all accufations against them w, and procuring for them quiet of confcience notwithstanding daily failings x, access with boldness to the throne of grace y, and acceptance of their persons z, and services a.

Q.56. How is Christ to be exalted in his coming again to judge the world?

A. Christ is to be exalted in his coming again to judge the world, in that he, who was unjustly judged and condemned by wicked men b, shall come again at the laft day in great power c, and in the full manifestation of his own glory, and of his Father's, with all his holy angels d, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God e, to judge the world in righteousness f.

for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

w Rom. viii. 33. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth: v. 34. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

* Rom. v. 1. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ. v. 2. By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. I Johnii. 1. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man fin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Chrift the righteous: v. 2. And he is the propitiation for our fins; and not for ours only, but also for the fins of the whole world. y Heb. iv. 16. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

z Eph. i. 6. To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved.

a 1 Pet. ii. 5. Ye also as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house,

Q. 57.

an holy priesthood to offer up spiritual facrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

56. b Acts iii. 14. But ye denied the holy One, and the juft, and defired a murderer to be granted unto you, v. 15. And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raisfed from the dead, whereof we are witnesses.

c Matth. xxiv. 30. And then shall appear the fign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.

d Luke ix. 26. For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels. Matth. xxv. 31. When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he fit upon the throne of his glory.

e 1 Theff. iv. 16. For the Lord himself shall defcend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God and the dead in Chrift shall rise first.

f Acts xvii. 31. Because he hath appointed Q 57. What benefits hath Christ procured by his mediation? A. Chrift, by his mediation, hath procured redemption g, with all other benefits of the covenant of grace h.

Q. 58. How do we come to be made partakers of the benefits which Chrift hath procured?

A. We are made partakers of the benefits which Christ hath procured, by the application of them unto us i, which is the work especially of God the Holy Ghost k.

Q. 59. Who are made partakers of redemption thro Christ? A. Redemption is certainly applied, and effectually communicated to all those for whom Christ hath purchased it /; who are in time by the Holy Ghost, enabled to believe in Christ according to the gospel m,

Q. 60. Can they who have never heard the gospel, and fo know not Jesus Christ, nor believe in him, be saved by their living according to the light of nature?

appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness, by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

57. g Heb. ix. 12. Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

h 2 Cor. i. 20. For all the promifes of God in him are yea, and in him amen, unto the glory of God by us.

58. i John i. 11. He came unto his own, and his own received hint not. v. 12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the Sons of God, even to them that believe on b. name.

k Tit. iii. 5. Not by works of righteousness, which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost v. 6. Which he shed on us abundantly, through Jesus Christ our Saviour. 59. Eph. 1. 13. In whom ye also

A. They

trusted after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promife, v. 14. Which is the earnest of our inheritance, until the redemption of the purchafed possession, unto the praise of his glory. Johnvi. 37. All that the Father giveth me, shall come to me; and him that cometh unto me, I will in no wife cast out. v. 39. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me, I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. John x. 15. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. v. 16. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

m Eph. ii. 8. For by grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. 2 Cor. iv. 13. We having the fame spirit of faith, according as it is written,

A. They who, having never heard the gospel n, know not Jefus Chrifto, and believe not in him,, cannot be faved p, be they never fo diligent to frame their lives according to the light of nature q, or the law of that religion which they professr; neither is there salvation in any other,

other, but in Christ alone, who is the Saviour only of his body the church t.

Q. 61. Are all they Javed who hear the gospel, and live in the church?

A. All that hear the gospel, and live in the visible church, are not faved: but they only who are true members of the church invisible v.

2. 62. What is the visible church?

x.

63.

A. The visible church is a society made up of all fuch as in all ages andplaces of the world do profess the true religion w,and of their children and do count them but dung that I may win Christ. v. 9. And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.

f Acts iv. 12. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.

t Eph. v. 23. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the Saviour of the body.

61. v. John xii. 38. That the faying of Efaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, 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 said again, v. 40. He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. Rom.ix. 6. Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Ifrael, which are of Ifrael. Matth. xxii. 14. For many are called, but few are chosen. Matth. vii. 21. Not every one that faith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom, of heaven: but he that doth the will

of my Father which is in heaven. Rom. xi. 7. What then? Ifrael hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.

62 1 Cor. i. 2. Unto the church of God, which is at Corinth, to them that are fanctified in Chrift Jefus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours. 1 Cor. xii. 13. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. Rom. xv. 9. And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and fing unto thy name. v. 10. And again, he faith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. v. II. And again, Praife the Lord, all ye Gentiles, and laud him, all ye people. v. 12. And again Efaias faith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, in him shall the Gentiles trust. Rev. vii. 9. After this I beheld, and lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and

Q. 63. What are the special priviledges of the visible church? A. The visible church hath the priviledge of being under God's special care and governmenty; of being protected and preferved in all ages, notwithstanding the oppofition of all enemies z; and of enjoying the communion of faints, the ordinary means of falvation