Gifts for the Use of others, Luke xxii. 32. And when thou art converted, ftrengthen thy Brethren.

Q. Who is able to forgive our Sins?

A. God alone, against whom only we have finned, Jef. xliii. 25. I, even I am he, that blotteth out thy Tranfgreffions for mine own Sake, and will not remember thy Sins. Mark ii. 7. Who can forgive Sins but God alone?

Q Can then the Pope, or any other Prieft by his Authority, forgive Sins ?

A. The Council of Trent, were of that Opinion, and all who are of the Popish Religion believe fo; but it is a rafh Detraction from the Power of God, and a blafpheming of his holy Name, Luke v. 21. And the Scribes and the Pharifees began to Reafon, faying, Who is this which speaketh Blafphemies? Who can forgive Sins but God alone?

Q. What then is the Meaning of that Portion of Scripture which is written, John xx. 23. Whose foever Sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whofe foever Sins ye retain, they are retained?

4. They do that, not as Judges, but as Minifters only not pronouncing of themfelves Forgivness, but on the Lord's Behalf, announcing God's Pardon to Sinners upon his own Terms, 2 Cor. v. 20. Now then we are Ambassadors for Christ, although God did beseech you by us, we pray you in Chrift's Stead, be ye reconciled in God.

Q. For whofe Sake will Gad forgive us our Sins? A. For the Sake of Chrift, as we may learn from the Answer to the 60th Question of the Catechift. Q. Of how many Parts doth Man confift?

A. Of two Parts, Soul and Body, Zach. xii. 1. The Lord faith, He formeth the Spirit of Man within

him.

Q. Is our Soul Immortal?

A. Yes. Matt. x. 28. And fear not them which kill the Body, but are not able to kill the Soul; but rather

fear

fear him which is able to deftroy both Soul and Body in Hell. Eccle. xii. 7. Then shall the Duft return to the Earth as it was, and the Spirit fhall return unto God, who gave it.

Q. What State doth the Soul pass intō ?

A. All that die in Chrift, immediately pafs into :.Glory; but all the unconverted into Hell, Luke xvi. 22, 23. And it came to pass, that the Beggar died, and was carried by the Angels into Abraham's Bofom; the Rich Man alfo died, and was buried; and in Hell he lift up his Eyes, being in Torments, and feeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his Bofom.

Q. Is the Soul there without Senfe?

A. No. It has Understanding, Will, Joy, and Sorrow, &c. One will be comforted, and the other tormented, Luke xvi. 25.

QShall there be a Refurrection after Death?

A. There will, Matt. xxii. 31, 32. But as touching the Refurrection of the Dead, have ye not read that, which was spoken by God, faying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. God is not the God of the Dead, but of the Living. Q. Do you think then that this is a credible Doctrine?

Yes, certainly, Acts xxvi. 8. Why should it be thought incredible with you, that God fhould raise the Dead?

Q. Why then doth it feem incredible?

A. By Reafon of the Prefumption of Mankind, is determining the contrary, tho' the Power of God convinces us, it may be fo, and his Word affures us, it must be fo, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the Scriptures, nor the Power of God, Mark xii. 24. Q. Is it not finful to doubt the Doctrine of the Re furrection?

A. It is not only finful to doubt it, but an Herefy to deny it, it being a fundamental Article, Heb. vi. 2. and I Cor. xv. 13, 14. But if there be no Refur rection of the Dead, then is Chrift not rifen; and i

Chri

Chrift be not rifen, then is our Preaching vain, and your Faith alfo vain.

Q. Who must rife again at the Refurrection?

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

Shall we rife with the fame Body?

You That is the Nature of Refurrection, elfe it fhould be a new Creation. 2dly, That is teftified by the Scripture, Job xix. 25, 26, 27. For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall ftand at the latter Day upon the Earth; and though after my Death, Worms deftroy this Body, yet in my Flefh fhall I fee God, whom I fhall fee for myself, and my Eyes fhall behold, and not another. And I Cor. xv. 53. And the Righteoufnefs of God requires, that the fame, Members fhould be rewarded or punished, according to their Actions in the Body.

Q. What will be the Difference betwixt the Refurrection of the Fust and the Unjust?

45

A. The Difference will confift in the contrary States, unto 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 everlafting Life, and fome to Shame and everlasting Contempt. Q. What will Saints then poffefs?

A. A perfect, an happy, and everlafting Life, John vi. 40. which confifts in a full Poffeffion of God, himfelf, by which we (both in Soul and Body) will be perfect, holy, and glorious, in an Enjoyment of unfpeakable Gladnefs, P. xvi. 11. In thy Prefence is Fullness of foy; at thy right Hand are Pleafures evermore. And also, 1 Cor. 2, 9.

Q. What do you now comprehend from what has been faid?

A. That

A. That the Catechift has thoroughly answered his Intention, by giving unto the Sinner a perfect Information, and infalliable Remedy toward a certain and faving Comfort, whilft the Truth of our Doctrine doth evidently appear.

Q. What is the fecond Inference from hence?

A. That every Man fhould ftrive to the uttermoft of his Power to attain to fuch a glorious Perfection as may entitle him 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. 2dly, That they may get Union with Chrift by Faith, as they expect a joyful Refurrection, John xi. 25. where Chrift faith, He that believeth in me, tho' he were dead yet fhall be live.

Q. What is the third Inference?

A. That there is Confolation adminiftered unto thofe, who groan under manifold Calamities and Diftempers of the Body, they becoming then as the Angels, Mark xii. 25. And that the Saints fhould not fear Death, knowing with Job, That their Redeemer kveth, &c. Job xix.

The 59th Question of the HEIDELBERG CATECHISM.

Q. WHAT does the Belief of all this tend to ? "A. That in believing it I am Righteous "in Chrift before God, and an Inheritor of ever"'lafting Life."

Q. How do you prove that Juftification and Salvation are the Fruits of Faith?

A. That St. Paul fhews in Rom. x. 10. For with the Heart Man believeth unto Righteousness, and with the Mouth Confeffion is made unto Salvation.

Q. What is the true Signification of the Word, Justify? A. To declare that a Perfon is juft, even as a Judge

in

in the Court who juftifies or punishes according to the Innocence or Crime appearing before him, Prov. xvii. 15. He that juftifieth the Wicked, and he that condemneth the Juft, even they both are an Abomination unto the Lord.

Q. How many fuftifications are there?

A. They are two-fold; 1ft, The Juftification of the Law by Works, according to the Covenant of Works, Do that, and you shall live, Rom. x. 5. 2dly, The Juftification of the Gofpel by Faith, Acts xiii. 39. And by him all that believe are juftified from all Things, from which ye could not be justified by the Law of Mofes.

Q. Which fuftification doth the Catechist speak of in this Place?

A. Of the Juftification of the Gospel, faying, That I am juftified before God, even as St. Paul, Phil. iii. 9. And be found in him, not having mine own Righteoufnefs, which is of the Law, but that which is through the Faith of Chrift, the Righteoufnefs which is of God by Faith.

The 60th Question of the HEIDELBERG CATECHISM.

2. HOW art thou Righteous before God?

A. Only by true Faith in Chrift Jefus, fo that although my Confcience accufe me with having greviously finned against all the Commandments of God, that I have not kept one of them, and I am as yet prone to all Evil; God, nevertheless, without any Merit on my Part, but out of his meer Grace, gives and imputes to me the full Satisfaction of Chrift, his Righteoufnefs and Holines, -in fuch a Manner as if neither I had committed any Sin, neither any Corruption did inhere in me; yea, as if I myfelf had fulfilled that perfect Obedience, which Chrift has accomplished for me, on L Condition