that he is alfo given to me, that through Faith he may make me Partaker of Chrift and all his Benefits, may comfort me, and abide with me for ever.

The USE

THe Remembrance of this fo excellent a Benefit beftowed up on us, namely, that God hath made us Partakers of his Spirit, ought likewife to prick us forward to Holiness of Life; for feeing the Spirit of the Father, and of Chrift, is called holy, not only by Nature, but alfo, because in whomfoever he is, he doth fanctify, and feparate them from the Uncleannefs of the World, it is meet that by our Deeds we fhould fhew that he dwelleth in us, and therefore, that that weighty Exhortation of the Father, fhould be always before our Eyes, Grieve not the Spirit of God, by zakom ye are fealed to the Day of Redemption, Eph. 4. 30. he is griev ed and made fad by unclean Thoughts, Words, and Deeds, by licentious and filthy Manners; as on the other Side, he is delighted, and rejoyceth in true Humility, Holinefs, and Gravity, in framing our Words, and all the Actions of our whole Life, according to the Rule of God's Word,

Of the Church.

THE ARGUMENT.

Of the Catholick Church, and the Notes thereof, of the Communion of Saints, and the Forgiveness of Sins.

XXI. LORD's DAY,

Q. 54. Hat believest thou of the Catholick
Church of Chrift ?

A. I

AI believe that the Son of God, doth by his holy Spirit and by the Word, gather unto himfelf out of all Mankind, from the Beginning of the World unto the End, a Congregation chofen to everlasting Life, agreeing in true Faith, and doth maintain and preferve the fame; and that I am a lively Member of that Congregation, and fhall fo for ever abide *.

、:,

The Ufe

The USE.

of this Article confifteth in this, that I believe my felf alfo to be a lively Member of that Congregation, and that I fhall fo for ever abide, which every Man fhall by this Means profitably know, namely, if he confider, that even at this Day alfo, the Son of God doth gather unto himself a Church, while he provideth, that his Gofpel be publickly preached by Minifters lawfully thereunto called, and the Sacraments by them adminiftred, according to that Rule which he hath left.

... Q55. What meaneth The Communion of Saints?

A. First. That all, and every one of the Be lievers have Fellowship with Chrift and all his Benefits, as being Members of him'. Secondly. That every one who hath received Gifts, ought to imploy them readily and cheerfully, for the common Profit and Salvation of all "

The USE.

THis Communion is double, the one inward, whereby fuch as the Lord hath in this visible Church always chofen, that is,

U 2

John 1o. 27, 28, 29.

truo

i Rom. 3. 16. 2 Cor. 13. 5. 1 Johns 3. 14, 19, 20, 21.

Cor. I.

k Pfal. 2. 6. John 10. 28. 9. 1 Pet. 1. 5. 1 John 2. 9. LV. Rom. 9. 32. 1 Cor. 6. 17. and 12, 12, 20. 1 Johrs 1. 3.

Cor. 12. 21. and L. g. Phil. 2015

true Believers, are united by the fame Spirit with the Father, and his Son Jefus Chrift, and one with another among them felves; the other outward, ftanding in the mutual Duties of Charity, which the Faithful exercife one toward another. in 180 traf Moz qhow on

Q. 56. What believest thou concerning The Forgiveness of Sins 2 was mittent mob on

,

A. I believe, that God for the Satisfaction of Chrift, hath quite put out of his Remembrance all my Sins, and even that Corruption alfo, wherewith I muft ftrive all my Life long, and doth freely give unto me the Righteoufnefs of Chrift,lo that I fhall never come into Judgments.

The Affection and Love of God, which he beareth toward ue in Chrift, fhall ferve us to this Ufe: First, to make us take Heed, that no doubting of the Mercy and Goodness of God, in forgiving us our Sins, do at any Time creep upon us, as if God did not from his Heart truly forgive us. Secondly. To drive out all fuch Security, whereby it ufually cometh to pafs, that Men do carelefly fleep in their Sins, confidering, that both Sin dwell eth in us, wherewith we must strive all our Life long, and alfo, that by this Readiness and Goodnefs of God, freely to forgive us our Sins, we are the rather provoked, more carefully to avoid Sin, according to the Doctrine of St. John, who when he had taught, That if we confess our Sins, the Lord is faithful, and juft to forgive us our Sins, 1 John 1. 9. left any Man might hereupon flatter himfelf in Sin, he meeteth with it by this Admonition, Little Children, thefe Things I write unto you, that you fin not, 1 John 2. 1. as alfo Ezekiel, or rather God himself by the Prophet, fpeaketh moft feverely against fuch Frowardnets. When I say unto the righteous Man, Thou shalt furely live, if he trusting to his own Righteousness commit Iniquity, all his righteous Deeds Shall not be remembred, but in that his Iniquity which he hath committed he ball die, Ezek. 33. 13.

