?
A. Becauſe the purity of the heavenly ſtate admits no fin or imperfection ; Rev. xxi. 27. And there ſhall in no wife enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever workethabomination, or maketh a lie, but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
An Exposition of the Affembly's Catechifm.
Q. 6. What is the firſt inference from hence ?
A. That death ſhould be lovelyanddefirable intheeyes of believers ; Phil . i. 23. Having a defire to depart, and tobe with Chriſt ; which is far better.
Q. 7. What is the ſecond inference ?
A. ThatGod hath provided fingular relieffor his people that now groan under their ſins, and many imperfections ;
Cor. xiii. 12. For now wefee through a glaſs darkly; but then face to face: Now I know in part ; but then ſhall Iknow, even as I am known .
Q. 8. What is the third inference ?
A. That the heavenly ſtate is infinitely above andbeyond whatever we enjoy here ; 1 Cor. ii. 9. But as it is written, eye hath not feen, nor ear heard, neither have entred into the heart ofman, the things whichGod hath preparedfor them
that love him .
Q. 9. What isthe fourth inference ?
A.Thatbelievers are but at a ſmall diſtance from the fatisfaction of all their defires ; Rom. xiii. 11. For now is our falvation nearer than when we believed.
Q. 10. What is the fifth inference?
A. That the faints ſhould earnestly purſue that perfection, even in this imperfect ſtate ; Phil. iii. 13 , 14. Brethren, I countnot myſelfto have apprehended ; but this one thing I do, forgetting thoſe things which arebehind, andreaching forth to thoſe things which are before, I preſs towards the mark, for the prize of the high calling ofGod inChriſt Jeſus .
Q11 . What isthe fixth inference?
A. That death to the faints is better than life ; Phil. i. 21 .
For to me to live is Chriſt, and todie is gain.
Q. 12. What is the laſt inference ?
A. That faith is abſolutely neceſſary to entitle us to this perfect ſtate.
Queſt. 1 .D Of immediate Glorification.
Oallthat die in Chriſt immediatelypaſs into glory ?
A. Yes, they do ; Luke xxiii. 43. Today ſhaltthou be with me in Paradise ; Phil. i. 23. Having a defire to depart, and to be with Chrift.
Q. 2. What is the firſt reaſon for their immediate glorification?
A. Becauſe heaven is prepared and readyfor them ; Matth. xxv. 34. Come, ye blefſed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you fromthe foundation of theworld.
An Exposition of the Affembly's Catechism.
Q.3 . What is the ſecondreaſon for it ?
A. Becauſe at death they are as ready for heaven as ever theyſhall be; John ix. 4. I muſt work the work of him that ſentme, while it is day; the nightcometh,whenno man can work.
Q. 4.What is the third reaſon for it ?
A. Becauſe death elſe couldnot begain, as it is, Phil. i. 21 .
Fortome to live is Chriſt ; andtodie, is gain.
Q. 5. What is the fourth reaſon for it?
A. Becauſe there is the ſame reaſon for all, as for any one :
But some are immediatelyglorified; Luke xxiii. 43. To day ſhalt thou be with me in Paradiſe.
Q. 6. What is the fifth reaſon for it ?
A. Becauſe Chrift longs for their coming to him, andthey forhis enjoyment; and theſe longings are invain, ifnot fatisfied; Rev. xxii. 17, 20. And the Spirit, and the bride ſay,
Come. And lethim that heareth, ſay,Come. And let him that is athirſt, come : And whosoever will, lethim take the water of life freely. He which teſtifieth theſe things, faith,
Surely I come quickly. Amen, Evenfo ſocome, come,LordJeſus.
Q. 7. What is the firſt inſtruction fromhence ?
A. That the apparitions ofdeparted ſaints ordinarilyare but fables: Theywander not ; Rev. iii. 12. Him that overcometh, will. I make a pillar inthe temple ofmyGod,and he ſhallgo no more out.
Q. 8. What is the ſecond inference ?
A. That Purgatory is a groundleſs fable,andinventionof men; and the fcriptures alledged to countenance it, grofly a buſed; 1 Pet. iii. 19. By which alſo he went and preached unto the ſpirits in priſon.
Q. 9. What is thethird inference ?
A. That heaven muſt needs be a marvellous ſurprize to believers, how long foever they have converſed with ithere.
Q. 10. What is the fourth inference ?
A.The confideration of this ſhould provoke ſaints towork hard to finiſh all they have to do on earth ; Ecclef. ix. 10.
