SECT. sin, there are evil spirits' ever ready to tempt us to mischief, and of ourselves we have no power to escape their malice.

II.

1 1 Peter

v. 8.

Q. Is it not a great unhappiness to be born with inclinations to sin, and to be set in the midst of such powerful enemies?

A. There is no doubt of it: but then the mercy of God has turned all this to your greater advantage.

For now you see plainly the danger you are in; you see what a sad thing sin is, and what it will bring men to; you see that you have no power to help yourself, but that you must altogether depend upon God, and be governed by Him; which if you resolve to be, He has prepared for you such good things as you could never have deserved, though you had lived in innocency all your days.

Q. What did move God to have such a regard for us?

2

A. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, hath by His death made our peace with His Father, upon condition that we "believe, 2 Acts xxvi. repent, and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance 2;" which is called the Covenant of Grace, because it is offered unto us of God's free favour, without our deserving.

20.

18.

Now all such as accept this gracious offer, are baptized and sanctified by the Holy Ghost: that is, they are taken from

3 Acts xxvi. under the government of Satan 3, and having the seeds of holiness sown in their hearts, they become members of Christ, sons of God, and heirs of heaven.

4 Matt. xxviii. 20.

Q. What is it to be a Member of Christ?

A. It is to be a Member of His Church, which is called the Body of Christ, because Christ, as the Head, governeth it by His laws, and preserveth it by His Spirit.

Q. What benefit is it to be a Member of the Church of Christ?

A. You have hereby a right to many great and precious promises the promise of peace with God, of pardon upon your repentance; the promise of God's good Spirit to guide and defend you; the promise of eternal life, and all the means of grace necessary to obtain it; and lastly, the promise of Christ's powerful Presence with your spiritual Pastors unto the world's end1.

Q. Is it then a great unhappiness to be out of the Church?
A. It is a most dreadful thing. For whoever is so, whether

II.

on account of a wicked life, or wicked principles, or by separa- SECT. ting himself without cause from the true and regularly established Church where he dwells, (which is called Schism,) such a person becometh again a subject of Satan, the prince of this world', that is, of all such as are not in covenant with God.

31.

John xii.

Eph. ii. 2.

The first Christians were so sensible of this, that their boldest sinners' had neither ease nor comfort under the 2 Cor.ii. 7. Church's censures, but underwent any shame or trouble, that they might be restored to Communion.

Q. Can it be so dangerous a crime to separate, while men believe the same truths, and profess to live as well as others?

xvi.

A. God Himself has judged this case3, by the fearful punish- 3 Numb. ment inflicted upon the first disturbers of Church government. And it being generally the effect of pride, the cause of much contention and uncharitableness, encouraging offenders, and hindering discipline, it must needs be a great sin.

Q. What reason have I to believe that I am a member of the Church to which so many favours are promised?

A. You have had the blessing of being baptized by persons sent, and rightly ordained for that end. And so long as you continue obedient to your spiritual governors, the Bishop and Pastors of Christ's flock, so long you are a member of Christ's Church, and have a title to all the promises made to it.

4

But to be a true and lively member of His body, you must be careful to do what He hath commanded. "For if we say Matt. xi. that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness," 21. (that is, lead a wicked life,) "we lie, and do not the truth"." 51 Johni.6. Q. What is it to be a child of God?

A. It is to have such privilege with God, as a son hath with his father. This is called adoption, by which you have an assurance that God, for Christ's sake, will overlook the untowardness of your nature, pity your infirmities, favourably hear your requests, supply all your wants, reward your welldoings, and correct your miscarriages; which are all acts of fatherly affection.

Q. What is it to be an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven? A. It is to have a title to the joys and glories of heaven, and to be put into a sure way of attaining them. It is to have the Word of God for your security, and the good Angels

SECT. of God to minister unto you'; so that it will be your own fault if you are not eternally happy.

II.

1 Heb.i. 14.

Q. Had I no right to these blessings before I was baptized?

A. None at all. Consider what favours they are, and you 2 Rom. iii. will find nothing in yourself that can deserve such2.

23.

Can sinful dust and ashes pretend to heavenly privileges; the favour of God, the protection of Angels?

Can corrupt nature think of deserving, or be capable of glory, and honour, and immortality?

Endeavour to know yourself better, that being truly humbled with a sense of your own vileness and misery, you may thankfully accept of help and mercy from God, "for they that

3 Matt. ix. are whole need not a physician, but they that are sick3."

12.

