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us that we may escape his wrath and curse due to us for sin?

A. To escape the wrath and curse of God due to us for sin, God requireth of us faith in Christ Jesus a, repentance unto life b, with the diligent use of all the outward means, whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption c.

a John iii. 16. God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

b Acts xx. 21. and also to the

Testifying both to the Jews, Greeks, repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ.

c Prov. ii. 1. My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; 2. So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart unto understanding: 3. Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; 4. If thou seekest for her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.

86 Q. What is faith in Christ Jesus? A. Faith in Christ Jesus is a saving grace a, whereby we receive b, and

rest upon him alone for salvation c, as he is offered to us in the gospel d.

a Heb. x. 39. We are not of them who draw back unto perdition, but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

b John i. 12. As many as he received, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.

c Phil. iii. 9. And be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.

d Isa. xxxiii. 22. the Lord is our lawgiver; the Lord is our king; he will save us.

The Lord is our judge;

87 Q. What is repentance unto life? A. Repentance unto life is a saving grace a, whereby a sinner, out of a true sense of his sins b, and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ c, doth with grief and hatred of his sin, turn from it unto God d, with full purpose of and endeavours after new obediencee. a Acts xi. 18. Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

b Acts ii. 37. When they heard this, they were pricked in their hearts, and said unto Peter, and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

c Joel ii. 13. Rend your hearts, and not

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your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

d Jer. xxxi. 18. Turn thou me, and I shall be turned, for thou art the Lord my God. Surely after I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh; I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth. e Psalm exix. 59. I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.

88 Q. What are the outward means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption?

A. The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption, are his ordinances, especially the word, the sacraments and prayer a, all which are made effectual to the elect for salvation.

a Acts ii. 41. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized. 42. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

89 Q. How is the word made effectual to salvation.

A. The Spirit of God maketh the

reading, but especially the preaching of the word, an effectual means of convincing and converting sinners a, and of building them up in holiness and comfort b, through faith unto salvation c.

a Psalm xix. 7. The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

b 1 Thess. i. 6. And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy in the Holy Ghost.

c Rom. i. 16. I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.

90 Q. How is the word to be read and heard that it may become effectual to salvation?

A. That the word may become effectual to salvation, we must attend thereunto with diligence a, preparation b, and prayer c, receive it with faith d, and love e, lay it up in our hearts f, and practise in our lives g.

a Prov. viii. 34. Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my door.

b 1 Peter ii. 1. Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and evil speakings; 2. As new-born

babes desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.

c Psalm cxix. 18. Open thou mine eyes, that I may see wonderful things out of thy law.

d Heb. iv. 2. The word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

e 2 Thess. ii. 10. They received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. f Psa. cxix. 11. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

g James i. 25. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

91 Q. How do the sacraments be-. come effectual means of salvation?

A. The sacraments become effectual means of salvation, not from any virtue in them, or in him that doth administer them a, but only by the blessing of Christ, and the working of his Spirit in them that by faith receive them b.

a 1 Cor. iii. 7. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth, but God that giveth the increase.

b 1 Peter iii. 21. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us, (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but

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