Of effectual calling, 14
An Exposition of the Assembly's Catechifin.
Q. 7. What is the firſt inference from hence ?
A. That favinggraceinthe faints is immortal, being ſecured tothem in and by Chrift ; Col. iii. 3. Your life is hid with ChriſtinGod, Q. 8. What is the ſecond inference ?
A. Thatthe relation between Chriſt and believers is very near and intimate; Eph. v. 30. For we are members ofhis body, ofhis flesh, and ofhis bones.
9. What isthe third inference ?
A. Thatbelievers need not be afraid to go down to the grave ; Rom. viii. 38, 39. For I am perfuaded, that neither death nor life, nor any other creature ſhall be able to ſeparateus from the love ofGod, which is in Chrift Jefus our
Lord. Andthis union holds after death ; Matth . xxii. 31, 32, Butas touching the refurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was ſpoken unto youbyGod, ſaying, I am theGod ofAbraham, and theGod of Ifaac, and theGod ofJacob ?
God is not theGod of the dead, but the Godofthe living.
: Q.ro. What is the fourth inference ?
A. That in wronging and perfecutingthe faints,menwrong and perfecute Chriſt himself ; Acts. ix. 4. And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice ſaying unto him, Saul, Saul, why perſecuteſt thou me ?
Q. 11. What is the fifth inference ?
A. That in relieving and refreſhing the faints, we relieve and refresh Chriſt himself; Matth. xxv. 35, 36. For I was an hungred, andyegave me meat ; and I was thirsty, and ye gave medrink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in ; naked, and ye cloathedme ; I was fick, andye viſited me ; Iwas in priſon, andye came untome.
Verf. 40. In as much asye have done ituntoone ofthe leaſt oftheſe my brethren, ye have done it untome.
Q. 12. What is the laſt inference?
A. Thatthere is a ſympathy in Chriſt, under all the pref fures andgrievances ofhis people ; Heb. iv. 15. We have not anhigh prieſt which cannotbe touchedwith the feeling ofour infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without fin.
OfEffectual Calling.
Hat is effectual calling ?
Queft. 31..W A. Effectual calling is the work ofGod's Spirit, whereby convincing us of ourfin andmifery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our
An Exposition of the Affembly's Catechism.
wills,he doth perfuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in thegospel.
Q. 1. Whatmakes the differencebetween effectualandineffectualcalling?
A. Ineffectual calling is, whenmen have nothing but the external found of the gofpel; Matth. xx. 16. For many be called, butfew choſen.
Effectual is, when the Spiritworks in conjunctionwith the word; John vi. 45. Itis written in the prophets, And they ſhall be alltaught ofGod; every man thereforethat hath heard,andhathlearned ofthe Father, cometh unto me.
Q.2. What is the firſt act ofthe Spirit in effectual calling?
A. Convictionoffin ; John xvi. 8. Andwhenhe iscome, hewill reprove theworldoffin.
Q. 3. Do the called ofGod hear any voice fromheaven ?
A. Ordinarily it isacallwithoutfound, yet as efficacious as an audible voice from heaven .
Q. 4. What isthe ſecondact ofthe Spirit in our effectual calling?
A.Theilluminationofthemind in the knowledgeofChrift ; Αεις xxvi. 18. Τo open their eyes, andtoturn them fromdarkneſs to light,and from the power ofSatth untoGod.
Q. 5. In what things doth it enlightenthem?
A. In this ; That Chrift is their onlyremedy ; Acts iv. 12.
Neither isthere falvation in anyother; for thereisnoneother nameunderheaven given among men, whereby wemust be faved. Andtheir all-fufficient remedy; Heb. vii. 25. Whereforehe is able alfo to fave them to the uttermoftthatcome un toGodby him .
Q. 6. What is the third act?
A. Hisrenewingofthefinner'swill, and making it flexible; Pfalm cx. 3. Thypeople thall be willing in the day of thy power.
Ezek. xxxvi. 26. Anew heart alſowill I give you, andanew ſpiritwill I putwithinyou, and Iwilltake awaythe ſtonyheartoutofyour flesh,andI willgive youanheart offlesh.
Q. 7. Canno man cometo Chrifttillthus be enabled ?
A. No; it is not inthe powerofman's natureor will, till thus renewed andenabled; Eph. i. 19, 20. And what is the exceedinggreatness of his power tous-ward,who believe, accordingtotheworking ofhis mightypower, which he wrought inChriſt, whenhe raisedhim from the dead, and fet him on his own righthandinthe heavenlyplaces.
John vi. 44. No mancancome to me except theFather, which hath fent me, drawhim.
An Exposition of the Affembly's Catechism.
Q. 8. What fort ofmen are moſt ordinarily called ?
A. The poor andmean ones in the world ; 1 Cor. i. 26. For ye ſee your calling, brethren, how that not many wife men after the flesh, notmany mighty, not many noble, are called; but God hath chofen the foolish things of the world to confound the wife; andGod hath choſen the weak things of theworld to confound the things which are mighty.
Q.9. What is the firſt inſtruction from it?
A. Souls effectually called are never loft ; Rom. xi. 29. For the gifts and calling ofGod are without repentance.
Q. 10. What is the ſecond inſtruction ?
A. All things co-operate to their good ; Rom. viii. 28. For we know that all things work together for good to them that loveGod, to them who are called according to his purpoſe.
Q. 11. What is the third inſtruction ?
A. It is dangerous to refuſeGod's call; Prov. i. 24.Becauſe Ihave called, andyehave refuſed,Ihave ſtretched out myhand, andno man regarded.
Q.12. What is the laſt inſtruction ?
A. That Chriſtians are obliged towalk ſuitably to their heavenly calling ; 1 Theff. ii. 12. That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath calledyou unto his kingdom andglory.
Of the Concomitants of Vocation.
Queſt. 32. WHatbenefits do they that are effectuallycalled partake of in this life ?
A. They that are effectually called, do in this life partake of justification, adoption, andfanctification, and thefeveralbenefits which in this life do either accompany or flow from them .
Q. 1. Are allthat be effectually called, justified ?
A. Yes ; Godjuſtifies all, and every foul that obeys and anſwers his call ; Rom. viii. 30. Whom he called, them he alſo juftified.
Q. 2. What other benefits have the called in this life ?
A. They are all the adopted children of God ; Eph . i. 5.
Having predeftinated us untothe adoption of children, by Jeſus Chrift, unto himſelf, according to the good pleaſure ofhis will.
Q. 3. Are thoſe allthe benefits the called receive ?
A. No ; they are not only justified and adopted, but alſo ſanctified ; 1 Cor. i. 30. But of him are ye in Chriſt Jeſus, who ofGod is made unto us wiſdom, righteoufneſs, and fanctification, and redemption.
Q. 4. Do theſethree bleſſings come fingly tothe called ?
An Exposition of the Affembly's Catechism.
A. No ; they are all accompaniedwith multitudes ofother Bleſſings flowing from them ; Eph. i. 3. Bleffed be the God and Father ofour Lord Jesus Chriſt, who hath bleſſed us with all ſpiritual bleſſings, in heavenly places in Chrift.
Q. 5. What are the mercies flowing from juftification ?
A. They are great and manifold; Rom. v. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Chrift, by whom alſo we have acceſs byfaith into this gracewherein we stand, and rejoice inhope oftheglory ofGod.
Q. 6. What are the benefits flowing from adoption ?
A. Free acceſs to God; Eph. iii. 12. In whom we have boldness and acceſs with confidence by the faith ofhim. And atitleto heaven ; Rom. viii. 17. Ifchildren, thenheirs.
Q. 7. What bleſſings accompany fanctification ?"
A. Unionwith Chriſt ; Heb. ii. 11. For both he that fanetifieth, andtheywho are ſanctified, areall ofone. Andrightto the inheritance; Acts xx. 32. And now, brethren, I commend you toGod, and to the word of his grace, which is able tobuild you up, and to give you an inheritanceamongallthem which are ſanctified.
Q. 8. What is the firſt leſſon from hence ?
A. Thattheyare enemies to their own ſouls, who obey not the goſpel call; 2Thef. i. 8. In flaming fire, taking vengeance onthemthatknow notGod, andthatobeynot the gofpel ofour Lord Jesus Chrift.
Q. 9. What is the ſecond leſſon from hence ?
A. Thatthe eftate of believers abounds with ſpiritualprivileges ; 1 Cor. iii. 22, 23. Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or theworld, or life, or death, or things preſent,orthings to come, all are yours, and ye are Chrift's, and Chrift is God's.
Q. 10. What is the third leffon fromhence ?
A. That all the believer's privileges are not in hope, but ſome in hand ; 1 John iii.
Beholdwhat manner oflove the Fatherhath beſtowed upon us, that we should be called the fons ofGod.
Q. 11. What is the fourth leffon fromhence?
A. The greatest fufferers for Chriſt have no reaſon to repent their call ; Rom. viii. 18. For Ireckon, that the ſufferings of this preſent timeare notworthytobe comparedwith the glory that shallbe revealed in us .
Q.12. What is the last leſſonfrom hence ?
A. That we have infinite reaſon tobleſsGod forthe gofpel,
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