Of what God requires of us,
An Exposition of the Assembly's Catechism. br Plalmcxxx. 3. If thou, Lord, shouldst mark iniquity, O Lord, who shall stand ?
९. 10. What is the second instruction hence ?
A. Hence we see the necessity ofa Mediator betwixt God and us; Píalm xl. 6, 7. Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire, c. Then said I, Lo, I come : in the volume of the book it is written of me.
Q.11 . What is the third instruction hence ?
A. That the greatest suffering is rather to be chosen than the least sin ; Heb. xi. 25. Chusing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, thantoenjoy the pleasures of fin for a season.
Q.12 . What is the fourth instruction hence ?
A. Itteacheth us what an invaluable mercy the full, free, and final remission of fin is; Psalm xxxii. 1. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, and whose sin is covered, &c.
९. 13. What is the fifth instruction hence ?
A. ItvindicatesGod in his severest strokes on sinners ; Hos. vi. 5. Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets : I have slain them by the words of my mouth, and thy judgments are as the light thatgoeth forth.
Q. 14. What is the last instruction ?
A. Hence we learn the infinite nature of Christ's sufferings ; Rom. viii. 32. He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give
us all things ?
Of what God requires of us.
Quest. 85. What doth God require of us, that we mayefcapehiswrath and curse due to us for fin ?
A. To escape the wrath and curse of God due to us for fin, God requireth of us faith in Jesus Christ, repentance unto life, with the diligent use of all the outward means, whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption.
Q. 1. What are the things required of us to escipe God's wrath and curse due to us for fin ?
A. The things required of us, are, (1.) Faith in Jesus Christ ; Acts xvi, 31. And theyfaid, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, andthyhouse.
(2.) Repentance for fin; Acts iii. 19. Repentye therefore, and be converted, that your fins may be blotted out, &c.
(3.) Diligent striving in the use of all God's appointed means; Luke xiii. 24. Strive toenterinatthe strait gate: For many, I say unto you, shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able .
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An Exposition of the Assembly's Catechism.
Q.2. Are these things in man's power to perform, that God requires of him ?
A. Though they are our duties, yet we have no power in ourselves by nature to perform them, but the power is of God ;
2Cor. iii. 5. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves, but our fufficiency is of God.
Q3. But if men be in Christ, and justified from eternity, what need of this ?
A. Though God from eternity decreed, and Christ long since purchased the salvation of the elect ; yet have theynounion with Christ till they believe ; Eph. iii. 17. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith, thatye being rooted and grounded in love. Nor remission of fin ; Acts iii. 19. That your fins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
But lie under wrath as others do; Eph. ii. 3, 12. And were by nature the childrenofwrath, even as others.
Ver. 12. That at that time yewere without Christ, being aliens from the common wealth of Israel, and strangers fromthecovenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.
Q. 4. If it be God that can only work these graces in us, to what purpose is our striving ?
A. God's working doth not exclude man's striving, but more excites and obliges us to it; Phil, ii. 12, 13, Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling : For it is God which worketh in you, both to will and to do, of hisowngood pleasure,
5. Towhatpurpose is it to strive in the use of means, except we knew we were elected ?
A. The knowledge of our election is not antecedent to our diligence, but our diligence is required antecedently to that knowledge ; 1 Pet. i. 10. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure, &c.
Q.6. Is it not legal to put naturalmenupon striving in the use of means ?
A. No, it is not; for Christ himself enjoins it ; Luke xiii.
24. Strive to enter in at the strait gate, &c.
And so did the apostles after him ; Acts viii. 22. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thy heart maybe forgiven thee.
Q.7. Is there no escaping of God's wrath and curse without faith and repentance ?
4. No, it is impossible to escape them; John iii, 18. He that believeth not, is condemned already. Heb. ii. 3. How shall we oscapeifwe neglect so great salvation ?
An Exposition of the Assembly's Catechism.
Q.8. But if a man reform his life, and live soberlyandjustlyfor time to come, may he not that way escape God's wrath and curse ?
4. No; sobriety and reformation are duties, but it is faith and regeneration that puts men into Christ, and out of danger;
Matth. v. 20. Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharifees,ye hall innocafeenter into the kingdom of heaven.
Tit. iii. 5. Not by works of righteousness, which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, bythewashingof regeneration, and renewing of the holy Ghost.
९. 9. Do all believing and penitent sinners escape God's wrath and curse ?
A. Yes, they do, and shall for ever escape it; Rom. viii. r.
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, &c.
Col. i. 12, 13. Giving thanks unto God the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.
John v. 24. He that heareth my word, and believethon him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Q. 10. What is the fir inference hence ?
A. Hence it appears how falteanddangerous the Antinomian doctrine is, which teaches that our fins are pardoned before they are committed, or we either believe or repent ; contrary to Acts xxvi. 18. To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness unto light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of fin, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
James v.20. He which converteth the sinner from the error of his way, shall save a soul from death, &c.
Acts x. 43. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him hall receive remission of sins.
Q. 11. What is the second inference hence ?
A. Hence it follows, that it is dangerous on the one side not to strive in all the ways of duty for Christ and salvation, contrary to Luke xiii. 24. Strive to enter in at the strait gate ; for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. And as dangerous, on the other side, to rest in, and depend on our own works and duties ; Phil. iii. 9. And be found in him, nothavingmine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.