Of the Refurrection of the Flesh, of everlasting Life. 10ml ei le

and

SAN MATHE ARGUMENTE) Of the Refurrection of the Flesh, and of Life everlafting, and of the Fruit of Athem both. best was s

A. XXII. LORD's DAY.

Q. 57. Hat Comfort doth the Refurreaion of the Fleth minifter unto thee?

A. Not only that my Soul fhall straightway after it is departed out of the Body, be taken up unto Chrift the Head thereof; but that this Ffeth of mine alfo, being raifed up by the Power of Chrift, fhall be united again to my Soul, and fhall be made conformable unto the glorious Body of Chrift.

The USE.

WHerefore, feeing we have this Ground of the Refurrection of our Flefh, from hence is miniftred unto us, that Comwhich is neceffary. 1. To take away all Heavinefs, which we conceive for the Dead, according to Paul's Doctrine, I would not have you ignorant, Brethren, concerning thofe that fleep, that you forrow not as othes that have no Hope; for if we believe that Jesus died and refe again fo also fhall God bring with him thofe that are laid a fleep in Jefus, Thell. 4. 13, 14. 2. To drive away all Fear of Death by the Hope of a better Life, to which we hall come by the Refurrection, For we know that if our earthly House of this Tabernacle were diffolved, we have a Building of God, an Houfe not made with Hands, eternal in the Heavens, 2 Cor. 5. 1. In respect of which

U 3

End

LVII. Luke 16. 22 and 23 43. Phib • Fob 19, 25, 26, 27. 1 Cor. 15. Sin 7. 24 230 365900 54. Phil. 3. 21. 1 John 3. 28

End, Tertullian doubted not to call the Refurrection of the Flesh, the Confidence of Chriftians. 3. To encourage us unto good Works, not to deferve any Thing, but becaufe Life is promifed to them that do well. Laft of all, that by remembring the Refurrection to come, we may be hindred from Evil doing, even because of the Punishment then threatned to evil Doers.

Q. 58. What Comfort receiveft thou hy the Article of everlasting Life?

A. That because in this prefent Life, I feel the Beginnings of everlasting Joy in my Heart, I fhall after this Life enjoy full and perfect Biettedness, wherein I fhall praife God for ever "; which Bleilednefs neither Eye hath feen, nor Ear hath heard, nor any Man can conceive *.

The USE.

IT is the Duty of every faithful Man, by a true Faith, and full and ftedfaft Perfwahon, to apply unto himself this Comfort, generally propounded out of the Affurance of everlafting Lite, whereunto this Claufe leadeth every Man, I believe the Life everlasting, that is, I am perfwaded that both in Soul and Body, I fhall attain that Life everlafting, and that the fame Life which is in Chrift Jefus, fhall be revealed in me, and that when Chrift Shall appear, then Shall I also be with him in Glory, Colofl. 3: 4 For Firt, Chrift will nor break his Promife, who, as he hath promifed everlafting Life, to thofe that are his, fo will he raise them up at the laft Day, that they may enjoy it. Secondly. I am affured thereof, by the very Beginning of it, and that he which bath begun that good Work in me, will also make it perfect, even until the Day of Jefus Chrift, Phil. r 6.

Laft of all, we muft mark that this is the moft principal End of everlasting Life, namely, that we fhould praife God in that Life for evermore, for as the reft of the Creatures, were créa ted for the Ufe of this prefent Life, although they do alfo after a Sort glorify God, fo Men were created much more to glorify God in that everlafting Life, according to the Teftimony of Efai, Fey and Gladness shall be found therein, Thanksgiving and the Voice of Praife, Ifa. 1 3. which being fpoken of that Deliverance, which was but a Type of this, fhall then be really per formed.

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