seek after GoD: GOD is not in all his thoughts.- They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are out of course.- Hear the word of the Lord, ye children of Israel: For the Lord hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.- For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge. And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the Lord.- And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. Ps. 10. 4. and 82. 5. Hos. 4. 1. Jer. 4. 22. and 9. 3. John 3. 19, 20. || Is. 1. 3. Rom. 1. 28. John 8. 19. and 17. 25. 1 John 4. 8. and 3. 6. Job 21. 14.

Are you among those that are wise to do evil? Has not GoD a controversy with you?

34. Are ALL commanded savingly to know “the only wise God and our Saviour?"

Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the Lord he is GOD in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.- Know ye that the Lord he is GOD: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.- For if these things be in you and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord. Deut. 4. 39. Ps. 100. 3. 2 Pet. 1. 8. Jer. 9. 23, 24. || Job 22. 21. Hos. 13. 4. Col. 3. 10. || 1 Tim. 2. 4. 1 Chron. 28. 9. Ps. 46. 10. Hos. 6. 6.

Have you had experimental knowledge of God, of Christ, and of holiness?

35. In what does the true knowledge of God consist, and how is it obtained?

God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the

place thereof. And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him. And I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord and they shall be my people, and I will be their GOD: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart. But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; after those days saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their GoD, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. Job 28. 23, 28. Jam. 1. 5. Jer. 24. 7. and 31. 33, 34. || Hos. 2. 19, 20. and b. 1, 3. John 17. 3, 6—8. Ps. 119. 73. 2 Cor. 4. 6. 1 John 4. 7.

Do you fear to pollute your soul, and thus dishonour, and displease GOD? Have you sought heavenly wisdom by humble prayer?

36. Are not the teachings of the Holy Spirit indispensably necessary for the discernment of spiritual things?

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of GOD. For what man knoweth the things of a man save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit of GOD. 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 us of GOD. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of GoD: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Cor. 2. 9-14. || Rom. 8. 7. Jude 19. John 3. 27. Eph. 3. 5. and 1. 16—19. (f)

Have you felt your entire dependance on the Holy Spirit for divine teaching? Has he taught and sanctified, and comforted you?

37. What are the present consequences of impenitence ? The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, and the (f). See Appendix, Note F.

number of years is hidden to the oppressor. A dreadful sound is in his ears in prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him.Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.- But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is NO PEACE, saith my GoD, to the wicked. Job 15. 20, 21. Eph. 4. 18. Is. 57. 20, 21. ||Tit. 1. 15. Deut. 28. 15-17. Job 20. 23-29.

Can you love the present consequences of sin? Why have you rolled it as a sweet morsel under your tongue ?

38. What are the consequences of sin in the world to come? When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth.- The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget GOD. Upon the wicked HE shall rain snares, fire, and brimstone, and a horrible tempest. This shall be the PORTION of their cup.- Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.- And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Prov. 11. 7. Ps. 9. 17. and 11. 6. Prov. 1. 31. Rev. 14. 11. || Mat. 10. 28. Mark 9. 45, 46. Luke 16. 23, 24. 2 Thes. 2. 11, 12. Rom. 2. 5. Is. 33. 14.

If this language be figurative, has it not some meaning? Is not that meaning more dreadful than words can describe?

39. What are we required to do, that we may be saved from sin and its awful consequences?

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture saith, whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.- He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved; BUT HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT SHALL BE DAMNED. Acts 16. 31. Rom. 10. 10, 11. Mark 16. 16. || Acts 2. 37, 38. and 3. 19. and 20. 21. Jer. 3. 22. and 31. 18, 19. Mark 1. 15. Luke 13. 23—27.

Have you truly believed on the Lord Jesus Christ? Or are you yet condemned?

40. What is repentance towards God, and how is it manıfested? (g)

Therefore also now, saith the Lord, Turn ye even to me with (g) See Appendix, Note G.

all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning. And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes: cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed; Judge the fatherless; plead for the widow.- Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall loathe yourselves in your own sight, for your iniquities, and for your abominations. For behold this self-same thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort; what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter. Joel 2. 12, 13. Is. 1. 16, 17. Ex. 36. 31. 2 Cor. 7. 11. || Acts 2. 37, 38. Jer. 7. 2—7.

Have you exercised that sorrow which is after a godly sort? Have you brought forth fruits meet for repentance?

41. Is the humble and contrite heart peculiarly acceptable in the sight of God?

The sacrifices of GOD, are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O GOD, thou wilt not despise.- The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.For all those things hath mine hands made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. Ps. 51. 17. and 34. 18. and 147. 3. Is. 57. 15. and 66. 2. and 61. 1-3. Luke 18. 9——14.

Has your heart been broken for sin and healed by the mercy of the Gospel?

42. What promises are connected with weeping for sin?

But to the king of Judah, which sent you to inquire of the Lord, thus shall ye say to him, thus saith the Lord GOD of Israel, as touching the words which thou hast heard; Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the Lord, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation, and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith the Lord. They that

sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. 2 Kin. 22. 18, 19. Ps. 126. 5, 6. || Jer. 50. 4, 5. and 31. 9. Luke 6. 21-25. Can you plead these promises? Is sin your grief?

43. What is faith, "the faith of God's elect?" (h)

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.- Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in GoD, believe also in me. Trust ye in the Lord forever: for in the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength. Heb. 11. 1, 3, 6. John 14. 1. Is. 26. 4. || Heb. 11. 32-34, 39, 40, 13 -16. 1 Pet. 2. 17. Mat. 8. 8-10.

Do you live by faith on the Son of God? Does your faith purify your heart and life?

44. Are we justified in the sight of God by works, or by faith?

Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in the sight of GoD: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay, but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Do we make void the law through faith? GOD forbid : yea, we establish the law. Rom. 3. 20, 27, 28, 31. || Gal. 2. 16. Rom. 4. 2-8.

How do you expect to be justified before God?

45. Are not good works commanded?

This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in GoD, might be careful to maintain good works: these things are good and profitable unto men.- For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 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? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed GOD, and it was impu

(h) See Appendix, Note H.