Catechistical Guide to Sinners and Babes in Christ, Part 2 · Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII. Of God's Work by Jeſus Chriſt for the ſaving of Converts.
Q. SEing we have ſpoken of God's Work for the ſaving of Sinners, let us now ſpeak of that which is for the ſaving of Converts, who by Repentance have their Sins forgiven, and are become the Children of God. What is God's Work by Jeſus Christ for the ſaving of theſe?
A. The Work of God by Jeſus Chriſt for the ſaving of his Children, is that whereby God bringeth them unto Glory by Jeſus Chriſt.
[Heb. 2.10. For it became him [God] for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many Sons unto Glory, to make the Captain of their Salvation perfect through Sufferings.]
Q. Wherein does this Work conſist?
A. God's Work by Jeſus Chriſt, of bringing his Children unto Glory, conſiſteth in preparing them for Glory, and poſſeſſing them with it. Rom. 9.23.
Q. How does God by Jeſus Chriſt prepare them for Glory?
A. God does this, by creating them in Chriſt Jeſus unto good Works, and by confirming them therein unto the end.
[Epheſ. 2.10. We are God's Workmanſhip, created in Chriſt Jeſus unto good Works, which God hath before ordained, that we ſhould walk in them. 1 Cor. 1.8, 9. Who [God] ſhall alſo confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameleſs in the day of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. God is faithful by whom ye were called unto the fellowſhip of his Son Jeſus Chriſt. 1 Theſ. 5.23, 24. And the very God of Peace ſanctify you wholly: And I pray God your whole Spirit, and Soul, and Body, be preſerved blameleſs unto the coming of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. Faithful is be that calleth you, who alſo will do it. Heb. 13.20, 21. Now the God of Peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jeſus, that great Shepherd of the Sheep, through the Blood of the Everlaſting Covenant, make you perfect in every good Work to do his Will, working in you that which is well-pleaſing in his ſight, through Jeſus Chriſt, to whom be Glory, for ever and ever. Amen.]
Q. But how does God thus ſanctify Believers?
A. God does this by his Spirit, which he gives to Believers, and by which he works in them for their Sanctification, and all this thorow Jeſus Chriſt.
[1 Pet. 1.2. Elect according to the foreknowledg of God the Father, thorow ſanctification of the Spirit, unto Obedience, and ſprinkling of the Blood of Jeſus Chriſt. Epheſ. 1.13. In whom [which Chriſt] alſo after that ye believed, ye were ſealed with that Holy Spirit of Promiſe. Tit. 3.5, &c. God our Saviour ſaved us by the waſhing of Regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghoſt, which he ſhed on us abundantly through Jeſus Chriſt our Saviour, &c. See Joh. 3.5. Ezek. 36.25, &c.]
Q. What is that which God worketh in Believers by his Spirit, that they may be confirmed unto the end?
A. God by his Spirit does enlighten them concerning his Will, and does ſtrengthen them that they may walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleaſing, in all patience and longſuffering with joyfulneſs. [Epheſ. 1.17, 18. & 3.14, &c. Col. 1.9, 10, 11.]
Q. Is there nothing by which God and Christ do through the Spirit ſanctify Believers?
A. Yes; for the Word of the Goſpel is us'd for their Sanctification, and ſometimes Chaſtiſement.
[For the Word of the Goſpel, ſee Rom. 1.16. Epheſ. 5.26. For Chaſtiſement, ſee Heb. 12.5, &c. Rev. 3.19.]
Q. Is there nothing that God by Jeſus Christ worketh out of Believers for their Sanctification?
A. Yes; And among other things, God will not ſuffer them to be tempted above that they are able, but will with the Temptation alſo make a way to eſcape, that they may be able to bear it. 1 Cor. 10.13.
Q. What in this Work of Sanctification is peculiar to Christ?
A. He gave himſelf for the Church, that he might ſanctify and cleanſe it with the waſhing of Water by the Word. And he ever liveth to make interceſſion for us. Epheſ. 5.25, 26. Heb. 7.25.
Q. What muſt Believers do that they may be Holy, and confirmed unto the end?
A. They muſt cleanſe themſelves from all filthineſs of Fleſh and Spirit, perfecting Holineſs in the Fear of God. 2 Cor. 7.1.
