whether good or bad, John xxi. | 17-"Lord, thou knowest all things." Q. 96. What will this book serve for? A. It will serve for a libel against the ungodly, but with respect to the saints, it will be a memorial of all the good ever they have done, Matt. xxv. 35-41. Q. 97. What kind of a book is that of conscience? A. It is just a double of God's book of remembrance, so far as 'it relates to one's own state and case, Rom. ii. 15. Q. 98. What is the book of the law? A. It is the standard and rule of right and wrong, Rom. vii. 7; and likewise of the sentence that shall be passed upon these that are under it, Gal. iii. 10. Q. 99. Why will this book be opened? A. That all on the left hand may read their sentence therein, before it be pronounced, Ezek. xviii. 4. Q. 100. By what law will the heathens be judged? 4. By the natural law, or light of nature, which bears that they which commit such things (as they shall be convicted of) are worthy of death, Rom. i. 32. Q. 101. By what law will Jews and Christians be judged? A. By the written law, Rom. ii. 12" As many as have sinned in the law (i. e. under the written law) shall be judged by the (written) law." Q. 102. Whether will Christians or Heathens be most inexcusable? A. It is beyond all doubt, that it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon, and other Heathen countries, at the day of judgment, than for those who enjoyed the light of the gospel, and despised it, Matt. xi. 22. 24. Q. 103. Will the book of the law be opened for the sentence of the saints? A. No; for being, in this life, brought under a new covenant, they are no more under the law, but under grace, Rom. vi. 14; and therefore another book must be opened for their sentence. Q. 104. What is that other book out of which the saints shall be judged? A. It is the book of life, Rev. xx. 12. Q. 105. What is registered in this book? A. The names of all the elect, Luke x. 20-" Your names are written in heaven," Rev. iii. 5. "I will not blot his name out of the book of life." Q. 106. Why is it called the book of life? A. Because it contains God's gracious and unchangeable purpose, to bring all the elect to salvation, or eternal life "through sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth," 2 Thess. ii. 13. Q. 107. In whose hands is the book lodged? A. In the hands of the Mediator, Christ Jesus, Deut. xxxiii. 3-"All his saints are in thy hand." Q. 108. What is the ground of the saints' absolviture, according to this book? A. The book of life being opened, it will be known to all, who are elected, and who not: Christ will, as it were, read out every man and woman's name recorded in this book, Rev. iii. 5—“ I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels?" Q. 109. Whether will the cause of the righteous or the wicked be first discussed? "I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat," &c.? A. These good works are mentioned, not as grounds of their sentence, but as evidences of their union with Christ, and of their right and title to hea A. As "the dead in Christ shall rise first," (1 Thess. iv. 16.) so it appears from Mat. xxv. 34. and 41. compared, that the judgment of the saints, on the right hand, will have the pre-ven in him, John xv. 5. 8; even ference. Q. 110. What is the blessed sentence that shall be pronounced upon the saints? A. " 'Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world," Matt. xxv. 34. Q. 111. For what reason will this sentence be pronounced first? as the apostle says in another them God was not well pleased, Q. 115. Will there be any A. No; "In that time, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found," Jer. v. 20. A. Because the saints are to sit mention made of the sins of the in judgment, as Christ's asses-righteous? sors, against wicked men and apostate angels, 1 Cor. vi. 3, 4. Q. 112. Upon what footing or foundation will this sentence pass? A. Upon the footing of free grace"Who shall lay any thing to the alone, reigning thro' the imput- charge of God's elect? It is God ed righteousness of the Surety, that justifieth," &c. Rom. viii. unto eternal life, Rom. v. 21. 33, 34. Q. 113. Is it not said, Rev. xx. 13. that they are "judged every man according to their works?" A. The sentence passes upon the saints, ACCORDING to their works, as flowing from an heart renewed and sanctified, but not for their works, nor for their faith neither, as if eternal life were any way merited by them, Gal. iii. 18. for the kingdom is said to be prepared for them; they inherit it as children, Rom. viii. 17; but do not procure it to themselves, as servants do their wages, Col. iv. 1. Q. 114. Are not good works mentioned as the ground of the sentence, Matt. XXV. 35, 36. Q. 116. What will follow upon the saints receiving their sentence of absolution? A. They shall judge the world," 1 Cor. vi. 2. Q. 117. In what way and manner shall they judge the world? A. As assessors to Christ the Judge, consenting to his judgment as just, Rev. xix. 2. and saying Amen to the doom pronounced against all the ungodly, Psal. cxlix. 6-9. Q. 118. What will be the sentence of damnation that shall pass upon the ungodly? A. "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels," Matt. xxv. 41. Q. 119. How is the misery of the wicked aggravated, by the pronouncing of this sentence? A. Inasmuch as they are damned by him who came to save sinners, Heb. ii. 3. and must undergo the wrath of the Lamb, from which they can make no escape, Rev. vi. 16, 17. Q. 120. Is there any injury or wrong done them by this sentence? A. By no means; for, says our Lord, "I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat," &c. Matt. xxv. 42, 43. Q. 121. Are these evils no more than evidences of their cursed state? A. They are not only evidences of their ungodly state, but they are the proper causes and grounds of their condemnation: for, though good works do not merit salvation, yet evil works merit damnation, Rom. vi. 23. The wages of sin is death, Q. 122. Why are sins of omission only mentioned in the above passage? A. To show, that if men shall be condemned for sins of omission, James ii. 13. much more for these of commission, Rom. ii. 23, 24. ment of that day, when they are condemned already? A. Though from the first moment of their sinning, they were actually under the wrath of God, and ever since carry their hell about with them, yet their final sentence to farther judgment is reserved