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and also of that depravity within me, which I have to contend with all my life,e and doth freely endow me with the righteousness of Christ, that I come not at any time into judgment.f

57. Q. What consolation do you receive from your belief in the resurrection of the body?

A. That not only my soul, after it has left the body, shall presently be taken up to Christ as its head, but that this my body also, being raised by

blood of Jesus Christ his Son, cleanseth us from all sin. 1 John i. 7. To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 2 Cor. v. 19. I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Heb. viii. 12. Gal. i. 4.

But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members: Oh! wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with my mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. Rom. vii. 23-25. I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. Jer. xxxi. 34. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of of the sea. Micah vii. 19.

Be it known unto you, therefore, men aud brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins; and by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. Acts xiii. 38, 39. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Cor. v. 21. Acts iii. 26.

* And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, to-day shalt thou be with me in paradise. Luke xxiii. 43. And they

the power of Christ, shall be again united to my soul, and be made like unto the glorious body of Christ.h

58. Q. How do you console yourself by your belief in the life everlasting?

A. That forasmuch as I feel already in my heart the beginning of everlasting life; i it shall come to pass, that after this life I shall enjoy full and perfect bliss, wherein I may magnify God for ever; which blessedness neither eye hath seen, nor

stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Acts vii. 59. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ. Phil. i. 23.

h Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself. Phil. iii. 21. Be-loved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. I John iii. 2. He that raised up Christ from the dead, shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit, that dwelleth in you. Rom. viii. 11. For, as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 1 Cor. xv. 49.

And this is eternal life, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. John xvii. 3. And in this life we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven; if so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 2 Cor. v. 2, 3. When that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 1 Cor. xiii. 10. If a man love me, he will keep my words; and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. John xiv. 23. Heb. iii. 6. Rom. v. 1.

ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive. j

59. Q. And since you believe all these things, what benefit do you receive from thence?

A. The being justified or accounted righteous before God, in Christ, and made an heir of eternal life.k

60. Q. How are you justified or accounted righteous before God?

A. Only by faith in Christ Jesus; so so that although my conscience accuse me, that I have

Eye hath not seen nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 1 Cor. ii. 9. Isaiah lxiv. 4. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away. Rev. xxi. 4. Psalm xvi. 11.

k All that believe are justified from all things. Acts xiii. 39. That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus iii. 7. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. John iii. 36.

Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe; for there is no difference; for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Rom. iii. 22-24. Being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Rom. v. 1. Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ. Gal. ii. 16. For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. Eph. ii. 8, 9. Phil. iii. 9.

grievously sinned against God's commandments, and have not kept one of them; m and moreover am still prone to every evil; n yet, notwithstanding, if I embrace these benefits of Christ, with a true confidence and persuasion of mind; the full and perfect satisfaction,P righteousness, and holiness of Christ, without any merit of my own,r by the mere mercy of God,s is imputed and given unto me,t as

m There is none righteous; no, not one; there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one." Rom. iii. 10-12.

The imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth. Gen. viii. 21. The flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary the one to the other so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. Gal. v. 17.

• Even the righteousness of God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ, unto all and upon all them that believe. Rom. iii. 22. He that believeth on him is not condemned. John iii. 18.

P He is the propitiation for our sins. 1 John ii. 2.

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Cor. v. 21. 1 John ii. 1.

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 Spirit. Tit. iii. 5.

• Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Rom. iii. 24. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. Eph. ii. 8.

Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Rom. iv. 4, 5. Being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; whom God

if I had never committed any sin, nor any taint of it had been inherent in me; but as if I had shewn that perfect obedience which Christ accomplished

for me."

61. Q. Why do you affirm that you are justified by faith only?

A. Not because I please God by the worthiness of my faith; but because the sole atonement, righteousness, and holiness of Christ, is considered before God as mine; and by no other means than by faith am I able to receive it, or apply it to myself.w

V

62. Q. Why are not all your good works capable of justifying you, or of becoming a part of your justification?

A. Because that righteousness which must subsist before the judgment of God, must be in all

hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deed of the law. Rom. iii. 24, 25, 28.

To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; for he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Cor. v. 19, 21.

▾ But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. 1 Cor. i. 30. ii. 2..

He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself; he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 1 John v. 10.

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