Q. 10. What is the fifth Inference?

A. That the Saints fhould earnestly pursue that Perfection, even in this imperfect State, Phil. iii. 13, 14. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended; but this one Thing I do, forgetting thofe Things which are behind, and reaching forth to thofe Things which are before, I press towards the Mark, for the Price of the high Calling of God in Chrift Jesus.

Q. 11. What is the fixth Inference?

A. That Death to the Saints is better than Life, Phil. i. 21. For to me to live is Chrift, and to die is gain.

Q. 12. What is the last Inference ?

A. That Faith is abfolutely neceffary to entitle us to this perfect State.

Quest. 1.

D

Of immediate Glorification.

O all that die in Chrift immediately pafs into Glory?

A. Yes, they do, Luke xxiii. 43. To Day shalt thou be with me in Paradife, Phil. i. 23. Having a Defire to depart, and to be with Chrift.

Q. 2. rification?

What is the first Reafon for their immediate Glo

A. Because Heaven is prepared and ready for them, Mat. xxv. 34. Come ye bleffed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the Foundation of the World.

Q3. What is the fecond Reason for it?

A. Becaufe at Death they are as ready for Heaven as ever they fhall be, John ix. 4. Imust work the Work of him that fent me while it is Day, the Night cometh, when no Man can work. Q4. What is the third Reafon for it?

A. Becaufe Death elfe could not be gain, as it is, Phil. i. 21. For to me to live is Chrift, and to die is gain

Q5. What is the fourth Reason for it?

A. Becaufe there is the fame Reafon for all, as for any one: But fome are immediately glorified, Luke xxiii. 43. To Day shalt thou be with me in Paradife.

Q. 6. What is the fifth Reason for it?

A. Because

A. Because Chrift longs for their coming to him, and they for his Enjoyment; and these Longings are in vain, if not fatisfied, Rev. xxii. 17, 20. And the Spirit and the Bride fay, Come; and let him that heareth fay, come; and let him that is a Thirft, fay, come; and whosoever will, let him take of the Water of Life freely; he which teftifieth thefe Things, faith, Surely, I come quickly, Amen, even fo, come Lord Jefus.

Q. 7. What is the first Inftruction from hence?

A. That the Apparitions of departed Saints ordinarily are but Fables. They wander not, Rev. iii. 12. Him that overcometh will I make a Pillar in the Temple of my God, and he fall go no more out.

Q. 8. What is the fecond Inference?

A. That Purgatory is a groundless Fable, and Invention of Men; and the Scriptures alledged to countenance it, grofly abused, 1 Pet. iii. 19. By the which also he went and preacht unto the Spirits in Prifon.

Q. 9. What is the third Inference from it?

A. That Heaven must needs be a marvellous Surprize to Believers, how long foever they have converfed with it here. Q. 10. What is the fourth Inference?

A. The Confideration of this fhould provoke Saints to work hard to finish all they have to do on Earth, Ecclef. ix. 10. Whatfoever thy Hand findeth to do, do it with thy Might; for there is no Work, nor Device, nor Knowledge, nor Wifdom in the Grave whither thou goeft.

Q. 11. What is the fifth Inference?

A. That there is no Reafon to grieve exceffively for departed Saints, 1 Thef. iv. 14. Even fo them alfo which fleep in Jefus will God bring with him.

Q. 12. What is the last Inference?

A. That Chriftlefs ones are immediately in Hell, Luke xvi. 22, 23. The rich Man also died, and was buried, and in Hell be lift up his Eyes, being in Torment.

Queft. 1.

W

Of reft in the Grave.

HY muft Believers come to the Grave?
A. Because where Sin has been, Death,

by the Law, muft follow, Rom. v. 12. Wherefore as by one

t

Man

Man Sin entred into the World, and Death by Sin, and fo Death paffed upon all Men, for that all have finned.

Q. 2. What is the firft Privilege of their Bodies there?

A. 'Tis the Privilege of their Bodies to be there in Union with Chrift, Thef. iv. 14. Them alfo which fleep in Jefus. will God bring with him.

Q. 3. What is their fecond Privilege?

A. Their Graves are Places of Reft; not Prifons, but Beds of Reft, Ifa. Ivii. 2. He shall enter into Peace, they shall reft in their Beds, each one walking in his Uprightness.

Q4. What is the firft Evil they reft from?

A. All the Toils, and Troubles, and Afflictions of this Life, Rev. xiv. 13. They may reft from their Labours, and their Works do follow them.

Q5. What is the fecond Evil they rest from?

A. They reft from all Perfecutions from Men, Job iii. 17. There the wicked ceafe from troubling, and there the weary be at reft.

Q. 6. What is the third Evil they reft from?

A. They reft from Sin, never to feel Temptation or Inclination to Sin, Heb. xii. 23. And to the Spirits of juft Men made perfect.