Whatſoever thy hand findeth todo, do it with thymight; for there is no work,nor device, nor knowledge, norwisdom, in thegrave, whither thou goeſt.
Q. 11.What is the fifth inference ?
A. That there is no reaſon to grieve exceffively for departed ſaints ; I Theſ. iv. 14. Evenſothem alſo whichfleep in Jefus, willGodbring with him.
VOL. VIII.
An Expofition of the Assembly's Catechism.
Q. 12. What is the laſt inference ?
A. That Chriſtleſs ones are immediatelyin hell ; Luke xvi.
22, 23. The rich man alſo died, and was buried; andinhelf he liftup his eyes, being intorments .
Queſt. 1 .W Of Rest in the Grave.
HY muſt believers come to thegrave ?
۱ A. Becauſe where ſin has been, deathby the law must follow ; Rom. v. 12. Wherefore, as by one man finentredinto the world, anddeath by fin ; and ſodeath paffed uponall men, for that all have finned. Rom. viii. 10. And if Chriſt be in you, thebody is dead becauſe offin; but the Spirit is life, becauſe of righteouſnefs .
Q. 2. What is the firſt privilege oftheir bodies there ?
A. It is the privilege of theirbodies to be there inunion with Chrift; 1 Theſ. iv. 14. Them alfo which fleep in Jeſus, willGod bring with him.
Q. 3. What is their ſecondprivilege ?
A. Theirgraves are places ofreft ; notpriſons,but beds of reft; Ifa. lvii. 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. Allthe toils, and troubles, and afflictions, ofthis life ; Rev. xiv. 13. They may reſt from their labours ; and their works do follow them.
Q. 5. What is the ſecond evil theyreſtfrom ?
A. They reſt from all perfecutions from men; Job iii. 17.
There thewicked ceaſefrom troubling ; and there theweary beat reft.
Q. 6. What is the third evil they reft from ?
A. They reft from fin, never to feel temptation or inclination tofin ; Heb. xii. 23. And tothe ſpirits ofjuft men made perfect .
Q. 7. How long ſhallthe bodies reſt in the grave ?
A. Not for ever, but tillthe day of the refurrection ; Job xix. 26. And though after my skin, worms destroy this body, yet inmy fleſh ſhall I feeGod.
Q. 8. What is the firſt inference from hence ?
A. Thatunion with Chriſt redounds to the fingular advantage ofthe body, as well as the foul ; Rom. viii. 11. But if theSpirit ofhim that raifedup Jeſus from the dead, dwell in you ; he that raiſed up Chrift from the dead, ſhall alſo quicken yourmortal bodies, by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Q.9. What is the ſecond inference ?
An Exposition of the Affembly's Catechisms
A. That death diſſolves not the union betwixt Chriſt and the ſouls or bodies of his ; Matth. xxii. 32. I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Ifaac, andthe God ofJacob ; God is nottheGodofthe dead, butof the living.
Q. 10. What isthe third inference ?
A. That feeing our bodies are tohave ſo long and ſo ſweet reft inthe 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 inthis tabernacle, to ſtir you up, by putting you inremembrance : Knowing that ſhortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Chriſt hath ſhewedme.
Q. 11. What is the fourth inference ?
A. That Chriſtians ſhould neither too much feartheir own, nor forrow 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 toſeparateus fromthe love ofGod,which is inChriſt Jeſus our
Lord.
I Theſ. iv. 13. But Iwould nothave you tobe ignorant, brethren, concerningthemwhich are aſleep, thatye forrow not, even as others which have no hope..
Of the Resurrection.
S the refurrection a credibledoctrine ?
Queft. 1.I A. Yes, it is ; Acts xxvi. 8. Why ſhould it bethought athing incredible with you, thatGod ſhould raiſe thedead?
Q. 2. Whythendoth itſeem incredible toman ?
A. Becauſe they err, notknowing the ſcriptures and the power ofGod ; Markxii. 24. Do ye not therefore err, becauſe yeknow notthefcriptures, northe power ofGod ? The powerofGod affures us itmaybe ſo, and theword of God tells itmustbe fo.
Q. 3. Is it finfulto doubtofthe doctrineofthe reſurrection ?
A. It is not only a fin todoubt it, but anhereſy to denyit, itbeing a fundamental article; Heb. vi. 2. And of the reſurrection ofthe dead. 1 Cor. xv. 13, 14. But ifthere be no refurrection ofthe dead, then is Chriſt not riſen ;and if Chriſt be not riſen, then is our preaching vain, and yourfaith isalſovain.
