Q. 3. Why doth God require of us repentance unto life, that we may escape his wrath and curse?

A. God requireth of us repentance unto life,that we may escape his wrath and curse, because the promise of forgiveness of sin is made to repentance, as a concomitant of faith; and it is not for God's honour to pardon and save any that go on still in their trespasses, Acts iii. 19. Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out. Acts zx. 21. Testifying both to the Jews and also to the Greeks, repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ.

Q. 4. Why doth God require of us the diligent use of all outward means, that we may escape his wrath and curse?

A. God doth require of us the diligent use of all outward means, to escape his wrath and curse, because although God could save without means, yet it is his will to appoint means; which having his institution, we cannot expect the benefits of redemption and salvation should be communicated to us any other way, 1 Cor. 1. 21. It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. Acts. viii. 22. Pray God, if perhaps the thoughts of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

86. Q. What is faith in Jesus Chrst?

A. Faith in Jesus Christ, is a saving grace, whereby we receive and rest upon him alone for salvation, as he is offered to us in the gospel.

Q. 1. How is faith a saving grace?

A. Faith is a saving grace, not by the act of believing, as an act, for then it would save as a good work, whereas we are saved by faith in opposition to all good works; but faith is a saving grace as an instrument, apprehending and applying Jesus Christ and his perfect righteousness, whereby alone we are saved, John iii. 16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life, Acts. xvi. 31. Aud they said, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, And thou shalt be saved, Rom. iii. 22. Even the righ

teousness of God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all, and upon all them that believe.

Q. 2. Who is the author of faith in Jesus Christ? A. The author of faith in Jesus Christ, is God, whose gift it is, and who works this grace of faith in the soul by his Spirit, Eph. ii. 8. Ye are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, Col. ii. 12. You are risen with him, through the faith of the operation of God.

Q. 3. How doth God work this grace of faith in the souls of men?

A. God doth work this grace of faith in the souls of men, ordinarily by hearing the word preached, Rom. x. 17. So then the faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of Ged. 2. Cor. xv. 17. So we preach, and so ye believed.

Q. 4. What is the object of this grace of faith?

A. The object of this grace of faith, is the Lord Jesus Christ, and his righteousness, and the promises which are made through him in the covenant of grace, John iii. 13. He that believeth on him, is not condemned, Rom. 1. 17. For therein is the righteousnes of God revealed frore faith to faith: as it is written, the just shall live by faith, Gal. iii. 23. The scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

Q. 5. What is the subject of faith in Jesus Christ? A. 1. The subject of denomination, or the persons in whom alone this grace of faith is to be found, are the elect only, Tit. i. 1. According to the faith of God's elect, Acts xiii. 48. And as many as were ordained unto eternablife believed. 2. The subject of inhesion, or the parts of the soul, in which faith is placed, and doth inherit, is not only the mind and understanding, but also the will and heart, Rom. xii. 13. These all died in faith, not having received the premises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them. The persua sion of the truth of the promises, is the act of the understanding the embracement of the things, is the act of the will, Rom v. 10. With the heart man be lieveth unto righteousness.

Q. 6. What are the acts of faith in Jesus Christ? A. The acts of faith in Jesus Christ are: 1. A receiving of Jesus Christ, John i. 12. As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. 2. A resting upon Christ alone for salvation: this is implied in all those scriptures which speak of believing in Christ, and believing on his name.

Q. 7. How is Jesus Christ to be received by faith? A. Jesus Christ is to be received by faith, as he is offered to us in the gospel.

Q. 8. How is Jesus Christ offered to us in the gospel? A. Jesus Christ is offered to us in the gospel, as priest, prophet, and king; and so we must receive him, if we would be received by him..

Q. 9. When doth the soul rest upon Christ for salvation ?

A. The soul doth rest upon Christ for salvation when being convinced of its lost condition by reason of sin, and its own inability: together with all creatures insufficiently to recover it out of this estate; and having a 'discovery and persuasion of Christ's ability and willingness to save, it doth let go all hold on the creatures, and renounce its own righteousness, and so lay hold on Christ, rely upon him, and put confidence in him, and in him alone for salvation.

87. Q. What is repentance unto life?

A. Repentance unto life is a saving grace, whereby a sinner out of a true sense of his sin, and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ, doth with grief and hatred of his sin, turn from it unto God, with full purpose of and endeavour after new obedience. Q. 1. Why is repentance called repentance unto life? A Repentance is called repentance unto life, because it is a saving grace, and a necessary means for the attaining life and salvation; and that it might be distinguished from the sorrow of the world, which worketh death, Acts. ix. 18. Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. Ezek. xvii. 21. If the wicked will turn from all his sins, &c. he shall surely live. 2 Cor. vii. 10. For godly sorrow

worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of; but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

Q. 2. Cannot any repent of their sins by the power of nature?

A. None can repent of their sins by the power of nature, because the heart of all men and women by nature are like a stone, insensible of sin, inflexible unto God's will; therefore there is need of the Spirit of God to work this grace in the heart, which he hath promised to do in the new covenant, Ezek. xxxvi. 26, 27. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you, and I will take away the heart of stone out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh, and I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, to do them.

Q. 3. Wherein doth repentance unto life consist? A. Repentance unto life doth chiefly consist in two things: 1. In turning from sin, and forsaking of it, Ezek. xviii. 30. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions: so iniquity shall not be your ruin, Prov. xxviii. 14. He that covereth his sins, shall not prosper but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them, shall. 2. In turning unto God, Isa. lv. 7. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy on him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

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Q. 4. What is requisite unto the turning from sin in repentance?

A. It is requsite unto the turning from sin in repentance, that there be: 1. A true sight of sin. 2. An apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ. 3. A grief for sin. 4. A hatred of sin.

Q. 5. Wherein doth the true sense of sin consist which is requisite to repentance?

A. The true sense of sin, which is requisite to repentance, doth consist in such an inward feeling of our miserable and lost estate, by reason of the wrath and curse of God, and that eternal vengeance of hell which for our sins we are exposed unto, as putteth us into great perplexity, and trouble of spirit ; so that our con

sciences being thereby pricked and wounded, can find ro quiet, and take no rest in this condition, Acts. ii. 37. When they heard this they were pricked in their hearts, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, men and brethren what shall we do?

Q. 6. What need is there of this sense of sin unto true repentance?

There is need of this sense of sin unto true repentance, because without this sense of sin, sinners will not forsake sin, nor apply themselves unto the Lord Jesus for pardon and healing, Mat. ix. 12, 13. They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Q. 7. What apprehensions of God's mercies are requisite in this repentance?

A. There is requisite in true repentance, that we have apprehension of God's mercies, as he is both slow to anger, and of great kindness; as he is most ready to forgive, and most ready to be pacified unto repenting sinners, Exod. xxxiv. 6, 7. And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, the Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, and transgression and sin. Rom. ii. 4. Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness, and forbearance, and long suffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance. Q. 8. Can we apprehend pardoning mercy in God only through Christ?

A. We can truly apprehend pardoning mercy in God only through Christ, because God is so infinitely just and jealous, aud a consuming fire unto sinners out of Christ, and he is reconcileable to sinners only through his Son, who hath given satisfaction unto his justice for sin, 2 Cor. v. 18. All things are of God, who hath reconciled us unto himself by Jesus Christ. Q. 9. What need is there of the apprehension of God's mercy in Christ, in order to our repentance?

A. There is need of the apprehension of God's mercy in Christ, in order to our repentance, because

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