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Q. 77. Wherein do juftification and fanctification differ? A. Although fanctification be infeparably joined with justification, yet they differ, in that God in juftification imputeth the righteousness of Chriftt; in fanctification his Spirit infufeth grace, and enableth to the exercise thereof v; in the former, fin is pardoned w; in the other, it is fubdued ; the one doth equally free all believers from the revenging wrath of God, and that perfectly in this life, that they never fall into condemnation y; the other is neither equal in all z, nor in this life perfect

in

neither after him arose there any like him.

77.1 Cor. vi, 11. And fuch were fome of you: but ye are washed, but ye are fanctified, but ye are juftified in the name of the Lord Jefus, and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Cor. i. 30. But of him are ye in Chrift Jefus, who of God is made unto us wifdom, and righteousnefs, and fanctification, and redemption.

t Rom, iv. 6. Even as David alfo defcribeth the bleffedness of the man unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works. v. 8. Bleffed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute fin.

. Ezek. xxxvi. 27. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my ftatutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

Rom. iii. 24. Being justified free ly by his grace, through the redemption that is in Jefus Chrift: v. 25. Whom God hath fet forth to be a propitiation, through faith in his blood, to declare his righteoufnefs for the remiflion of fins that are paft, through the forbearance of God.

x Rom, vi, 6. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of fin might be deftroyed, that henceforth we should not ferve fin. v. 14. For fin fhall not have dominion over you: for ye

are not under the law, but under grace.

y Rom. viii, 33. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that juftifieth: v. 34. Who is he that condemneth? it is Christ that died, yea rather that is rifen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh interceffion for us.

z 1 John ii. 12. I write unto you, little children, because your fins are forgiven you for his name's fake. v. 13. I write unto you, fathers, becaufe ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I writeunto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. v. 14. I have written unto you, fathers, becaufe ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are ftrong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. Heb. v. 12. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which he the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become fuch as have need of milk, and not of ftrong meat. v. 13. For every one that ufeth milk, is unskilful in the word of righteoufnefs, for he is a

babe

in any a, but growing up to perfection b.

Q. 78. Whence arifeth the imperfection of fanctification in believers?

A. The imperfection of fanctification in believers arifeth from the remnants of fin abiding in every part of them, and the perpetual luftings of the flesh against the spirit; whereby they are often foiled with temptations, and fall into many fins c, are hindred in all their fpiritual fervices d, and their best works are imperfect and defiled in the fight of God . Q79. May not true believers by reafon of their imperfections, and

babe. v. 14. But ftrong meat be longeth to them that are of full age, even those who, by reafon of ufe, have their fenfes exercised to difcern both good and evil.

a 1 John i. 8. And if we fay that we have no fin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. v. 10. If we fay that we have not finned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

b2 Cor. vii. 1. Having therefore thefe promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthinefs of the flesh and fpirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Phil. iii. 12. Not as though I had already attained, either were already per fect but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which alfo I am apprehended of Chrift jefus. v. 13. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto thofe things which are before, v. 14. I prefs towards the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jefus.

78. c Rom. vii. 18. For I know that in me, (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is prefent with me, but how to perform that which is good, I find not. v. 23. But I fee another law in my members, warring against the law

of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of fin, which is in my members. Mark xiv. 66. to the end. And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priests, &c. Gal. ii. 11. But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, becaufe he was to be blamed. v. 12. For before that certain came from James, he' did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew, and feparated himself, fearing them who were of the circumcifion.

d Heb. xii. 1. Wherefore, feeing we alfo are compaffed about with fo great a cloud of witneffes, let us lay afide every weight, and the fin which doth fo eafily befet us, and let us run with patience the race that is fet before us.

e Ifa. Ixiv, 6. But we are all as ab uncleah thing, and all our righteoufneffes are as filthy rags, and we all do fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. Exod. xxviii. 38. And it fhall be upon Aaron's forehead, that

aron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Ifrael fhall hallow in all their holy gifts: and it fhall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the Lord,

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and the temptations and fins they are overtaken with, fall away from the state of grace?

A. True believers, by reafon of the unchangeable love of God f, and his decree and covenant to give them perfeveranceg, their infeparable union with Chrift b, his continual interceffion for them i, and the Spirit and feed of God abiding in them, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the ftate of grace 1, but are kept by the power of God thro' faith unto falvation m. Q80. Can true belivers be infallibly affured that they are in the estate of grace, and that they hall perfevere therein unto falvation?

A. Such

79. Jer.xxxi. 3.The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, faying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlafting love; therefore with loving kindnefs have I drawn thee,

g2 Tim. ii. 19. Nevertheless the foundation of God ftandeth fure, having this feal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Chrift depart from iniquity. Heb. xiii. 20. Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jefus, that great thepherd of the fheep, through the blood of the everlafting covenant, v. 21. Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleafing in his fight, through Jefus Chrift; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 2 Sam. xxiii. 5. Although my house be not fo with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and fure: for this is all my falvation, and all my defire, altho' he make it not to grow.

b1 Cor. i. 8. Who fhall alfo confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jefus Chrift: v. 9. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son refus Chrift

our Lord.