for that day, 2 Pet. ii. 4. Q. 126. What is the final sentence, or farther judgment, unto which they are reserved? A. It will be a most dreadful addition, and accession to their present torments, not only by the holy triumph which the saints shall have over them, as vile, vanquished, and contemptible enemies; but likewise, by the eternal restraint that shall be laid upon them, from hurting the elect any more; and that, by their being shut up, and closely confined in the prison of hell, under the utmost extremity of anguish and horror, for ever and ever, Rev. xx. 10. Q. 127. Who will keep the field on that day? A. Christ and his glorious company; they shall see the backs of all their enemies, for the DAMNED shall go off first; as seems to be intimated in the order mentioned, Mat. xxv. 46. "These shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the Q. 123. What will follow upon the sentence of condemna-righteous into life eternal." tion against the wicked? A. The immediate execution thereof, without the least reprieve or delay, Matt. xxii. 13. Q. 124. Will the devils also be judged? A. Yes; they are "reserved unto the judgment of the great day," Jude verse 6. Q. 125. How can they be said to be reserved unto the judg Q. 128. What improvement ought we to make of Christ's coming to judge the world at the last day? A. To be diligent that we be "found of him in peace at that day," 2 Pet. iii. 14. by closing with him in the offer of the gospel now: to be "looking for, and hasting unto the coming of the day of God," ver. 12. having our "loins girded about, and we may be able to say, with joy, our lights burning," Luke xii."Lo! this is our God, we have 35; that so, when he comes, waited for him," Isa. xxv. 9. whether at death or judgment, QUEST. 29. How are we made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ? ANSW. We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ, by the effectual application of it to us by his Holy Spirit. Q. 1. What do we understand by [redemption] in this answer? A. The whole of that salvation which is revealed and exhibited in the gospel, Psalm cxxx. 7, 8. Q. 2. Why is redemption said to be [purchased]? A. Because having brought ourselves into a state of bondage and servitude, Gal. iv. 24. we could not be ransomed, but at a great price, 1 Cor. vi. 20. Q. 3. What was the price of our redemption? A. The precious Christ, 1 Pet. i. 19. blood of Q. 4. What is it to be [partakers] of this redemption? Q. 7. How then are we made partakers of redemption? A. [By the application of it to us]? Q. 8. What is meant by the [application] of redemption [to us]2 A. The conferring all the benefits of it upon us, and making them our own, by way of free gift, John x. 28. "I will give unto them eternal life," Q. 9. How was the application of redemption typified under the Old Testament? A. By sprinkling the blood of the sacrifice upon the people, Exod. xxiv. 8. Q. 10. Does not the applicaA. It is to have a share there-tion of redemption presuppose in, or to be entered upon the the purchase thereof? begun possession of it, 1 Cor. x. 17. Q. 5. Can we make ourselves partakers of redemption? A. No; we must be [made] partakers thereof, Heb. iii. 14. We are MADE partakers of Christ, &c. Q. 6. Why cannot we make ourselves partakers of it? A. Because we are altogether without strength, Rom. v. 6; and utterly averse to all spiritual good, John v. 40. A. Yes: it could never be applied, if it were not first purchased, Job xxxiii. 24. Q. 11. How then could it be applied to the Old Testament saints, when it was not then actually purchased? A. It was applied upon the credit of the bond, which the Surety gave from eternity, of making a meritorious purchase in the fulness of time, Prov. viii. 23. 31. Q. 12. Can the purchase of redemption avail us, if it is not of redemption ascribed unto the applied? A. No more than meat can feed, clothes warm, or medicines heal us, if they are not used, John i. 12. Q. 13. When may the application of redemption be said to be [effectual]? A. When it produces the saving effects for which it is designed. Q. 14. What are these saving effects? A. The opening of the eyes of sinners, and "turning them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God," Acts xxvi. 18. [Spirit]? A. To show, that each of the three persons, in the adorable Trinity, is equally hearty and cordial in the work of man's redemption; the FATHER in or daining, the SoN in purchasing, and the SPIRIT in applying it, John vi. 57. 63. Q. 19. Why is the Spirit in this work, called the [Holy Spirit]? A. Because, as he is essentially holy, Psalm li. 11; so he is holy in all his works and operations, Rom. xv. 16. Q. 20. Why is redemption. said to be applied by the Spirit of Christ, or [His] Holy Spirit? Q. 15. If the application of redemption be effectual, what need is there of any after endea- A. Because the Spirit is sent vours, to grow in grace and ho- for this work more immediateliness? ly by Christ, and through his A. The giving us all things mediation, John xiv. 16. as the that pertain to life and godli-leading fruit of his purchase, ness, is the greatest encourage- John xiv. 7. ment and excitement to add to our faith virtue, &c; that is, to use all suitable endeavours, in the strength of grace, after spiritual growth, 2 Pet. i. 3. 5. Q. 16. Is there any application of redemption that is not effectual? A. Yes: there is an outward application thereof in baptism, which is not, of itself, effectual, as is evident in the instance of Simon Magus, who was baptized, and yet remained in the "gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity," Acts viii. 13. 23. Q. 17. By whom is the redemption purchased by Christ effectually applied? A. [By his Holy Spirit], Tit. iii. 5, 6. Q. 21. What is the difference betwixt the purchase of redemption, and the application of it? A. The purchase of redemption is a work done without us, Isa. lxiii. 3; but the application of it takes place within us, Rom. viii. 16. Q. 22. To whom is redemption effectually applied by the Spirit? A. "To all those for whom "Christ has purchased it, John "x. 15, 16"* and to none else. Q. 23. "Can they who have never heard the gospel, and so "know not Jesus Christ, nor "believe in him, be saved by "their living according to the "light of nature?" A. "They cannot be saved, Q. 18. Why is the application "John viii. 24. be they never so *Larger Cat. Q. 59. " |