tion a, and offers of grace by Chrift to all the members of i in the miniftry of the gofpel, teftifying that whofoever be lieves in him fhall be faved b, and excluding none that wil come unto him c.

Q. 64. What is the invifible church?

A. The invifible church is the whole number of the elect
that have been, are, or fhall be gathered into one under
Chrift the head d.
Q.65.

God? &c. v. 9. O Ifrael, truft thou
in the Lord: he is their help and
their fhield, &c. If. xxxi. 4. For
thus hath the Lord fpoken unto me,
Like as the lion and the young
lion
roaring on his prey, when a multi-
tude of fhepherds is called forth a-
gainst him, he will not be afraid of
their voice, nor abase himself for
the noise of them: fo fhall the Lord
of hofts come down to fight for
mount Zion, and for the hill thereof,
v. 5. As birds flying, fo will the
Lord of hofts defend Jerufalem, de-
fending alfo he will deliver it, and
paffing over he will preserve it. Zech.
xii. 2. Behold, I will make Jerufa-.
Jem a cup of trembling unto all the
people round about, when they fhall
be in the fiege both against Judah,
and against Jerufalem. v. 3. And in
that day will I make Jerufalem a
burdenfume ftone for all people:
all that burden thenifelves with it
fhall be cut in pieces, though all
the people of the earth be ga-
thered together against it. v. 4. In
that day, faith the Lord, I will
fmite every horse with astonishment,
and his rider with madnefs, and I
will open mine eyes upon the house
of Judah, and will fmite every
horfe of the people with blindness.
v. 8. In that day fhall the Lord de-
fend the inhabitants of Jerufalem,
and he that is feeble among them at
that day fhall be as David; and the
houfe of David fhall be as God, as
the angel of the Lord before them.
v. 9. And it fhall come to pafs in

that day, that I will feek to deftroy all the nations that come against Jerufalem.

a Acts ii. 39. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God fhall call. v. 42. And they continued stedfastly in the apoftles doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

b Pfal. cxlvii. 19. He fheweth his word unto Jacob, his ftatutes and his judgments unto Ifrael. v. 20. He hath not dealt fo with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praife ye the Lord, Rom. ix. 4. Who are Ifraelites ; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the fervice of God, and the promifes. Eph. iv. 11. And he gave fome, apoftles: and fome, prophets fome, evangelifts: and fome, paftors and teachers. v.12. For the perfecting of the faints, for the work of the miniftry, for the edifying of the body of Chrift. Mark xvi. 15. And he faid unto them. Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. v. 16. He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved; but he that believeth not, fhall be damned.

and

c John vi. 37. All that the Fa ther giveth me, fhall come to me; and him that cometh to me; I will in no wife caft out.

64. d Eph. i. 10. That in the difpenfation of the fulaefs of times,

he

65. What special benefits do the members of the invisible church enjoy by Chrift?

A. The members of the invifible church, by Chrift, enjoy union and communion with him in grace and glory e.

Q. 66. What is that union which the elect have with Chrift? A. The union which the elect have with Chrift is the work of God's Grace f, whereby they are fpiritually and mystically, yet really and infeparably joined to Christ as their Head and Hufband g; which is done in their effectual calling b.

Q:67. What is effectual calling?

he might gather together in one all things in Chrift, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth, even in him, v. 22. And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church. v. 23. Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. John x. 16. And other heep I have, which are not of this fold: them alfo I must bring, and they fhall hear my voice; and there fhall be one fold, and one fhepherd. John xi. 52. And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one, the children of God that were fcattered abroad.

65. e John xvii. 21. That they all may be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee; that they alfo may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou haft fent me. Eph. ii. 5. Even when we were dead in fins, hath quick ened us together with Chrift, (by grace ye are faved) v. 6. And hath raifed us up together, and made us fit together in heavenly places in Chrift Jefus. John xvii. 24. Father, I will that they alfo whom thou haft given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory which thou haft given ine: for thou lovedft me before the foundation of the world.

A. Effectual

66: ƒ Eph. i. 22. And hath pur all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church. Eph. ii. 6. And hath raised us up together, and made us fit together in heavenly places in Chrift Jefus. v. 7. That in the ages to come he might fhew the exceeding riches of his grace, in his kindness toward us, through Chrift Jefus. v. 8. For by grace are ye faved, through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.

g1 Cor. vi. 17. But he that is joined unto the Lord, is one fpirit. John x. 28. And I give unto them eternal life, and they fhall never perifh, neither fhall any pluck them out of my hand. Eph. v. 234 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Chrift is the head of the church and he is the Saviour of the body. v. 30. For we are members of his body, of his fleth; and of his bones.

b 1 Pet. v. 10. But the God of all grace who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Chrift Jefus; after that ye have fuffered a while, make you perfect, stablish,strengthen, fettle you. i Cor. i. 9. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jefus Christ our Lord. Dd

John

A. Effectual calling is the work of God's almighty power and grace i, whereby (out of his free and special love to his elect, and from nothing in them moving him thereunto ) he doth, in his accepted time, invite and draw them to Jefus Chrift, by his word and Spirit /. favingly enlightning their minds m, renewing and powerfully

v. 7. That in the ages to come he might fhew the exceeding riches of his grace, in his kindness towards us, through Chrift Jefus. v. 8. For by grace are ye faved, throngh faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: v. 9. Not of works, left any man should boast. Rom. ix. 11. For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth.

