after the enjoyment thereof, may have it weakened and intermitted, through manifold distempers, sins, temptations, and desertions; (1) yet are they never left without such a presence and support of the Spirit of God, as keeps them from sinking into utter despair. (2)

Q. 82. What is the communion in glory, which the members of the invisible church have with Christ?

A. The communion in glory, which 'the members of the invisible church have with Christ, is in this life, (3) immediately after death, (4) and at last perfected at the resurrection and day of judgment. (5)

(1) Ps. lxxvii. 1 to 12.-Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore? Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? &c. Cant. v. 2, 3, 6. I sleep I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? -My beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone; my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer. Ps. xxxi. 22. For I said in my haste, I am `cut off from before thine eyes. Ps. xxx. 6, 7, and li. 8, 12.

(2) Job xiii. 15. Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him. Ps. lxxiii. 13, 14, 15, 23. Nevertheless I am continually with thee; thou hast holden me by my right hand. 1 John iii. 9. Isa. liv. 7 to 11.

(3) 2 Cor. iii. 18. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

(4) Luke xxiii. 43. I say unto thee, To-day (5) 1 Thess. iv. 17.

And Jesus said unto him, Verily shalt thou be with me in paradise. Then we which are alive and

Q. 83. What is the communion in glory with Christ, which the members of the invisible church enjoy in this life?

A. The members of the invisible church. have communicated to them, in this life, the first-fruits of glory with Christ, as they are members of him their head, and so in him are interested in that glory which he is fully possessed of; (1) and as an earnest thereof, enjoy the sense of God's love, (2) peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Ghost, and hope of glory. (3) As, on the contrary, sense of God's revenging wrath, horror of conscience, and a fearful expectation of judgment, are to the wicked the beginning of the torments, which they shall endure after death. (4)

remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

(1) Eph. ii. 5, 6. Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ;-and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places, in Christ Jesus.

(2) Rom. v. 5. And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts, by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 2 Cor. i. 22. Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

(3) Rom. v. 1, 2. Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Rom. xiv. 17. For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

(4) Gen. iv. 13. And Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear. Matt. xxvii. 4.

Q. 84. Shall all men die?

A. Death being threatened as the wages of sin, (1) it is appointed unto all men once to die; (2) for that all have sinned. (3)

Q. 85. Death being the wages of sin, why are not the righteous delivered from death, seeing all their sins are forgiven in Christ?

A. The righteous shall be delivered from death itself at the last day, and even in death are delivered from the sting and curse of it; (4) so that, although they die, yet it is out of God's love, (5) to free them perfectly from sin and misery, (6) and to make them capable of far

I have sinned, in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. Heb. x. 27. But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. Mark ix. 44. Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. Rom. ii. 9.

(1) Rom. vi. 23. 2) Heb. ix. 27.

once to die.

For the wages of sin is death.
And as it is appointed unto men

(3) Rom. v. 12.-So death passed upon all men, för that all have sinned.

(4) 1 Cor. xv. 26, 55, 56, 57. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.-O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Heb. ii. 15.

(5) Isa. lvii. 1, 2.—The righteous is taken away from the evil to come. He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds. 2 Kings xxii. 20. Behold, therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place.

(6) Rev. xiv. 13.-Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth; yea, saith the Spirit, that they

ther communion with Christ in glory, which they then enter upon. (1)

Q. 86. What is the communion in glory with Christ, which the members of the invisible church enjoy immediately after death?

A. The communion in glory with Christ, which the members of the invisible church enjoy immediately after death, is in that their souls are then made perfect in holiness, (2) and received into the highest heavens, (3) where they behold the face of God in light and glory; (4) waiting for the full redemption of their bodies, (5) which even in death continue united to Christ, (6) and rest in their graves as in their

may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. Eph. v. 27.

(1) Luke xxiii. 43. And Jesus said unto him, Verily, I say unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise. Phil. i. 23. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better.

(2) Heb. xii. 23. To the general assembly and church of the first-born, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect. John iii. 2. Eph. v. 27.

(3) 2 Cor. v. 1, 6, 8.-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, &c.

(4) 1 John iii. 2.-But we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1 Cor. xiii. 12. Now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face. Rev. xxii. 4, 5. Matt. v. 8.

(5) Rom. viii. 23.-Waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. Ps. xvi. 9. My flesh also shall rest in hope.

(6) 1 Thess. iv 14. For if we believe that Jesus

beds, (1) till at the last day they be again united to their souls. (2) Whereas the souls of the wicked are at their death cast into hell, where they remain in torments and utter darkness; and their bodies kept in their graves, as in their prisons, until the resurrection and judgment of the great day. (3)

Q. 87. What are we to believe concerning the resurrection?

A. We are to believe, that at the last day, there shall be a general resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. (4) When they that are then found alive shall in a moment be changed; and the selfsame bodies of the dead which were laid in the grave, being then again united to their souls for ever, shall be raised up by the power of Christ. (5) The

died, and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus, will God bring with him.

(1) Isa. lvii. 2. He shall enter into peace; they shall rest in their beds.

(2) Job xix. 26, 27.-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.

(3) Luke xvi. 23, 24. And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham,-send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. Acts i. 25. From which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. Jude 6. -He hath reserved in everlasting chains, under darkness, unto the judgment of the great day.

(4) Acts xxiv. 15.-There shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.

(5) 1 Cor. xv. 51, 52, 53. Behold, I show you a mys-.