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 to them in and by Christ ; Col. iii. 3. Your life is hid with ChristinGod, Q. 8. What is the second inference ?
A. That the relation between Christ and believers is very near and intimate; Eph. v. 30. For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
9. What is the third inference ?
A. That believers need not be afraid to go down to the grave ; Rom. viii. 38, 39. For I am persuaded, that neither death nor life, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our
Lord. And this union holds after death ; Matth . xxii. 31, 32, But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto youbyGod, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God ofJacob ?
God is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living.
: Q.ro. What is the fourth inference ?
A. That in wronging and perfecutingthe faints,men wrong and persecute 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 saints, we relieve and refresh Christ himself; Matth. xxv. 35, 36. For I was an hung red, andyegave me meat ; and I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in ; naked, and ye cloathedme ; I was sick, an dye visited me ; I was in prison, an dye came unto me.
Verf. 40. In as much asye have done ituntoone of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Q. 12. What is the last inference?
A. That there is a sympathy in Christ, under all the pres fures and grievances of his people ; Heb. iv. 15. We have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without fin.
OfEffectual Calling.
Hat is effectual calling ?
Quest. 31..W A. Effectual calling is the work of God's Spirit, whereby convincing us of ourfin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our
An Exposition of the Assembly's Catechism.
wills,he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel.
Q. 1. What makes the difference between effectualandineffectualcalling?
A. Ineffectual calling is, whenmen have nothing but the external found of the gospel; Matth. xx. 16. For many be called, but few chosen.
Effectual is, when the Spirit works in conjunction with the word; John vi. 45. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God; every man therefore that hath heard,andhathlearned of the Father, cometh unto me.
Q.2. What is the first act of the Spirit in effectual calling?
A. Convictionoffin ; John xvi. 8. And when he is come, he will reprove theworldoffin.
Q. 3. Do the called of God hear any voice from heaven ?
A. Ordinarily it isacallwithoutfound, yet as efficacious as an audible voice from heaven .
Q. 4. What is the second act of the Spirit in our effectual calling?
A.Theilluminationofthemind in the knowledgeofChrift ; Αεις xxvi. 18. Τo open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light,and from the power ofSatth unto God.
Q. 5. In what things doth it enlighten them?
A. In this ; That Christ is their only remedy ; Acts iv. 12.
Neither is there salvation in any other; for thereisnoneother nameunderheaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. And their all-sufficient remedy; Heb. vii. 25. Wherefore he is able also to fave them to the uttermoftthatcome un to God by him .
Q. 6. What is the third act?
A. Hisrenewingofthefinner'swill, and making it flexible; Psalm cx. 3. Thy people thall be willing in the day of thy power.
Ezek. xxxvi. 26. Anew heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I putwithinyou, and I will take away the stonyheartoutofyour flesh,and I will give youanheart of flesh.
Q. 7. Can no man come to Chrifttillthus be enabled ?
A. No; it is not in the powerofman's nature or will, till thus renewed and enabled; Eph. i. 19, 20. And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward,who believe, accordingtotheworking of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him on his own righthandinthe heavenly places.
John vi. 44. No mancancome to me except the Father, which hath sent me, draw him.
An Exposition of the Assembly's Catechism.
Q. 8. What fort of men are most ordinarily called ?
A. The poor and mean ones in the world ; 1 Cor. i. 26. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wife men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called; but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wife; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world 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 of God 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 love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.
Q. 11. What is the third instruction ?
A. It is dangerous to refuse God's call; Prov. i. 24.Because I have called, an dye have refused,I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded.
Q.12. What is the last instruction ?
A. That Christians are obliged to walk suitably to their heavenly calling ; 1 Theff. ii. 12. That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
Of the Concomitants of Vocation.
Quest. 32. WHat benefits 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 all that be effectually called, justified ?
A. Yes ; God justifies all, and every soul that obeys and answers his call ; Rom. viii. 30. Whom he called, them he also justified.
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 unto the adoption of children, by Jesus Christ, unto himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.
Q. 3. Are those all the 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 of God is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, and fanctification, and redemption.
Q. 4. Do these three blessings come fingly to the called ?
An Exposition of the Assembly's Catechism.
A. No ; they are all accompanied with multitudes of other Blessings flowing from them ; Eph. i. 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings, in heavenly places in Christ.
Q. 5. What are the mercies flowing from justification ?
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 Christ, by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
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 of him. And a title to heaven ; Rom. viii. 17. If children, thenheirs.
Q. 7. What blessings accompany fanctification ?"
A. Union with Christ ; Heb. ii. 11. For both he that fanetifieth, and they who are sanctified, are all of one. And right to the inheritance; Acts xx. 32. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritanceamongallthem which are sanctified.
Q. 8. What is the first lesson from hence ?
A. That they are enemies to their own souls, who obey not the gospel call; 2Thef. i. 8. In flaming fire, taking vengeance onthemthatknow not God, andthatobeynot the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Q. 9. What is the second lesson from hence ?
A. That the estate of believers abounds with spiritual privileges ; 1 Cor. iii. 22, 23. Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present,or things to come, all are yours, and ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's.
Q. 10. What is the third lesson from hence ?
A. That all the believer's privileges are not in hope, but some in hand ; 1 John iii.
Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.
Q. 11. What is the fourth lesson from hence?
A. The greatest sufferers for Christ have no reason to repent their call ; Rom. viii. 18. For I reckon, that the sufferings of this present time are notworthytobe compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us .
Q.12. What is the last lesson from hence ?
A. That we have infinite reason toblessGod for the gospel,
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