63. Queft. What are the Special Privileges of the Vifible Church?

Anfw. The Vifible Church hath the Privilege of being under God's fpecial Care and Government'; of being protected and preferved in all Ages, notwithstanding the Oppofition of all Enemies; and

husband is fanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is fanctified by the husband: elle were your children unclean; but now they are holy, Acts 2.39. For the promife is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God fhail call. Rom, II. 16. For if the firft-fruit be holy, the lump is alfo holy and if the root be holy, fo are the branches. Gen. 17. 7. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee, and thy feed after thee, in their generations, for an everlasting covenants to be a God unto thee, and to thy feed after

thee.

63. Ifai. 4.5. And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of mount Sion,and upon her affemblies a cloud, and smoke by day, and the fhining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory fhall be a defence. v. 6. And there fhall be a tabernacle for a fhadow in the day time from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from ftorm and from rain. 1 Tim. 4. 10. For therefore we both labour, and fuffer reproach, because we truft in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, especially of those that believe.

of

their fhield, &c. Ifai. 31. 4. For
thus hath the Lord spoken unto me,
Like as the lion and the young lion
roaring on his prey, when a multi-
tude of fhepherds is called forta
against him, he will not be afraid of
their voice, nor abafe himself fo:
the noife of them: fo fhall the Lord
of hofts come down to fight to:
mount Sion, and for the hill thereof.
v. 5. As birds flying, fo will the Lord
of hofts defend Jerufalem, defend-
ing alfo he will deliver it, and palling
over he will preferve it. Zech. 12.2.
Behold, I will make Jerufalem a
cup of trembling unto all the people
round about, when they fhall be in
the fiege, both against Judah, and
against Jerufalem.
v. 3. And in
that day will I make Jerufalem a
burdenfom ftone for all people:
all that burden themfelves with it.
fhall be cut in pieces, though all the
people of the earth be gathered to-
gether against it. v. 4. In that day,
faith the Lord, I will fmite every
horfe with aftonishment, and his
rider with madness, and I will open
mine eyes upon the house of Judah,
and will fmite every horfe of the
people with blindness. v. 8. In that
day thall the Lord defend the inha-
bitants of Jerufalem, and he that is
feeble among them at that day fhall
be as David; and the house of Dav
fhall be as God, as the angel of the
Lord before them. v. 9. And it fit!
come to pafs in that day, that I wi
feck

of enjoying the Communion of Saints, the ordiary Means of Salvation, and Offers of Grace by Chrift to all the Members of it in the Ministry of he Gofpel, teftifying that whofoever believes in im fhall be faved, and excluding none that will ome unto him c.

64. Queft. What is the Invifible Church?

Anfw. The Invisible Church is the whole Numer of the Elect, that have been, are, or shall be athered into One under Chrift the Head 4.

65. Queft. What Special Benefits do the Members of he Invifible Church enjoy by Chrift?

Anfw. The Members of the Invifible Church by

ek to deftroy all the nations that ome against Jerufalem.

a

Acts 2. 39. For the promife is to you, and to your children, and all that are afar off, even as many sthe Lord our God fhall call. v.42. nd they continued ftedfaftly in the poftles doctrine and fellowship, nd in breaking of bread, and in

rayers.

Chrift world, and preach the gofpel to every creature. v. 16. He that believeth and is baptized, shall be faved; but he that believeth not fhall be damned.

John 6. 37. All that the Father giveth me, fhall come to me; and him that cometh to me, I will in no wife caft out.

d

64. Eph.1.10. That in the difpenPfalm 147. 19. He fheweth his fation of the fulness of times, he ord unto Jacob, his ftatutes and might gather together in one all is judgments unto Ifrael. v. 20. things in Chrift, both which are in He hath not dealt fo with any na- heaven, and which are on earth, even on: and as for his judgments, they in him. v. 22. And hath put all ave not known them. Praife ye the things under his feet, and gave him ord. Rom. 9. 4. Who are Ifraelites; to be the head over all things to the whom pertaineth the adoption, and church, v.23.Which is his body, the e glory, and the covenants, and fulness of him that filleth all in all. egiving of the law, and the fervice John 10. 16. And other fheep I have, God, and the promises. Eph. 4. which are not of this fold: them al1. And he gave fome, apoftles: foI must bring, and they shall hear nd fome, prophets: and fome, my voice; and there fhall be one vangelifts: and fome, paftors and fold, and one fhepherd. John 11.52. achers; v. 12. For the perfecting And not for that nation only, but f the faints, for the work of the that alfo he should gather together iniftry, for the edifying of the bo- in one, the children of God that yof Chrift. Mark 16. 15. And he were fcattered abroad. aid unto them, Go ye into all the

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65. Falira

Chrift enjoy Union and Communion with him in Grace and Glory e.