¿ Heb. vii. 25. Wherefore be is able alfo to fave them to the uttermoft, that come unto God by him, feeing he ever liveth to make interceffion for them. Luke xxii. 32. But I have prayed for thee,that thy faith fail not; and when thou art converted, ftrengthen thy brethren,

k 1 John iii, 9. Whosoever is born of God, doth not commit fin; for his feed remaineth in him and he cannot fin, becaufe he is born of God. 1 John ii. 27. But the anointing which ye have received of him, abideth in you: and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the fame anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie and even as it hath taught you, ye fhall abide in him.

/ Jer. xxxii. 40. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they fhall not depart from me. John x. 28.

And I give unto them eternal life, and they fhall never perish, neither fhall any pluck them out of my hand.

m 1 Pet. i. 5. Who are kept by the power of God through faith un

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A. Such as truly believe in Christ, and endeavour to walk in all good confcience before him n, may, without extraordinary revelation, by faith grounded upon the truth of God's promifes, and by the Spirit enabling them to difcern in themselves thofe graces to which the promises of life are made o, and bearing witness with their spirits that they are the children of God p, be infallibly affured that they are in the estate of grace; and fhall perfevere therein unto falvation q.

Q. 81. Are all true believers at all times affured of their prèfent being in the estate of grace, and that they shall be faved?

A. Affurance of grace and falvation not being of the effence of faith r, true believers may wait long before they obtain it;

80. n 1 John ii. 3. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

and,

to falvation, ready to be revealed in he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth the last time, in God, and God in him. Heb. vi. 11. And we defire, that every one of you do fhew the fame diligence, to the full affurance of hope unto the end: v. 12. That ye be not flothful, but followers of them, who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

• 1 Cor. ii. 12. Now we have received, not the fpirit of the world, but the fpirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 1 John iii. 14. We know that we have paffed from death unto life, becaufe we love the brethren: he that loveth not his brother, abideth in death. v. 18. My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth, v. 19. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and fhall affure our hearts before him. v. 21. Beloved, if our hear condemn us not, then we have con fidence towards God. v. 24. And he that keepeth his commandments, dwelleth in him, and he in him: and hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. 1 John iv. 13. Here by we know that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given as of his Spirit. v. 16. And we have known, and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and

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Rom. viii. 16. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our fpirit, that we are the children of God.

91 John v. 13. These things have I written unto you, that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

81. Eph. i. 13. In whom ye alfo trufted after that ye heard the word of truth, the gofpel of our falvation: in whom alfo after that ye believed, ye were fealed with that holy Spirit of promise.

Ifa. I. 1o. Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his fervant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him truft in the Lord, and tay upon his God. Pfal. lxxxviii,throughout. v. 1, O Lord God of my falvation, I have cried day and night be

fore

and, after the enjoyment thereof, may have it weakened and intermitted, through manifold diftempers, fins, temptations and defertions t: yet are they never lett without fuch a préfence and fupport of the Spirit of God, as keeps them from finking into utter defpair v.

fore thee, v. 2. Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry. v. 3. For my foul is full of trouble: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave.-v. 6. Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in dark hefs, in the deeps, v. 7. Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou haft afflicted me with all thy waves. SeJah.. 7. Mine eye mourneth by reafon of affliction: Lord, I have called daily upon thee, I have ftretched out my hands unto thee. v. 10. Wilt thou fhew wonders to the dead?-v. 13. But unto thee have I cried, O Lord, and in the morning fhall my prayer prevent thee, v. 14. Lord, why caftest thou off my foul? why hideft thou thy "face from me? v. 15. I am afflicted and ready to die, from my youth up, while I fuffer thy terrors, I am diftracted, &c.

(Pfal. lxxvii. 1. to the 12. verfe.) V. I. I cried unto thee with my voice: even unto God with my voice, and he gave ear, unto me. v. 2. In the day of my trouble I fought the Lord; my fore ran in the night, and ceafed not: my foul refufed to be comforted. v. 3. I remembered God, and was troubled: 1 complain. ed, and my fpirit was overwhelmed. v. 7. Will the Lord caft off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? &c. Cant, v. 2, I fleep; but my heart waketh it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, fay ing. Open to me, my fifter, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my

Q. 82.

head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night. 3. L have put off my coat, how fhall I put it on? I have washed my feet, how thall I defile them? v. 6. I, 0pened to my beloved, but my belov ed had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my foul failed when he spake: I fought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer. Pfal. li. 8. Make me to hear joy and gladness: that the bones which thou hast broken, may rejoice. v. 12. Reftore unto me the joy of thy falvation, and uphold me with thy free Spirit. Pfal, xxxi. 22. For I faid in my halte, I am cut off from before thine eyes neverthelefs thou heardest the voice of my fupplications, when I cried unto thee. Pial. xxii. 1. My God, my God, why haft thou forfaken me? why art thou fo far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

1 John iii. 9. Whosoever is born of God, doth not commit fin; for his feed remaineth in him: and he cannot fin, because he is born of God. Job xiii. 15, Though he flay me, yer will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. Pfal. lxxiii. 15. If I fay, I will fpeak thus: behold, I should offend again the generation of thy children. 23. Nevertheless, I am continually with thee: thou haft holden me by my right hand. Ifa. liv. 7. For a fmall moment have I forfaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee. v . In a little wrath I hid my

face

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