21.

And, seeing God has promised to do so much for you, be persuaded to do something for yourself.

Q. What can so miserable a creature do for himself?

A. You can lament your own unworthiness, and pray to God to pity you: you can use the graces He bestoweth upon you, and be thankful for His favours: you can do your best, and His goodness will expect no more.

Q. What use am I to make of this part of my Catechism? A. Let it bring to your remembrance that you are a Christian; that you have a new name, and new powers given you, on purpose that you may become a new creature.

If you are indeed a child of God, you will think what a dutiful child ought to do. You will fear His displeasure, and trust in His love: you will run to Him for what you want, and be thankful for what He gives; and you will own His affection when He corrects, as well as when He smiles upon you.

If you look for an inheritance in heaven, your thoughts will be often there. "For where your treasure is, there will your

Matt. vi. heart be also1."

5 Heb. xii.

And you will not be too eager for the things of this world. You will neither be much afraid of its troubles, nor too fond of its vanities, remembering that both will soon have an end.

And as ever you hope to go to heaven, you will endeavour to fit yourself for that glorious place; remembering, that "without holiness no man shall see the Lord"."

II.

The sure promise of God will not suffer you to despair: SECT. and the joy that is set before you will encourage you to press forwards.

You will be thankful to God for calling you to this state of salvation; and gladly undertake the conditions He requires

of you.

What these conditions are, is what next you should think of. But first, let us take words of praise, and with a thankful heart say as followeth :

THE PRAYER.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, heavenly Father, we give Thee humble thanks that Thou hast vouchsafed to call us to the knowledge of Thy grace and faith in Thee; increase this knowledge, and confirm this faith in us evermore. Heal all the naughty inclinations of our souls, and create in us a hearty love unto holiness, that, continuing Thy servants, we may attain Thy promises, and be made partakers of Thine everlasting kingdom, for Jesus Christ His sake.

SECTION III.

Q. My godfathers and godmothers did promise for me, "that I should renounce the devil and all his works :"

Pray make me understand the meaning of this.

A. You must know that the devil has a kingdom', and sub- 1 Matt. xii. jects, and servants in this world, as well as Christ has His.

66

All that he can prevail upon to forsake the commands of God, and to follow him and his ways, are his servants. All that oppose his temptations, and resolve to be governed by the laws of God, are the servants of Christ, who came into the world to destroy the works of the devil"." So that whoever will be a servant of Christ, must renounce the devil and all his works.

For that wicked spirit will endeavour, by all ways, to draw from the service of God3.

you

26.

21 John iii.

8.

31 Pet. v. 8.

SECT.
III.

Q. Pray instruct me what to do, that I may not follow, nor be led by him.

A. The directions I give you shall be short and plain, and suited to your condition.

:

Let this be ever in your mind, that sin is the worst of all evils for all other evils will have an end, at farthest, when you die; but sin will make you miserable for ever. Remember that you are naturally inclined to sin, that the devil will tempt you to it, and that God only can save you.

And then, you will never trust in your own strength, but in the Living God. To Him you will constantly pray for help; 1 James iv. and "if you draw nigh to Him, He will draw nigh to you'." And yet you must not expect God's assistance without using your own endeavours; for that is to tempt the Lord.

8.

2 Prov. i.

10.

"If sinners entice you, you must not consent unto them";" for they are the devil's instruments.

If you fall into evil company, you must get out of it immediately, and not walk in the way with them, lest God forsake you.

You must have nothing to do with the devil's own servants, as all witches and charmers are, and are therefore an abomination to the Lord.

And you must, especially, pray that you may not fall into the devil's own sins, which are pride, and revenge, and backbiting, and lying.

And lastly, when the Holy Spirit of God puts into your mind good desires, or checks you for doing ill, you must obey the voice of God; and He will love you, and dwell with you, and preserve you from your ghostly enemy.

Q. So that a hearty sense of our own weakness and misery is necessary to bring us to God, without whose help the devil would lead us captive at his will.

A. It is so. And God in His providence often suffers men to fall into great sins, to humble them, and to show them to 32 Chron. themselves, that they may depend upon Him only.

xxxii. 31.

Q. "They promised that I should renounce the pomps and vanity of this wicked world, and all the sinful lusts of the flesh."

What is meant by this?

A. That you should not set your heart upon such things