Q. 7. How long fhall the Bodies reft in the Grave?

A. Not for ever, but till the Day of the Refurrection, Job xix. 26. For though after my Skin Worms deftroy this Body, yet in my Flefh fhall I fee God.

Q. 8. What is the firft Inference from hence?

A. That Union with Chrift redounds to the fingular Advantage of the Body as well as the Soul, Rom. viii. 11. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jefus from the Dead, dwell in you, be that raifed up Chrift from the Dead, fhall alfo quicken your mortal Bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Q. 9. What is the fecond Inference?

A. That Death diffolves not the Union betwixt Chrift and the Souls or Bodies of his, Mat. xxii. 32. I am the God of Abraham, the God of Ifaac, and the God of Jacob; God is not the God of the Dead, but of the Living.

Q. 10. What is the third Inference?

A. That feeing our Bodies are to have fo long and so sweet reft in the Grave, we should not fpare them in God's Ser

vice now, 2 Pet. i. 13, 14. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this Tabernacle, to ftir you up, by putting you in Remem brance, knowing that shortly I must put off this my Tabernacl, even as our Lord Jefus Chrift bath fhewed me.

Q. 11. What is the fourth Inference ?

A. That Chriftians fhould neither too much fear their own, nor forrow for others Death, Rom. viii. 38. For I am perfuaded, that neither Death, nor Life, nor Angels, nor Principalities, nor Powers, nor any other Creature fhall be able to feparate us from the Love of God which is in Chrift Jefus our Lord, I Thef. iv. 13. I would not have you to be ignorant concerning them which are afleep, that ye forrow not even as others which have no Hope.

Queft. 1.

Is

Ι

Of the Refurrection.

S the Refurrection a credible Doctrine? A. Yes, it is, Acts xxvi. 8. Why should it be thought a Thing incredible with you, that God should raise the Dead?

Q. 2. Why then doth it seem incredible to Man?

A. Because they err, not knowing the Scriptures, and the Power of God, Mark xii. 24. Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the Scriptures, neither the Power of God? The Power of God affures us it may be fo, and the Word of God tells us it must be fo.

Q3. Is it finful to doubt of the Doctrine of the Refurrection?

A. 'Tis not only a Sin to doubt it, but an Herefy to deny it, it being a fundamental Article, Heb. vi. 2. And of the Refurrection of the Dead, 1 Cor. xv. 13, 14. But if there be no Refurrection of the Dead, then is Chrift not rifen; and if Chrift be not rifen, then is our preaching vain, and your Faith is also vain.

Q4. Who muft rife again at the Refurrection?

A. All Men, good and bad, must rise again, Acts xxiv. 15. And have Hope towards God, which they themselves alfo allow, that there shall be a Refurrection of the Dead, both of the Fuft and the Unjust, Rev. xx. 12, 13, 14. And I faw the Dead Small and great, ftand before God, &c.

Q. 5. What is the firft Difference betwixt the Refurrection of the Juft and the Unjuft ?

A. Saints rife by virtue of their Union with Chrift, Rom. viii. 11. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jefus from the Dead dwell in you; he that raifed up Chrift from the Dead, fhall alfo quicken your mortal Bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. But the Wicked by his Power.

Q. 6. What is the second Difference?

A. The fecond and main Difference will be in the contrary Ends to which they rife, fome to Life, and fome to Condemnation, Dan. xii. 2. And many of them that fleep in the Duft of the Earth fhall awake, fome to everlasting Life, and fome to Shame, and everlasting Contempt.

Q7. What is the Glory to which Saints Bodies fhall be raised?

A. In the Likeness of Chrift's glorious Body, Phil. iii. 21. Who fhall change our vile Body, that it may be fashioned like to his glorious Body.

Q. 8. What is the firft Inference from hence?

A. That every Man should strive to the uttermoft to attain to the Refurrection of the juft, Phil, iii. 10, 11. That I may know him, and the Power of his Refurrection, and the Fellowship of the Sufferings, being made conformable unto his Death, if by any Means I might attain to the Refurrection of the Dead. Q. 9. What is the fecond Inference?

A. Comfort to them that now groan under manifold Diftempers, and Deformities of Body; they being made equal to Angels, Mark xii. 25. For when they shall rise from the Dead, they neither marry, nor are given in Marriage, but are as the Angels which are in Heaven.

Q. 10. What is the third Inference ?

A. Get Union with Chrift by Faith, as you expect a joyful Refurrection, John xi. 25. Jefus faid unto her, I am the Refurrection, and the Life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet fhall be live.

Q. 11. What is the fourth Inference?

A. Saints fhould not fear Death, Gen. xlvi. 3. Fear not to go down into Egypt.

Q. 12. What is the laft Inference?

A. Imploy your Bodies for good now.

Of