(d) John xvii. 21-23. That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou 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. (e) 1 John i. 3. Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. (f) Rom. viii. 16, 17. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.-1 John v. 10. He that believeth on the Son hath the witness in himself. (g) Eph. iv. 30. Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.-i. 13, 14. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also, after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy spirit of promise, which is the EARNEST of our inheritance, until the redemption of the purchased possession.-2 Cor. v. 1, 5, 6, 8. For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.-Now he that hath wrought us for the self-same thing is God, who also bath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord :-we are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.-(1 Thess. iv. 17, 18; Phil. i. 23; Rom. v. 1-5; 1 John v. 13, &c.) (h) Is. xxx. 21. And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it.-1 Thess. i. 5, 6. For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost. PART THE FOURTH. OF THE DUTIES OF CHRISTIANITY. SECTION I. OF THE TRUE FOUNDATION OF OBEDIENCE. Having stated the doctrines which belong to Christianity, we come now to the consideration of its Duties; then tell me, first: Q. 287. What is the true and only foundation, or source, of all acceptable obedience to the laws of God? A. FAITH; (a) or, a divine and operative principle, (b) implanted in the heart by the Holy Spirit; (c) by which the natural incapacity (d) of the soul, and the various obstacles or hindrances (e) to obedience, are overcome; and spiritual life and ability, (ƒ) as well as inclination, (g) and encouragement (h) to obey, are afforded. (a) Heb xi. 6. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God, must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Rom. iii. 31. Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid! Yea, we establish the law. (Gal. ii. 19, 20.) (b) Heb. xi. 1. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.* (c) Eph. ii. 8. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.—Phil. i. 29. For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake. (John vi. 29, 44, 65; Gal. v. 22; 1 Cor. xii. 3; Rom. xii. 3.) (d) 2 Cor. iii. 5. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God.-John xv. 5. Without me ye can do nothing. Phil. iv. 13. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.—Mark ix. 23. All things are possible to him that believeth. (e) First, the World. 1 John ii. 15. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.—v. 4. For whatsoever is born of God, overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. (Q. 271.) Secondly, the Flesh. Rom. viii. 7. The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.-Gal. v. 17. 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.-Acts xv. 8, 9. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; and put no * Cruden, in his Concordance, justly observes upon this passage, that the principle of Faith, here spoken of, "assures us of the reality and worth of eternal and invisible things, and produces a satisfaction, and assured confidence, that God will infallibly perform what he has promised, whereby the believer is as confident of them, as if they were before his eyes, and in his actual possession." difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. (Heb. ix. 13, 14. and Q. 272.) Lastly, the devil. 1 Pet. v. 8, 9. Be sober, be vigilant; (f) Heb. x. 38, 39. Now the just shall live by faith: but if (h) Rom. v. 1, 2. 24.) Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.-Gal. v. 5. For we, through the Spirit, wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.-Rom. xv. 13. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing.—(2 Tim. i. 12; 1 Pet. i. 3—9.) Q. 288. Are these the invariable effects of such faith? A. Yes, when it is in lively and vigorous exercise. Q. 289. But are there not different kinds of faith? A. Yes; there are several kinds of faith; but the two principal kinds, are commonly distinguished by the terms, a living and a dead faith. (a) (a) James ii. 14, 20, 26. What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him? But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. (See Q. 196.) Q. 290. What are the special objects of Faith? A. All the declarations of the word of God, (a) and more especially those which relate to the Lord Jesus Christ, (b) whose righteousness is imputed to us by faith; (c) and whom faith relies upon in all his offices; viz. as our Prophet, Priest, and King. (d) (a) Heb. xi. 7. By faith, Noah being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. 11. Through faith also Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.-(Ver. 13, 23-26; Luke i. 45; 1 Thess. ii. 13; John ii. 22; v. 46; Acts xxiv. 14; Rom. iv. 16-22.) (b) John i. 12, 13. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.-John iii. 14, 15. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (c) Rom. i. 16, 17. I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth ;-for therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith. x. 3, 4. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth-Jer. M |