Q.4. Who must riſe again atthe refurrection ?
A. All men, good andbad, muſt riſe again ; Acts xxiv. 15.
AndhavehopetowardsGod,which theythemſelves alſo allow, that there fhall be a refurrection ofthedead, both of the juſt and the unjust. Rev. xx. 12, 13, 14. And Isaw the dead, ſmall and great, ſtandbefore God, &c.
E 2
An Expofition of the Affembly's Catechism.
Q. 5. What is the firſt difference betwixtthe reſurrection ofthejuſtand unjuſt ?
A. Saints riſebyvirtue oftheir union with Chriſt ; Rom. viii. 11. But ifthe Spirit of him that raiſed up Jeſusfrom the dead, dwell in you; he that raiſed up Chriſt from the dead, ſhall alſo quicken yourmortal bodies,by his Spiritthat dwelleth inyou : But the wickedby his power.
Q. 6. What is the ſeconddifference?
A. The ſecondand maindifference willbe in the contrary ends to whichthey riſe , ſome to life, and ſometo condemnation; Dan. xii. 2. Andmany of them that ſleep intheduft ofthe earth ſhall awake, ſome to everlasting life, and ſome to ſhame, and everlasting contempt.
Q.7. Whatistheglory towhich ſaintsbodies ſhallberaiſed?
A. In the likeness of Chrift's glorious body; Phil. iii. 21.
Who ſhallchange ourvile body, that itmaybe faſhioned like tohisgloriousbody.
Q. 8. What is the firſt inference from hence ?
A. That everyman ſhould strive tothe uttermost to attain tothe refurrection of thejuſt ; Phil. iii. 10, 11. That I may know him, and the power ofhis refurrection, and the fellowſhip ofhis ſufferings, being made conformableunto hisdeath, ifbyanymeansI might attain to the refurrectionof thedead.
Q. 9. What is the ſecond inference ?
A. Comfort to them that now groan under manifolddiſtempers, anddeformities ofbody ; they being made equal to angels ; Mark xii. 25. For when they ſhallrise fromthedead, theyneither marry, nor aregiven in marriage, but areas the angelswhich are inheaven.
Q. 10. What is the third inference?
A. Get union with Chriſt by faith, as you expect ajoyful refurrection ; John xi. 25. Jeſus ſaid unto her, I am the refurrection, and the life ; he that believeth inme, though he weredead, yet ſhall he live.
Q. 11. What is the fourth inference ?
A. Saints ſhould not fear death ; Gen. xlvi, 3. Fear not to godown intoEgypt.
Q. 12. What is the laſt inference ?
A. Employyour bodies forgoodnow.
Of Christ's acknowledging Believers.
Queft. 38.What ☑Hat benefit dobelievers receive fromChriſt at the refurrection ?
A.At the refurrection believers being raiſed up inglory,Shall
An Exposition of the Affembly's Catechism.
beopenlyacknowledged, andacquittedin the day ofjudgment,and madeperfectly bleffed in thefullenjoyment ofGodto all eternity.
Q. 1. What is it tobe acknowledged by Chrift ?
A. It is Chriſt's owning ofthe ſpecial relationbetwixt him andthem ; Mat. xxv. 34. Come, ye bleſſed ofmy Father, inheritthekingdom prepared foryou from thefoundation ofthe world.
Q. 2. Whomwill Chriſt acknowlege forhis ?
A. Such as confess Chriſt now ; Mat. x. 32. Whosoever therefore ſhall confeſs me before unen,him will I confeſs alſo before my Father which is inheaven.
Q. 3. Beforewhom will Chriſt confessthem?
A. Beforehis Father,angelsandmen; Rev. iii.5. He that overcometh, the ſame ſhallbe cloathed inwhite raiment, and Iwill not blot outhis name out ofthe book of life, but I will confeſs his namebefore myFather, andbefore his angels.
Q. 4. Who ſhall be deniedby Chriftin that day?
A. Allthat nowdeny Chriſt, ſhall bedenied by him ; 2Tim. ii. 12. Ifwedeny him, he alſo will deny us. Tit. i.
16. They profeſs thattheyknowGod; but in works they denyhim, being abominable, and diſobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
Q. 5. Why will Chriſt openly acknowledge them?
A. Towipe offall aſperſions andcenſuresthatnoware caſt upon them ; Ifaiah Ixvi. 5. Your brethren that hated you, thatcaftyou out for my name's fake, ſaid, Let the Lord be glorified; but he ſhall appear to yourjoy, and they ſhall be aſhamed.