66. Queft. What is that Union which the Elect have with Chrift?

Anfw. The Union which the Ele&t have with Chrift is the Work of God's Grace, whereby they are fpiritually and myftically, yet really and infepa rably joined to Chrift as their Head and Husband which is done in their effectual Calling h.

67. Quest. What is effectual Calling?

Anfw. Effectual Calling is the Work of God's almighty Power and Grace, whereby (out of his

65. John 17. 21. That they all may be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee; that they alfo may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou haft fent me. Eph. 2. 5. Even when we were dead in fins, hath quickned us together with Chrift, (by grace ye are faved.) v.6. And hath raised us up together, and made us fit together in heavenly places, in Chrift Jefus. John 17. 24. Father, I will that they also whom thou haft given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory which thou haft given me: for thou lovedft me before the foundation of the world.

66. f Eph. 1. 22. And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church. Eph. 2. 6. And hath raised us up together, and hath made us fit together in heavenly places, in Chrift Jefus. v.7. That in the ages to come he might fhew the exceeding riches of his grace, in his kindness towards us, through Chrift Jefus. v. 8. For by grace are ye faved, through faith; and that not of your felves: it is the gift of God.

free

1 Cor. 6. 17. But he that is joined unto the Lord, is one fpirit. Jo 10.28. And I give unto them eternal life, and they hall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand. Eph. 5. 23. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Chrift is the head of the church: and heis the saviour of the body. v. 30. For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

h1 Pet. 5. 1o. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jefus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, ftablish, ftrengthen, fettle you. I Cor. 1. 9. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jefus Chrift our Lord.

free and efpecial Love to his Elect, and from nothing in them moving him thereunto *) he doth in his accepted Time invite and draw them to Jefus Chrift by his Word and Spirit'; favingly enlightning heir Minds", renewing and powerfully determining

children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to ele tion might ftand, not of works, but of him that calleth.

nheritance in the faints. v. 19. And what is the exceeding greatnefs fhis power to us-ward, who believe, ceording to the working of his nighty power: v. 20. Which he rought in Chrift, when he raised 1 2 Cor. 5. 20. Now then we are im from the dead, and fet him at ambaffadors for Chrift, as though is own right hand in the heavenly God did befeech you by us: we pray laces. 2 Tim. 1. 8. Be not thou you in Chrifts ftead, be ye reconciled herefore afhamed of the teftimo- to God. Compared with 2 Cor. 6.1. We y of our Lord, nor of me his then as workers together with him, tifoner: but be thou partaker beseech you also, that ye receive not of the afflictions of the gofpel, ac- the grace of God in vain: v. z. For cording to the power of God; he faith, I have heard thee in a time 9. Who hath faved us, and called accepted, and in the day of falvation with an holy calling, not accor- have I fuccoured thee: behold, now ding to our works, but according to the accepted time; behold, now is purpose, and grace which the day of falvation. John 6. 44. was given us in Chrift Jefus, before No man can come to me, except the Father which hath fent me, draw him: and I will raise him up at the laft day. 2 Theff. 2. 13. But we are appeared, v. 5. Not by bound to give thanks alway to God Works of righteoufnefs, which we for you, brethren, beloved of the we have done, but according to his Lord, because God hath from the mercy he faved us by the wafhing of beginning chofen you to falvation, regeneration, and renewing of the through fanctification of the Spirit, holy Ghoft. Eph. 2. 4. But God, and belief of the truth: v.14.Wherewho is rich in mercy, for his great unto he called you by our gofpel, to love wherewith he loved us, v. 5. the obtaining of the glory of our Even when we were dead in fins,hath Lord Jefus Chrift.

his own

the world began.

k Tit.3.

4.

But after that the kindnefs and love of God our Saviour to

ward man

is

quickned us together with Chrift (by Acts 26.18. To open their eyes, grace ye are faved.) v. 7. That in and to turn them from darkness to the ages to come he might fhew the light, and from the power of Satan exceeding riches of his grace, in his unto God, that they may receive for kindness towards us, through Chrift giveness of fins, and inheritance Jefus. v. 8. For by grace are ye fa- among them which are fanctified by ved, through faith; and that not of faith that is in me. I Cor. 2. 1o. But your felves: it is the gift of God. God hath revealed them unto us by 7. 9. Not of works, left any man his Spirit: for the Spirit fearcheth all fhould boaft. Rom, 9, 11. For the

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things,

ing their Wills", fo as they (although in themselves dead in Sin) are hereby made willing and able freely to answer his Call, and to accept and embrace the Grace offered and conveyed therein °.

68. Quest. Are the Elect only effectually called?

Anfw. All the Elect and they only are effectually called P although others may be, and often are outwardly called by the Ministry of the Word, and have fome common Operations of the Spirit '; who for their wilful Neglect and Contempt of the