GOD, that we shall rise again in our body, and thus, see God in our flesh, what ought to be our life?

A. A GODLY LIFE. "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." 'Wherefore, we labour that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him.”

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of CHRIST; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."-2 Cor. v. 1. 9. 10. 20. Q. How did the Holy Apostle Peter write, shortly before his death "to them that have obtained a like precious faith, through the righteousness of God and our SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST ?"-2 Pet. i. 1.

A. 'Beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the LORD as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

The LORD is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

But the day of the LORD shall come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat the earth also and all the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Seeing, then, that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness: looking for and

hasting unto the coming of the day of GoD, wherein the heavens, being on fire, shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat.

Nevertheless, we, according to His promise, look for NEW HEAVENS and a NEW EARTH, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent, that ye may be found oF HIM IN PEACE, WITHOUT SPOT, and BLAMELESS."2 Pet. iii. 8-14. 21. Q. How does the same Apostle exhort us who, are called to "receive the promise of eternal inheritance?"

A. 66 Wherefore, gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and HOPE TO THE END for the grace that is to be brought unto you, at the revelation of JESUS CHRIST; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance.

But as HE which hath called you is holy, so be YE holy in all manner of conversation."-1 Pet. i. 13-15. -Heb. ix. 15.

22. Q. What is, now, your belief, as expressed in this Article of your Faith?

A. 66 As for me," O LORD, "I WILL BEHOLD THY FACE in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, WITH THY LIKENESS;" for,

I KNOW that MY REDEEMER LIVETH, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth; and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in MY FLESH SHALL I SEE GOD: Whom I shall see for myself, and MINE EYES shall behold, and NOT ANOTHER.”—Ps. xvii. 15,—Job xix. 25-27.

ARTICLE XII.

66 AND THE LIFE EVERLASTING."

1. Q. What is the last Article of your Creed?

A. THE LIFE EVERLASTING. I believe in 66 the life everlasting."

2. Q. What do you profess to believe, in this Article? A. I profess to believe that, "all men, the wicked as well as the good, shall rise again at the last day, and shall live for ever."

3. Q. Explain what you mean here by "living for

ever ?"

A. I mean that the wicked as well as the good, being risen again and judged, shall die no more; but, that they shall continue for ever; the WICKED, in the torments of hell, but the GOOD, in the joys of the PARADISE of God.

4. Q. Prove from Scripture, first, that they shall all rise again, each of them to his portion and reward.

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A. The hour is coming in the which ALL that are in their graves, shall hear the voice of the Son of MAN, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation."

"For the LORD is known to execute judgment:" "the wicked shall be turned into hell: and all the people

that forget GOD; but the patient abiding of the meek shall not perish for ever."-St. John v. 28. 22.-Ps. ix. 16-18.

5. Q. Show, further, that they "shall continue for ever" in the state, to which they rise again.

A. "Then shall the KING say unto them on His right hand: Come YE BLESSED of my Father, INHERIT THE KINGDOM prepared for you from the foundation of the world."

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Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand: Depart from me, YE CURSED, into EVERLASTING FIRE, prepared for the devil and his angels.

And these shall go away into EVERLASTING PUNISHMENT: but the righteous unto LIFE ETERNAL."

St. Matt. xxv. 31-46.-Dan. xii. 2.-Rom. ii. 7. 6. Q. How does our SAVIOUR explain it elsewhere? A. He compares the earth to a "floor;" the good, the wheat," and the wicked, to " the chaff."

to "

For behold the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD.”

And He will thoroughly purge His floor, and gather His wheat into the garner; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

Mal. iv. 1.-St. Matt. iii. 12.-xiii. 30. xviii. 8.St. Mark ix. 43-46.-St. Luke iii. 17.-Rev. xi. 4. xx. 10.

7. Q. What further reason have you to believe that, as the Scripture declares, "some shall rise to everlasting life, and some, to shame and everlasting contempt;'

"where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched?"-Dan. xii. 2.-St. Mark ix. 44.

A. GOD hath spoken once, twice also have I heard this, that power belongeth unto God."

"Also unto Thee, LORD, belong mercy, for Thou renderest to every man according to his works;" to them who by patient CONTINUANCE IN WELL-DOING, seek for glory, and honour, and immortality, ETERNAL LIFE.

But, unto those that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, INDIGNATION AND WRATH, TRIBULATION AND ANGUISH upon every soul of man that doeth evil."-Ps. lxii. 11.Rom. ii. 7-9.-2 Pet. iii. 7. 10-14. ii. 17.

8. Q.

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Shall not" the MOST HIGH GOD, "the JUDGE of all the earth, DO RIGHT?"

A. Assuredly, "His judgment is according to truth, and He judges righteously."

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For, if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins; but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

He that despised Moses' law, died without mercy under two or three witnesses;

Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the SON OF GOD, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith He was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the SPIRIT OF GRACE?

For we know Him that hath said: Vengeance belongeth unto Me, I will recompense, saith the LORD.