Q. 6. What willbe the effect ofChriſt's acknowledgment ?
A. Itwill puta full endto all doubts, fears, andjealoufies ofthemselves ; 1 Cor. iv. 3, 4. But with me it is avery ſmall thing that I should bejudged of you, or of man'sjudgment; yea, Ijudgenot myownſelf; forIknownothingbymyſelf, yet amI notherebyjustified; buthe thatjudgeth me, is the Lord.
Q. 7. What other effect will it produce inthem ?
A. Joy unſpeakable and tranfcendent : hence called time of refreshing ; Acts iii. 19. When the timeof refreshing ſhall come from the prefence ofthe Lord.
Q. 8. Is this the onlytime Chrift acknowledgeth them ?
A.No ; heacknowledgeththemby his Spirit's teſtimonynow, butthat is private in their boſoms ; Rom. viii. 16. The Spirit itſelfbearethwitneſs with our ſpirits,thatweare the children ofGod.
Q.9. What is the firſt inferencefromhence ?
An Exposition of the Affembly's Catechifm.
A. To warn all how they paſs raſh cenfures on Chrift's ſervants ; Pfal. Ixxiii. 15. IfI fay, I will ſpeak this, behold I ſhall offend against the generation ofthy children.
Q. 10. What is the ſecond inference ?
A. Let none be afraid or ashamed to confeſs the perſon, office, or any truth ofChrift, for any loss or danger thatmay threatenthem ; Luke xii. 8, 9. Alſo Isayunto you,Whoſoever ſhall confeſs me before men, him ſhall the Son ofman alſoconfeſs before the angels ofGod.
Buthe that deniethme before men, ſhallbe denied before the angels ofGod.
Q. 11. What isthe third inference ?
A. Let Chriſtians abound in good works.
Everyact ofcharity for Chriſt ſhall be acknowledged byhim in the day of judgment ; Matth xxv. 35. For I was anhungred, and ye gave me meat ; I was thirsty, and yegave 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 theday of Chriſt's appearing ; 2 Tim. iv. 8. Henceforth there is laid up for me acrown of righteouſneſs,whichthe Lord, the righteous Judge, ſhallgive me at that day, and notto meonly, but unto them alſo that lovehis appearing.
OfChrist's acquitting Believers.
Hat is it tobe acquittedby Chriſt ?
Whatis A. It is tobediſchargedand cleared from all the guilt offin, andpunishmentdue to it by the law, upon the account of Chriſt's righteouſneſs imputed byGod, and Queſt. 1. received by faith ; Rom. v. 1. Therefore being justified by faith,we have peace withGod through our Lord Jeſus Chrift.
Rom. viii. 1. There is thereforenow no condemnation tothem which are in Chrift Jeſus .
Q. 2. Howmany ways are believers acquitted ?
A. They are acquitted now in the courtofheaven ; Rom. viii. 33. Who ſhalllay any thing to the charge ofGod's elect ?
It isGod thatjuſtifieth. In the court oftheirown confciences ; 1 John iii. 21. Beloved, ifour hearts condemnus not, then have we confidence towards God. And in the day ofjudgment : both particular, Heb. ix. 27. As it is appointed unto men once todie, but after this thejudgment.
Andgeneral ; Acts iii. 19. Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your fins may be blotted out.
Their fins are then blotted out.
Q. 3. How doth Chriſt's acquittance now, differ from that atjudgment ?
A. They differ in reſpect of publicness; this is fecret in
An Exposition of the Affembly's Catechism.
thebeliever's boſom, and that open before men and angels; Rev. iii. 5. I will confefs his name before my Father, andbeforehis angels.
Q. 4. What is the ſecond difference ?
A. They differ in reſpect of ſubjective certainty and affurance. Abeliever may doubt ofthis, but not of that ; 1 Cor. iv. 4, 5. For I know nothing of myself, yet am I not hereby justified; buthethatjudgethme, is the Lord ; therefore judge nothing before the time, untilthe Lordcome.
