tion (g), with all other benefits of the covenant of grace(h). Q. 58. How do we come to be made partakers of the benefits which Christ hath procured?

A. We are made partakers of the benefits which Christ hath procured, by the application of them unto us (i), which is the work especially of God the Holy Ghost (k). Q. 59. Who are made partakers of redemption through Christ?

A. Redemption is certainly applied, and effectually communicated, to all those for whom Christ hath purchased it (7); who are in time, by the Holy Ghost, enabled to believe in Christ according to the gospel (m).

Q. 60. Can they who have never heard the gospel, and so know not Jesus Christ, nor believe in him, be saved by their living according to the light of nature?

A. They who, having never heard the gospel (n), know not Jesus Christ (o), and believe not in him, cannot be saved (p), be they never so diligent to frame

(g) Heb. 9. 12. Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for

us.

(h) 2 Cor. 1. 20. For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him amen, unto the glory of God by us.

(i) John 1. 11, 12. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his

name.

(k) Tit. 3. 5. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost.

(1) John 6. 37. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out.

(m) Eph. 2. 8. For by grace

are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. 2 Cor. 4. 13. We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken: we also believe, and therefore speak.

(n) Rom. 10. 14. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

(o) 2 Thess. 1. 8. In flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(p) John 8. 24. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. Mark 16. 16. He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved; but he that believeth not, shall be damned.

their lives according to the light of nature (q), or the law of that religion which they profess (r); neither is their salvation in any other, but in Christ alone (s), who is the Saviour only of his body, the church (t).

Q. 61. Are all they saved who hear the gospel, and live in the church?

A. All that hear the gospel, and live in the visible church, are not saved: but they only who are true members of the church invisible (v).

Q. 62. What is the visible church?

A. The visible church is a society made up of all such as in all ages and places of the world do profess the true religion (w), and of their children (x).

(g) 1 Cor. 1. 20. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

(r) John 4. 22. Ye worship ye know not what we know what we worship for salvation is of the Jews. Romans 9. 31. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. (s) Acts 4. 12. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.

(t) Eph. 5. 23. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church and he is the Saviour of the body.

(v) John 12. 38. That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? Rom. 9. 6. Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel. Mat. 22. 14. For many are called, but few are chosen. Mat. 7. 21. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall

enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Rom. 11. 7. What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.

(w) 1 Cor. 1. 2.

Unto the

church of God, which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours. 1 Cor. 12. 13. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. Isa. 59. 21. As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the Lord. My Spirit that is upon thee, and my words which 1 have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the month of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the Lord, from henceforth and forever.

(x) 1 Cor. 7. 14. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but

Q. 63. What are the special privileges of the visible church?

A. The visible church hath the privilege of being under God's special care and government (y); of being protected and preserved in all ages, notwithstanding the opposition of all enemies (z); and of enjoying the communion of saints, the ordinary means of salvation (a), and offers of grace by Christ to all the members of it in the ministry of the gospel, testifying that whosoever believes in him shall be saved (b), and excluding none that will come unto him (c).

Q. 64. What is the invisible church?

A. The invisible church is the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one under Christ the head (d).

Q. 65. What special benefits do the members of the invisible church enjoy by Christ?

A. The members of the invisible church, by Christ,

:

now are they holy. Acts 2. 39. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. Rom. 11. 16. For if the first fruit be holy, the lump is also holy and if the root be holy, so are the branches. Genesis 17. 7. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee, and thy seed after thee in their generations, for an everlasting covenant; to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

(y) Isa. 4. 5. And the Lord will create upon every dwellingplace of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for upon all the glory shall be a defence.

(z) Zech. 12. 2. Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah, and against Jerusalem

(a) Acts 2. 39, 42. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

(b) Psalm 147. 19. He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. Mark 16. 15. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. v. 16. He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved; but he that believeth not, shall be damned.

(c) John 6. 37. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

(d) Eph. 1. 10. That in the dispensation of the fulness of times, he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on carth, even in him.

enjoy union and communion with him in grace and glory (e).

Q. 66. What is that union which the elect have with Christ?

A. The union which the elect have with Christ is the work of God's grace (f), whereby they are spiritually and mystically, yet really and inseparably joined to Christ as their Head and Husband (g); which is done in their effectual calling (h).

Q. 67. What is effectual calling?

A. Effectual calling is the work of God's almighty power and grace (i), whereby (out of his free and special love to his elect, and from nothing in them moving him thereunto (k), he doth, in his accepted time, invite and draw them to Jesus Christ, by his word and Spirit (1),

(e) John 17. 21. That they all may be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee; that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

(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 made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

(g) 1 Cor. 6. 17. But he that is joined unto the Lord, is one spirit. John 10. 28. And I give unto ther. eternal life; and they shall never perish; neither shall any pluck them out of my hand. Eph. 5. 23, 30. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the Saviour of the body. For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

(h) 1 Peter 5. 10. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 1 Cor. 1. 9. God is faithful, by

whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

(i) 2 Tim. 1. 8, 9. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel, according to the power of God, Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose, and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus, before the world began.

(k) Tit. 3. 4, 5. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.

(1) 2 Cor. 5. 20. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 2 Thess. 2. 13, 14. But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the be

savingly enlightening their minds (m), renewing and powerfully determining their wills (n), so 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 (o).

Q. 68. Are the elect only effectually called?

A. 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 (q), and have some common operations of the Spirit (r); who, for their wilful neglect and contempt of the grace offered to them, being justly left in their unbelief, do never truly come to Jesus Christ (8).

Q. 69. What is the communion in grace which the members of the invisible church have with Christ?

A. The communion in grace, which the members of

ginning chosen you to salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(m) Acts 26. 18. To open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

(n) Ezek. 11. 19. I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh.

(0) Eph. 2. 5. Even when we were dead in sins hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved). Phil. 2 13. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do, of his good pleasure. Deut. 30. 6. And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all

thy soul, that thou mayest live.

(p) Acts 13. 48. And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. (9) Mat. 22. 14. For many are called, but few are chosen.

(r) Mat. 7. 22. Many will say to me in that day Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast. out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

(s) Acts 28. 25, 26, 27. And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fa thers, Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive. For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should.