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, till the resurrection and judgment of the great day'.

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: when they that are then found alive shall in a moment be changed; and the self-same 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". The bodies of the just, by the Spirit of Christ, and by virtue of his resurrection as their head, shall be raised in power,

Luke xvi. 23. And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Ver. 24. And he cried, and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and 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. That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. Jude, Ver. 6. And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains, under darkness, unto the judgment of the great day. Ver. 7. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them, in like manner giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

87. Acts xxiv. 15. And have hope towards God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.

#1 Cor. xv. 51. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, Ver. 52. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: (for the trumpet shall sound,) and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. Ver. 53. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on im mortality. 1 Thess. iv. 15. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive, and remain unto the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them which are asleep. Ver. 16. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Ver. 17. Then we which are alive and 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. John v. 28. Marvel not at this; for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, Ver. 29. And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection

of

power, spiritual, incorruptible, and made like to his glorious body; and the bodies of the wicked shall be raised up in dishonour by him, as an offended judge *.

Q. 88. What shall immediately follow after the resurrection? A. Immediately after the resurrection shall follow the general and final judgment of angels and men'; the day and hour whereof no man knoweth, that all may watch and pray, and be ever ready for the coming of the Lord".

Q. 89. What shall be done to the wicked at the day of judgment?

A. At the day of judgment, the wicked shall be set on Christ's left hand, and, upon clear evidence, and full conviction of their own consciences', shall have the fearful but just sentence of condemnation pronounced against them; and thereupon shall be cast out from the favourable presence of God, and the glorious fellowship with Christ, his saints, and all his holy angels, into hell, to be punished with unspeakable torments, both of body and soul, with the devil and his angels for ever.

Q. 90. What shall be done to the righteous at the day of judgment?

A. At the day of judgment, the righteous, being caught up to Christ in the clouds, shall be set on his right hand,

Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Luke xxi. 35. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Ver. 36. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

89. a Mat. xxv. 33. And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

b Rom. ii. 15. Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another, Ver. 16. In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.

Mat. xxv. 41. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. Ver. 42.

and

For I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: Ver. 49. I was a stranger, and ye took me not in naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

d Luke xvi. 26. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us that would come from thence. 2 Thess. i. 8. In flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Ver. 9. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.

90. 1 Thess. iv. 17. Then we which are alive and 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.

f Mat

and there openly acknowledged and acquitted, shall join with him in the judging of reprobate angels and men, and shall be received into heaven", where they shall be fully and for ever freed from all sin and misery; filled with inconceivable joys, made perfectly holy and happy both in body and soul, in the company of innumerable saints and holy angels', but especially in the immediate vision and fruition of God the Father, of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit, to all eternity". And this is the perfect and full communion, which the members of the invisible church shall enjoy with Christ in glory, at the resurrection and day of judgment.

f Mat. xxv. 33. And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Mat. x. 32. Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

81 Cor. vi. 2. Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Ver. 3. Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to

this life?

h Mat. xxv. 34. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Fa ther, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Ver. 46. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

i Eph. v. 27. That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy, and without blemish. Rev. xiv. 13. And I heard a voice from

heaven, saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, from henceforth: Yea,

Having

saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

k Psal. xvi. 11. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy, at thy right hand there are pleasures for

evermore.

1 Heb. xii. 22. But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, Ver. 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.

m 1 John iii. 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. 1 Cor. xiii. 12. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 1 Thess. iv. 17. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we

Having seen what the Scriptures principally teach us to believe concerning God, it follows to consider what they require as the Duty of Man.

Q. 91. What is the duty which God requireth of man? A. The duty which God requireth of man, is obedience to his revealed will ".

Q. 92. What did God at first reveal unto man as the rule of his obedience?

A. The rule of obedience revealed to Adam in the estate of innocence, and to all mankind in him, besides a special command not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, was the moral law °.

Q. 93. What is the moral law?

A. The moral law is the declaration of the will of God to mankind, directing and binding every one to personal, perfect,

ever be with the Lord. Ver. 18. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

n

91. Rom. xii. 1. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Ver. 2. And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. Micah vi. 8. He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? 1 Sam. xv. 22. And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice; and to hearken than the fat of rams.

92. • Gen. i. 26. And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. Ver. 27. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. Rom. ii. 14. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Ver. 15. Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another. Rom. x. 5. For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. Gen. ii. 17. But of the tree

of