67. i John v. 25. Verily verily I fay unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead fhall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear fhall live. Eph. i. 18. The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the faints. V. 19. And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power; v. 20. Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and fet him at his own right hand in the heavenly places. 2 Tim. i 8. Be not thou therefore afhamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prifoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the go-fo, that ye receive not the grace of fpel, according to the power of God; v. 9. Who hath faved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpofe, and grace which was given us in Chrift Jefus, before the world began.

k Tit. ii. 4. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, v. 5. Not by works of righteousness,which we have done, but according to his mercy he faved us by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghoft. Eph. ii. 4. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith ye loved us, v. 5. Even when we were dead in fins hath quickened us together with Chrift, (by grace we are faved)

/ 2 Cor. v. 20. Now then we are ambaffadors for Chrift, as though God did befeech you by us: we pray you is Chrift's stead, be ye reconciled to God. Compared with 2 Cor. vi. 1. We then as workers together with him, befeech you al

God in vain. V. 2. For he faith, I have heard thee in a time accept: ed, and in the day of falvation have I fuccoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of falvation. John vi. 44No man can come to me, except the Father which hath fent me, draw him: and I will raife him up at the last day. 2 Theff. ii. 13. But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chofen you to falvation, through fanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth: v. 14. Whereunto he called you by our gofpel, to the obtaining of the glo ry of our Lord Jefus Christ.

m Acts xxvi. 18. To open

their eyes,

powerfully determining their wills n, fo as they (although in themselves dead in fin) are hereby made willing and able freely to anfwer his call, and to accept and embrace the grace offered and conveyed therein o.

Q

68. Are the elect only effectually called?

A. All the elect, and they only, are effectually called p; although others may be, and often are, outwardly called by the ministry of the word q, and have fome common operations of the Spirit r; who, for their wilful neglect

and eyes, and to turn them from dark-gether with Chrift, (by grace ye are nefs to light, and from the power faved). Phil. ii. 13. For it is God of Satan unto God, that they may which worketh in you, both to will receive forgiveness of fins, and in- and to do of his good pleafure. keritance among them which are Deut. xxx. 6. And the Lord thy fanctified by faith that is in me. God will circumcife thine heart, and 1 Cor. ii. 10. But God hath reveal the heart of thy feed, to love the ed them unto us by his Spirit: for Lord thy God with all thine heart, the Spirit fearcheth all things, yea, and with all thy foul, that thou the deep things of God. V. 12. mayeft live. Now we have received, not the fpirit of the world, but the Siprit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

n Ezek. xi. 19. I will give them one heart, and I will put a new fpirit within you; and I will take the ftony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh. Ezek. xxxvi. 26. A new heart alfo will I give you, and a new fpirit will I put within you, and I will take away the ftony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. v. 27. And I will put my spirit within you, and caufe, you to walk in my ftatutes, and ye fhall keep my judgments, and do them. John vi. 45. It is written in the prophets, And they fhall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father cometh unto

me.

Eph. ii. 5. Even when we were dead in fins hath quickened us to

68. Acts xiii. 48. And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life, believed.

q Matth. xxii. 14. For many are called, but few are chofen.

r Matth. vii. 22. Many will fay to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophefied in thy name? and in thy name have caft out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? Matth. xiii. 20. But he that received the feed into ftony places, the fame is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it: v. 21, Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or perfecution arifeth because of the word, by and by he is offended. Heb. vi. 4. For it is impoffible for those who were once enlightened, and have tafted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghoft. v. 5. And have tafted the good word of God, and the power

and contempt of the grace offered to them, being juftly left in their unbelief, do never truly come to Jefus Christ f.

Q. 69. What is the communion in grace which the members of the invifible church have with Chrift?

A. The communion in grace, which the members of the invifible church have with Christ, is their partaking of the virtue of his mediation, in their juftification t, adoption v, fanctification, and whatever elfe, in this life, manifefts their union with him w.

Q. 70. What is juftification?

Juftification is an act of God's free grace unto finners x, in which he pardoneth all their fins, accepteth and accounteth

of the world to come; v. 6. If they fhall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance.

John xii. 38. That the faying of Efaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he fpake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed; v. 39. Therefore they could not believe, because that Efaias faid again. v. 40. He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they fhould not fee with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I fhould heal them. Acts xxviii. 25. And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had fpoken one word, Well fpake the Holy Ghoft by Efaias the prophet, unto our fathers. v. 26. Saying, Go unto this people, and fay, Hearing ye fhall hear, and shall not understand; and feeing ye fhall fee, and not perceive. v. 27. For the heart of this people is waxed grofs, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they clofed; left they fhould fee with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and

I fhould heal them. John vi. 64. But there are fome of you that believe not. For Jefus knew from the beginning, who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. v. 65. And he faid, therefore faid I unto you, that no man cán come unto me, except it were gi ven unto him of my Father. Pfal. xxxi. 11. But my people would not hearken to my voice: and Ifrael would none of me. v. 12. So I gave them up unto their own hearts luft: and they walked in their own counfels.

69. Rom. viii. 30. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he alfo called and whom he called, them he alfo juftified; and whom he juftified, them he alfo glorified.

Eph. i. 5. Having predeftinated us unto the adoption of children by Jefus Chrift to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.

I Cor. i. 30. But of him are ye in Chrift Jefus, who of God is made unto us wifdom, and righteoufnefs, and fanctification, and redemption.

70. x Rom. iii. 22. Even the righteoufnefs of God which is by faith of Jefus Chrift unto all, and

upon