Q. 5. What is the third difference betwixtthem ?
A. They differ in point of confolation : this always bears proportiontothe certainty of it.
Hence that day is called the timeofrefreſhing; when Chriſt blotsout their finsby ſentencial justification ; Acts iii. 19. Repent ye, therefore, and be converted, that your fins may be blotted out, whenthe times ofrefreshing ſhallcome from the prefence ofthe Lord.
Q.6. Dobelievers then lieunder condemnationtillthatday?
A. No; they are trulyand fully justified now ; Johnv. 24.
Hethat heareth my word, and believeth on him that ſentme, hath everlasting life, and ſhall not come into condemnation; but ispaffed from death unto life. But this ſentence is not yet publiſhedby Chriſt's own mouth, as it shallbethen.
Q. 7. Onwhat account ſhallthey be acquitted in thatday?
A. On the very fame account and ſcore they are now, viz.
Fortheimputedrighteouſneſs ofChrift in theway offreegrace ; Eph. i. 7. In whom wehave redemptionthrough hisblood, the forgiveness ofſins, according to the riches of his grace.
Q.8.Muſtthe faintsbeſummonedto Chriſt'sbar inthatday?
A. Yes ; they must appear as well as others ; 2 Cor. v. 10.
For we must all appear before the judgment-feat of Chrift.
Butnot to the ſame end; John v. 29. And ſhall come forth ; they that havedone good, unto the refurrection of life ; and they that have done evil, unto the refurrectionofdamnation .
Q. 9. What is the firſt inference hence ?
A. How ſure is a believer's juſtification, being ſo ratified privately and publicly in this world, and that to come.
Q. 10. What is the fecond inference ?
A. Though thedayofjudgmentbe awfullyfolemn, it should notbe dreadful to believers : they ſhould look for, andhaften tothecomingofthe day ofGod ; 2 Pet. iii. 12. Looking for, and haſting untothe comingofthe day ofGod, &c.
Q. 11. What is the third inference ?
A. That faith is agrace ofabſolute neceſſity, andunſpeakable excellency ;Rom.v. 1, 2.Thereforebeing justifiedbyfaith,we
An Expofition of the Affembly's Catechifm. havepeacewithGod, through our Lord Jesus Chriſt ; bywhom alſo we have acceſs by faith into this grace wherein we ſtand.
Q. 12. What is the laſt inference?
A. All unbelievers are in a miferable ſtate now ; John iii.
18. He that believeth not,iscondemned already. And worſe in the world to come ; Matth. xxv. 41. Depart from me, ye curſed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.
Of the full enjoyment ofGod.
Hat doth perfect bleſſedneſs ſuppoſe and imQuest. 1. Whatdo?
A. It ſuppoſes the total freedom of believers from all the moral evil of fin ; Eph. v. 27. That he might preſent you to himſelf a glorious church, not having ſpot nor wrinkle, or any ſuch thing, but that it ſhouldbe holy, and without blemiſh. And from all the penal evils of ſuffering ; Rev. xxi.
4. And God ſhall wipe away all tears from theireyes, and there ſhall be no more death, neither forrow, nor crying, neither ſhall therebe any more pain, for the former things are paſſed away.
Q. 2. What elſe is implied inperfect bleſſedneſs ?
A. It implies the full and perfect enjoyment ofGod; 1 Cor. xv. 28. Andwhen allthings ſhall be fubdueduntohim, thenſhall the Son alſo himselfbe ſubject unto him that putall things under him, that God may be all in all.
Q. 3. What is it for God to be all in all ?
A. It implies threethings init.
First, That all the faints ſhall be filled and fatisfied from God alone.
Secondly, That there ſhall be no need ofother things out of which theywere wonttofetch comfort.
Thirdly, That all other things, as heaven, angels, ſaints, ſhallbe loved and enjoyed in God.
Q. 4. In what reſpect ſhallthey enjoyGod inheaven?
A. They ſhallhavetheglorious and immediate prefenceof Godwith them ; Rev. xxi. 3.Godhimself ſhallbe withthem, and be their God.
Q. 5. In what other reſpects ſhallthey enjoyGod ?
A. They ſhall ſee him as he is ; 1 John iii. 2. We ſhall be likehim ; for we shall fee him as he is.
Q. 6. What will fuch aviſion ofGod produce?
A. It will produce perfect conformity in them to God; I John iii. 2. When he ſhall appear, we shall be like him, for we ſhall ſeehim as he is. And perfect joy will reſult from hence; Pfalm xvi. 11. Inthy preſence is fulneſs of joy; at thyrighthand therearepleaſures for evermore.