Q. Can you ſet forth this more particularly?
A. Yes, after this manner; They building up themſelves in their moſt Holy Faith, praying in the Holy Ghoſt, muſt keep themſelves in the Love of God, looking for the Mercy of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt unto Eternal Life. Jud. 20, 21.
Q. I would hear ſomething from you touching the particulars of your Anſwer: Wherefore I ask you in the firſt place this Queſtion; What is it for Believers to build up themſelves in their moſt Holy Faith?
A. Believers may be then ſaid to build up themſelves in their moſt Holy Faith, when they rightly endeavour, by the means God vouchſafeth them, both in private and in publick, to encreaſe in the knowledg and belief of the Doctrine of Chriſt. Col. 2.7. 2 Pet. 3.18. 2 Tim. 2.7. Eph. 4.11, &c. 1 Pet. 2.1, 2.
Q. What is it for Believers to pray in the Holy Ghoſt?
A. Believers may be then ſaid to pray in the Holy Ghoſt, when according to the Will of God, made known by the Holy Ghoſt, they make known their Requeſts unto God by Prayer and Supplication, with Thankſgiving, both in private and publick, as they have opportunity. Phil. 4.6. 1 Joh. 5.14. Matth. 6.5, &c. 1 Cor. 14.14, &c.
Q. What general Direction have Believers for Prayer and Thanksgiving?
A. That which our Saviour gave to his Apoſtles, in Mat. 6.5, &c. add thereto that of our Saviour afterwards, in Joh. 16.23, 24. Verily, verily, I ſay unto you, Whatſoever ye ſhall ask the Father in my Name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my Name: Ask and ye ſhall receive, that your joy may be full. Add that of the Apoſtle, Epheſ. 5.20. Give thanks always for all things unto God, and the Father, in the Name of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
Q. But what is it to pray and give thanks in the Name of Jeſus Chriſt?
A. To pray and give thanks in the Name of Jeſus Chriſt, is to draw nigh to God therein with confidence, becauſe Jeſus Chriſt is our High Prieſt, that maketh interceſſion for us. Heb. 4.14, 15, 16. 1 Pet. 2.5. Heb. 13.15.
Q. What have you learnt concerning that Cup of Bleſſing, or Thanksgiving, which the Apoſtle ſpeaketh of in 1 Cor. 10.16?
A. I have learned, That the Apoſtle there ſpeaketh of the Lord's Supper, which is to be uſed with Thankſgiving in the Churches of Chriſt.
Q. What mean you by the Lord's Supper?
A. I mean, A certain uſe of Bread and a Cup, which Chriſt our Lord hath appointed for a remembrance of him: For as often as we eat this Bread, and drink this Cup, we ſhew the Lord's Death till he come. Mat. 26.26, &c. Mark 14.22, &c. Luk. 22.19, &c. 1 Cor. 11.23, &c.
Q. Now tell me; What is it for Believers to keep themſelves in the Love of God?
A. Believers may be then ſaid to keep themſelves in the Love of God, when they ſo uſe their Knowledg or Belief of the Goſpel, and the Power they have received from God, as to deny Ungodlineſs and worldly Luſts, and to live ſoberly, righteouſly, and godly in this preſent World. Tit. 2.11, &c.
Q. What is it for Believers to look for the Mercy of our Lord Jeſus Christ unto Eternal Life?
A. It is nothing elſe but to continue to the end, in an expectation of that Reward of ſincere and conſtant Obedience which Chriſt our Lord will at his coming give unto his faithful Servants. 1 Pet. 1.13, &c. Heb. 9.28. & 10.36, &c. Tit. 2.13. Mat. 25.20, &c. 2 Tim. 1.12.
Q. You having now ſpoken of God's Work of preparing Believers for Glory, it remains therefore that you ſpeak of that Work of God, which is for the poſſeſſing of Believers with this Glory by Jeſus Chriſt. What ſay you of it?
A. This may more conveniently be ſpoken of in the conſideration of that ſecond thing relating to God's Work of ruling among Men by Jeſus Chriſt, which I ſaid is his Work of Judging the World by Jeſus Chriſt.