Anf. Though Chrift perfonally confider'd, or in his perfonal Being, as God-man, be in Heaven above at a Distance from us; yet he is our Saviour there, by prefenting there his facrificed Body to his Father, whereby he purchafed our Salvation, and by virtue whereof, he there makes continual Interceffion for us, Heb. ix. 24-vii. 25. And he alfo by his fpiritual Prefence with us here, by his Spirit within us, renews and fanctifies us, which is a true Part of his Salvation, though imperfect here, and neceffary to make us fit for his compleat Salvation hereafter in Heaven. And this is the true Chriftian Doctrine concerning our Salvation through Jefus Christ, that every true Minifter is to preach; which teaches us both his Absence from us,, as touching his Flefh, and his Prefence with us by his Spirit, and how in both respects he is our Saviour, and is continually carrying on the Work of our Salvation, 2 Cor. v. 8.

Quest. What are the Benefits and Bleffings that Jefus Chrift, now in Heaven, intercedes with the Father to beftow upon us?

Ans. They are all the Benefits and Bleffings which he purchased for us, by his meritorious Obedience, Death and Sufferings in the Flefh, without us; which may be comprized under these Three, to wit, the Pardon of our Sins, the Affiftances of his Spirit, and eternal Life, upon our Faith andRepentance, and fincere Obedience,

Queft. What is the true Faith, that gives us a Right and Title to thefe Benefits and Bleffings?

Anf. It is fuch a true and lively Persuasion of Jefus Chrift his being the Son of God, and Saviour of the World, and of the VirL

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tue and Merit of the Sacrifice and Attonement he made for our Sins, by his Death upon the Crofs for us, and of his Mediation and Interceffion for us now in Heaven, in virtue thereof, and of the Truth of all that he has declared and revealed to us in the Holy Scriptures; as to give our felves entirely, to be his faithful Servants, and to rely upon him alone, and his Merits and Mediation, for our Salvation, upon our faithfully performing the Terms and Conditions of the Gospel required of us, through the gracious Affiftances, and fanctifying Operations of his Holy Spirit within us.

Queft. Is there not now, the fame Gift of difcerning of Spirits in the Church, that was in the Apoftles Days, whereby we can discern who are faithful true Chriftians, and who are not? *

Anf. No. For we can no more pretend now, to the fame difcerning of Spirits the Apoftles had, in fome extraordinary Cafes, as in difcerning who were fit to be called to the Office of the Miniftry; or such as St. Peter's feeing into Simon's, and St. Paul's into Elymas's Heart; than to the other extraordinary and miraculous Gifts which they had. And even the Apostles themselves, and the Brethren who were jealous of St. Paul after his Converfion; and Philip, or whoever it was, that baptized Simon Magus, had not that univerfal difcerning of Spirits the Quakers pretend to, after fo many Inftances of their being fo grofly deceived.

But we may be more fure, who are not faithful true Chriftians, than who are; for we may be fure, they are not fuch, who overthrow the Fundamentals of the Chriftian

Faith, or are guilty of grofs fcandalous Immoralities, or of vain pharifaical Pride and Boafting of their own Holinefs and Perfection, or of rafh uncharitable judging of all other profeffed Chriftians befides themfelves. But we cannot be fo fure who are fuch: For we cannot fee into Men's Hearts, to difcern the Sincere from the Hypocrite; and Satan may transform himself into an Angel of Light; and that which is highly esteemed among Men, may be an abomination in the fight of God, 2 Cor. xi. 4. Luke xvi. 15. But we are always to judge as charitably as we can, of all who retain the Fundamentals of Chriftianity, and as to their outward Profeffion and Conversation, are blameless; feeing we have no other way of judging of Men, and can be no competent Judges of Men's Hearts.

Quest. May not fome witnefs now, the fulfilling of that Promise, that they shall difcern between the righteous and the wicked, Mal. iii. 18.? *

+G. W's Truth De

Anf. No. For that Promife has a plain fending, p. Reference to the Day of Judgment, wherein 24. the Works of all Men, however fecret, fhall be made manifeft.

Quest. What is the true Repentance that is required of us?

Anf. It is humbly to confefs our Sins to God, and to pray for the Pardon of them, with a true Grief and Sorrow for them, and hatred of them, and to forfake them and lead a new Life.

Queft. Shall we have always need as long as we live in this World, to confefs and repent, and pray for the Pardon of Sin, when we have already prayed for the Pardon of our L 2

Sins,

Sins, and the Lord who heard our Prayers, G.W's hath pardoned and remitted our Sins? + Truth de- Anf. Yes, We fhall have always need to fending, P. confefs and repent, and to pray for the Pardon

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of our paft Sins, as David did for the Sins of his Youth, and his former Iniquities; and for his Sin in particular in the matter of BathSheba, after he was told by the Prophet, that God had put away his Sin; seeing the Forgiveness of our Sins depends upon our continued Repentance, Pfalm xxv. 7. — lxxix. 8. li. 1, 14. 2 Sam. xii. 13. Matth. xviii. 34. And we have alfo all need every Day to pray, for the forgiveness of our daily Sins, as well as for our daily Bread, as our Saviour has taught us, Matth. vi. 11, 12. And St. John includes himself, when he fays, If we say we have no Sin, we deceive our felves, and the truth is not in us; but if we confess our Sins, be is faithful and just to forgive us our Sins, 1 John i. 8, 9. And God has no where promised the forgiveness of Sin, to fuch as will not confefs their Sins; and it is only he that confeffeth and forfaketh his Sins, that shall find mercy, Pfalm xxviii. 13. And I never heard, that the Quakers in their Meetings, ever use any Confeffion of Sin, or fay, Forgive us our Sins; or that they have ever pretended they have done it, though fo often charged for not doing it, but only, that fome of them are come fometimes to fay in the third Perfon, Pardon them that have finned against thee, or if any here have finned against thee, give them Pardon and Forgiveness. And they upbraid us with confeffing our Sins as long as we live, and with the praying for the Pardon of them, though herein we follow the Example of Holy Men in Scripture, and the

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uniuerfal Practice of the Chriftian Church in in all Ages.

Quest. Muft we not be free from Sin before we can be Servants of God, and have everlasting Life, Rom. vi. 22.?

Anf. Yes, We must be free from the Dominion of Sin, but there are still some remainders of Sin, that God hath thought fit to leave in the best here, to keep them humble, and watchful, and diligent, in the exercise of Faith and Patience, and ftill longing for a State of perfect Deliverance.

Queft. Doth God accept of any, where there is any failing, or who do not fulfill the Law, and anfwer every demand of Juftice?** Edward Bur.p.32. Anf. There never was any fuch Perfon, except only Jefus Chrift, who perfectly fulfilled the Law, and answered every demand of Juftice, without any failing: And neither is it required of us now, as the indispensable Condition of our acceptance with God; but God doth now accept of our Repentance for our Failings and Imperfections, and of our future fincere, though imperfect Obedience, through the Merits of Jefus Chrift, and his perfect Righteousness and Obedience.

Queft. Are there not fome that attain to a State of finless Perfection here, feeing we are required, to be perfect as God is perfect, and to be holy, as he who hath called us is holy, Matth. v. 48. 1 Pet. i. 15.?

Anf. No. But all have Reafon while they are here, to fay with St. Paul, not, as tho' I bad attained, or were already perfect, Phil. iii. 12. it being the peculiar Privilege of Jefus Chrift, to be without Sin, without spot or blemish, harmless and undefiled, feparate from Sinners, Pet. i. 19. Heb. iv. 15. vii. 26. And

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