ROM. viii.

15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 2 PETER i.

10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

11 For so an entrance shall be ministered

unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus

Christ.

I JOHN iii. 14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

I JOHN V.

13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of know that ye have eternal life, and the Son of God; that ye may that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

2 TIM. i.

12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

2 TIM. iv.

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the that day: and not to me only, but righteous judge, shall give me at unto all them also that love his appearing.

35. On what grounds may a man be assured of his salvation?

(a) Testimony of the Spirit of adoption:

ROM. viii.

of God, they are the sons of God. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit

15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of

God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

19 Then shalt thou be pleased with

burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

(y) Candid self-examination :

PSALM CXxxix.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

I JOHN iii.

1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: there

fore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

36. How may it be shown that a living faith necessarily leads to good works?

(a) From the testimony of Scripture: ACTS XV.

8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, Ghost, even as he did unto us; bare them witness, giving them the Holy

And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that

through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father

justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

I JOHN V.

4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

(6) From the universal testimony of the

To Adam:

(a) As federal head:

ROM. V.

11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by

whom we have now received the atonement.

12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 13 (for until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. 15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift

by one, Jesus Christ.) 18Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

(b) Natural head:

GEN. v.

8 And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:

I COR. XV.

48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.

49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

(c) Our relationship is changed since we are married to Christ:

ROM. vii.

1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?

2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. 3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress : but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. 4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. 5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the

oldness of the letter.

2. What is the general nature of our union with Christ?

I COR. XV.

22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

JOHN Xvii.

I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. 7 Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and

they have believed that thou didst send me. "I pray for them: I pray not for given me; for they are thine. the world, but for them which thou hast 10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. 11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in Father, keep through thine own name the world, and I come to thee. Holy those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. 13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy 18 As thou hast sent me word is truth. into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. 20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 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 thon hast sent me. 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 231 in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. 24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lov edst me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. 26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: