fecting of the Saints, for the Work of the Miniftry, for the edifying of the Body of Chrift.

Q. 2. Cannot falfe or feeming Grace grow?

A. It may fpring up and feem to flourish for a Time; but comes not to Perfection, Luke viii. 14.

And that which

fell among Thorns are they which when they have heard, go forth, and are choaked with Cares, and Riches, and Pleasures of this Life, and bring no Fruit to Perfection.

Q. 3. What is the first Refpect in which Grace grows? A. It grows by deeper rooting itself in the Soul, Eph. iii. 17. That Chrift may dwell in your Hearts by Faith, that ye being rooted and grounded in Love, may be able, &c.

Q4. What is the Manner of its Growth?

A. It grows in Refpect of its greater fitnefs and readiness for Acts of Obedience, Col. i. 11. Strengthned with all Might, according to his glorious Power, unto all Patience and long-fuffering, with joyfulness.

Q5. What is the third Refpect or Manner of its Growth? A. It grows in Respect of its Abilities to fix the Mind more steadily on fpiritual Things. Hence grown Christians are called fpiritual Men, Gal. vi. 1. Ye which are fpiritual refore fuch an one in the Spirit of Meekness.

Q. 6. Why muft all true Grace grow?

A. Because there is a Stature to which Chriftians are appointed, Eph. iv. 12, 13. Till we all come in the Unity of the Faith, and of the Knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect Man, unto the Measure of the Stature of the Fulness of Chrift. Q7. What are the Caufes of a Chriftian's Growth?

A. Union with Chrift, John xv. 4. As the Branch cannot bear Fruit of itfelf, except it abide in the Vine, no more can ye except ye abide in me. And his Bleffings on the Ordinances, Ifa. lv. 10, 11. For as the Rain cometh down, and the Snowy from Heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the Earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give Seed to the Sower, and Bread to the Eater; fo fhall my Word be that goeth out of my Mouth, it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I pleafe, and it shall profper in the Thing whereto I fent it. And Providences, Phil. i. 19. For I know that this shall turn to my Salvation through your Prayers, and the Supply of the Spirit of Jefus Chrift.

Q. 8. May not true Grace fometimes decay?

A. Yes it may, Rev. ii. 4. Nevertheless I have fomewhat against thee, because thou haft left thy first Love. But not utterly, 1 John iii. 9. Whojoever is born of God doth not commit Sin, for his Seed remaineth in him.

Q. 9. What is the firft Inference from hence ?

A. To blefs God for Gospel Ordinances, Pfal. xcii. 13, 14. Thofe that be planted in the Houfe of the Lord, fhall flourish in the Courts of our God, they fell fill bring forth Fruit in old Age; they fhall be fat and flourishing.

Q. 10. What is the fecond Inference?

A. Hence we fee the miferable State of them that grow worfe and worfe, Jude, verfe 12. These are Spots in your Feafts of Charity, when they feaft with you, feeding themselves without Fear. Clouds they are without Water, carried about of Winds. Trees whofe Fruit withereth; without Fruit, twice dead, pluckt up by the Root.

Q. What is the third Inference?

A. Chriftians fhould not be difcouraged at their weakness in Grace, for they have a merciful Chrift, Ifa. xlii. 3. A bruifed Reed fhall be not break, and the Smoaking Flax, jhall he not quench, he hall bring forth Judgment unto Truth. And a fure Promife, Job xvii. 9. The Righteous alfo fhall hold on his Way sand be that hath clean Hands fhall be ftronger and stronger. Q. 12. What is the laft Inference?

A. That all true Chriftians draw daily nearer and nearer to the heavenly and perfect State, 2 Cor. iv. 16. For which Caufe we faint not; but though our outward Man perish, yet the inward Man is renewed Day by Day, Rom. xiii. 11. Now is our Salvation nearer than when we believed.

Quelt. 1.

Of Perfeverance.

HAT is Perfeverance to the End?

WA. It is the Iteady and conftant continu

ance of Chriftians in the Ways of Duty and Obedience, amidst all Temptations and Difcouragements to the contrary, Col. i. 23. If ye continue in the Faith, grounded and fettled, and be not moved away from the Hope of the Gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every Crea

ture

1ure which is under Heaven, whereof I Paul am made a Minifter.

Q. 2. Do all that profefs Chrift, continue in him?

A. No; many that at firft zealously profefs him, afterwards fall away, John vi, 66. From that Time many of his Difciples went back, and walked no more with him.

Q3. Why do not all perfevere ?

A. Becaufe all Profeffors have not a good Root and Foundation, Matt. xiii. 20, 21. But he that received the Seed in fony Places, the fame is he that heareth the Word, and anon with Joy receiveth it, yet hath he not root in himself, but endureth for a while; for when Tribulation, or Perfecution arifeth because of the Word, by and by he is offended.

Q. 4. What is the firft Ground of the Saints Perfeverance?

A. God's electing Love, in which they are given to Chrift, John x. 29. My Father which gave them me, is greater than all, and no Man is able to pluck them out of my Father's

Hand.

Q. 5. What is the fecond Ground of Perfeverance?

A. The immortal Nature of fanctifying Grace, John iv. 14. But whofoever drinketh of the Water that I shall give him, fhall never thirst; but the Water that I shall give him, fhall be in him a Well of Water, Springing up into everlasting Life, 1 John iii. 9. For his Seed remaineth in him.

Q. 6. What is the third Ground of it?

A. The Covenant of Grace, Jer. xxxii. 40. I will make an everlasting Covenant with them, That I will not turn away from them to do them good; but I will put my Fear in their Hearts, that they fhall not depart from me.

Q7. What is the fourth Ground of it?

A. Chrift's effectual Interceffion, Luke xxii. 32. But I have prayed for thee, that thy Faith fail not.

Yet

Q. 8. Are there no Declinings of Grace in the Saints? A. Yes, there are, Rev. ii. 4. Nevertheless I have fomewhat against thee, because thou haft left thy first Love. Grace cannot be totally or finally loft. For the Seed of God remaineth in the fanctified, 1 John iii. 9. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit Sin, for his feed remaineth in him; and he cannot fin, because he is born of God. Q: 9.

I 2

Q. 9. Is there no Hope of Salvation for final Apoftates? A. No; the Gofpel gives none, Heb. x. 38. But if any Man draw back, my Soul hall have no Pleafure in him.

Q. 10. What is the firft Inftru&tion hence?

A. It warns all Men to lay a good Foundation, left the Buildings of Hope be overturned when the Storm comes, Mat. vii. 24, 25. Therefore whosoever heareth thefe Sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him to a wife Man which built his Houfe upon a Rock, and the Rain defcended, and the Flood's came, aad the Winds blew, and beat upon that House, and it fell not; for it was founded upon a Rock.

Q. 11. What is the second Instruction ?

A. That all Men fhould look to themselves left they lose the Things which they have wrought, 2 Epift. of John, ver. 8. Look to yourselves, that ye lefe not thofe Things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full Reward.

Q. 12. What is the laft Inftruction

A. Let no true Chriftian be difcouraged, how weak foever for God is able to make him ftand, Rom. xiv. 4. Who art thou that judgeft another Man's Servant? to his own Mafter he ftandeth or falleth, yea, he shall be holden up; for God is able to make him stand.

Of Perfection at Death.

Queft. 37. Chrill at their Death?
W

HAT Benefits do Believers receive from

A. The Souls of Believers are at their Death made perfect in Holiness, and do immediately pafs into Glory; their Bodies being ftill united to Chrift, do reft in their Graves till the Refurrection.

Q. What is the State of perfect Holiness?

A. It confifts in a perfect Freedom from Sin, or any of the least Inclination to Sin, Eph. v. 27. That he may prefent it to himself a glorious Church, not having Spot or Wrinkle, or any fuch Thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Q. 2. Wherein elfe doth Perfection confift?

A. It confifts in the Attainment of the highest Measures and Degrees of Holiness the Creature is capable of, Eph. iv.

12, 13.

12, 13. For the perfecting of the Saints,till we all come in the Unity of the Faith, and of the Knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect Man, unto the Measure of the Stature of the fulness of Chrift.

Q3. Cannot this be attained whilft in the Body.

A. No; for here all our Graces are imperfect, 1 Cor. xiii. 12. For now we fee through a Glass darkly, but then Face to Face. And we live at a Distance from God, 2 Cor. 5, 6. Whilft we are at Home in the Body, we are absent from

the Lord.

Q4. How is this attained at Death?

A. At Death the Roots of Sin are pulled up out of the Believer's Nature, Heb. xii. 23. And to the Spirits of juft Men made perfect.

Q. 5. Why muft the Soul be made perfect at Death?

A. Because the Purity of the heavenly State admits no Sin or Imperfection, Rev. xxi. 27. And there shall in no wife enter into it; any Thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh Abomination, or maketh a Lye; but they which are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

Q. 6. What is the firft Inference from hence?

A. That Death fhould be lovely and defirable in the Eyes of Believers, Phil. i. 23. having a Defire to depart, and to be with Chrift, which is far better.

Q. 7. What is the fecond Inference?

A. That God hath provided fingular Relief for his People that now groan under their Sins, and many Imperfections, 1 Cor. xiii. 12, 13. And now we fee through a Glass darkly, but then Face to Face. Now I know in Part; but then fhall I. know, even as alfo I am known.

Q. 8. What is the third Inference?

A. That the heavenly State is infinitely above and beyond whatever we enjoy here, 1 Cor. ii. 9. But as it is written, Eye hath not feen, nor Ear heard, neither have entred into the Heart of Man, the Things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

Q. 9. What is the fourth Inference ?

A. That Believers are but a fmall Distance from the Satisfaction of all their Defires, Rom. xiii. 11. Now is our Salvation nearer than when we believed.