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gavest me, I have given them; that they may "be one even as we are one; I in them, and "thou in me, that they may be made perfect ❝ in one." Jo. 17. 22, 23.

THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS.

* QUESTION 1.What is sin?

ANSWER.-Sin is a transgression of the law

of God.

* Q. 2.-Hare we all sinned?

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A. Yes; we have all sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

* Q. 3.-What is the punishment of sin? A.-Death; which signifies the body's return to dust, and the soul's enduring the curse of God for ever and ever.

* Q. 4.-Can we deliver ourselves, from this punishment?

A-By no means; if left to ourselves, we must have perishsd under the wrath of God.

Q. 5. Has God made known his mercy to us?

A. Yes; he has told us in scripture, that he delighteth in mercy," and that there

is forgiveness" with him, for he is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy."

* Q. 6.—What has God done to shew us that he is ready to forgive sins?

A. He has given his only Son Jesus Christ to die for us.

* Q. 7.-What do you mean by saying that he died for us?

A-I mean that he died in our stead; and redeemed us from the curse of the law, by enduring the curse himself.

* Q. 8.-Were all our sins laid upon Christ?

A. Yes; "he bore our sins in his own "body on the tree."

*

Q. 9. How could he do this?

A.-Our sins were laid to his charge; and he suffered the punishment. "The Lord hath laid upon him the iniquity of us all." Is. 53. 6.

Q. 10. So Christ did not suffer for his own sins ?

A. No; the sins, for which he suffered, for he was wounded for

were ours,

our

"transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and by his stripes we are healed."

Is. 53. 5.

Q. 11. Then he suffered in order to free us from the punishment due to our sins?

A. Yes; This is my blood of the New "Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." Matt. 26, 28.

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Q. 12.-Is there no way of obtaining forgiveness, but by the blood of Jesus?

A.-None: "we are not redeemed with "corruptible things as silver and gold, but "with the precious blood of Christ."

* Q. 13,-Is forgiveness of sins offered to all?

A. Yes; to all who truly believe in Jesus; for by him all that believe are justified from all things." Acts. 13. 39.

Q. 14. May the vilest sinner hope to be forgiven for Christ's sake?

A. Yes, the vilest; if he truly repents, and comes to Christ. "For the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin."

* Q. 15.-Will believers never suffer the punishment due to their sins?

A.-No, never; for there is no condemna

tion to them that are in Christ Jesus." Now where there is no condemnation, there can be no punishment.

* Q. 16-But death is the punishment of sin will not believers die?

A. Yes, their bodies will die; but the sting of death being taken away, Christ will raise up their bodies again at the last day, and receive them to himself.

Q. 17.—Is God entirely reconciled to them?

A. Yes, entirely; so that he adopts them into his family as his children; for to as "many as received him, to them gave he power to "become the sons of God, even to them that "believe on his name." Jo. 1. 12.

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THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY. * QUESTION 1.-Of what body do you here speak?

ANSWER. Of man's body, in general, that

is the bodies of all mankind.

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* Q. 2. What do you mean by the word resurrection?

A. That they will all rise again from the dead, at the last day.

* Q. 3.-Will these very bodies of our's rise again?

A. Yes; they will first die, and then, when Christ shall come to judge the world, will receive a new life, and rise again.

Q. 4. Do we see any thing in nature like this?

A. Yes; the corn which is sown in the earth, first dies, and then pushes forth the green blade, and rises above the earth, and grows, as it were, with a new life.

Q. 5. Are our present bodies exactly like those bodies which will rise again?

A-No; very different indeed, in some respects. It is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption it is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, "it is raised in power; it is sown body, it is raised a spiritual body,"

15.42-44.

a natural

1st Cor.

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