A. Although sanctification be inseparably Joined with justification, (1) yet they differ, in that, God in justification, imputeth the righteousness of Christ; (2) in sanctification, his Spirit infuseth grace, and enableth to the exercise thereof; (3) in the former, sin is pardoned; (4) in the other, it is subdued; (5) the one doth equally free all believers from the reveng ing wrath of God, and that perfectly in this life, that they never fall into condemnation; (6)

(1) 1 Cor. vi. 11. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Cor. i. 30. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.

(2) Rom. iv. 6, 8. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works.-Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. 2 Cor. v. 21. Rom. iii. 24.

(3) Ezek. xxxvi. 27. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

(4) Rom. iii. 24, 25. Being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation, through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins.

(5) Rom. vi. 6, 14. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.-For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

(6) Rom. viii. 1, 33, 34. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.-Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth?

the other is neither equal in all, (1) nor in this life perfect in any, (2) but growing up to perfection. (3)

Q. 78. Whence ariseth the imperfection of sanctification in believers?

A. The imperfection of sanctification in believers ariseth from the remnants of sin abiding in every part of them, and the perpetual lustings of the flesh against the Spirit; whereby they are often foiled with temptations, and fall into many sins, (4) are hindered in all their

(1) Heb. v. 12, 13, 14. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk, is unskilful in the word of righteousness; for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. 1 John ii. 12, 13, 14.

(2) 1 John i. 8, 10. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.—If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

(3) 2 Cor. vii. 1. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Phil. iii. 12, 13, 14.-Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

(4) Rom. vii. 18, 23. For I know that in me, (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good, I find not. But I see another law in my members war

spiritual services, (1) and their best works are imperfect and defiled in the sight of God. (2)

Q. 79. May not true believers, by reason of their imperfections, and the many temptations and sins they are overtaken with, fall away from the state of grace?

A. True believers, by reason of the unchangeable love of God, (3) and his decree and covenant to give them perseverance, (4) their inseparable union with Christ, (5) his continual intercession for them, (6) and the Spirit and seed of God abiding in them, (7) can neither

ring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

(1) Gal. v. 17. For the flesh lusteth against the spirit so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. Heb. xii. 1.-Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us.

(2) Isa. lxiv. 6. But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. Ex. xxviii. 38.

(3) Jer. xxxi. 3.—I have loved thee with an everlasting love. John xiii. 1.

(4) Heb. xiii. 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. 2 Sam. xxiii. 5.-Yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure. Isa. liv. 10.,

(5) I Cor. i. 8. Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(6) Heb. vii. 25. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Luke xxii. 32. But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not.

(7) 1 John iii. 9. Whosoever is born of God doth not

totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, (1) but are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. (2)

Q. 80. Can true believers be infallibly assured that they are in the estate of grace, and that they shall persevere therein unto salvation?

A. Such as truly believe in Christ, and endeavour to walk in all good conscience before him, (3) may, without extraordinary revelation, by faith grounded upon the truth of God's promises, and by the Spirit enabling them to discern in themselves those graces to which the promises of life are made, (4) and bearing

commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 1 John ii. 27. But the anointing, which ye have received of him, abideth in you and ye need not that any man teach you; but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

(1) Jer. xxxii. 40. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me. John x. 28. And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand.

(2) 1 Pet. i. 5. Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. Phil. i. 6.-He which hath begun a good work in you, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

(3) 1 John ii. 3. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. Acts xxiv. 16. (4) 1 Cor. ii. 12. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 1 John iv. 13, 16. Hereby know we that we

witness with their spirits that they are the children of God, (1) be infallibly assured that they are in the estate of grace, and shall persevere therein unto salvation. (2)

Q. 81. Are all true believers at all times assured of their present being in the estate of grace, and that they shall be saved?

A. Assurance of grace and salvation not being of the essence of faith, (3) true believers may wait long before they obtain it; (4) and,

dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and God in him. 1 John iii. 14, 18, 19, 21, 24. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren.-Let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.-Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And he that keepeth his commandments, dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. (1) Rom. viii. 16. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.

(2) 1 John v. 13. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life.

(3) Eph. i. 13. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also, after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.

(4) Isa. 1. 10. Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God. Ps. lxxxviii. throughout