Chap. XXI. -- Of the Privileges of Believers.

Q. 1. What are the privileges of those that thus believe and repent?

A. First, union with Christ; secondly, adoption of children; thirdly, Christian liberty; fourthly, a spiritual, holy right to the seals of the new covenant; fifthly, communion with all saints; sixthly, resurrection of the body unto life eternal.

Q. 2. What is our union with Christ?

A. An ^aholy, spiritual [88] [89] conjunction unto him, as our ^bhead, ^chusband, and ^dfoundation, ^ewhereby we are made partakers of the same Spirit with him, ^fand derive all good things from him. ^a1 Cor. xii. 12; John xv. 1, 2, 5-7, xvii. 23. ^bEph. iv. 15, v. 23; Col. i. 18. ^c2 Cor. xi. 2; Eph. v. 25-27; Rev. xxi. 9. ^dMatt. xvi. 18; Eph. ii. 20-22; 1 Pet. ii. 4-7. ^eRom. viii. 9, 11; Gal. iv. 6; Phil. i. 19. ^fJohn i. 12, 16; Eph. i. 3.

Q. 3. What is our adoption?

A. Our gracious reception into the family of God, as his children, and co-heirs with Christ. John i. 12; Rom. viii. 15, 17; Gal. iv. 5; Eph. i. 5.

Q. 4. How come we to know this?

A. By the especial working of the Holy [90] Spirit in our hearts, sealing unto us the promises of God, and raising up our souls to an assured expectation of the promised inheritance. Rom. viii. 15, 17; Eph. iv. 30; 1 John iii. 1; Rom. viii. 19, 23; Tit. ii. 13.

Q. 5. What is our Christian liberty?

A. An [91] holy and spiritual ^afreedom from the ^bslavery of sin, the ^cbondage of death and hell, the ^dcurse of the law, ^eJewish ceremonies, and ^fthraldom of conscience, purchased for us by Jesus Christ, and ^grevealed to us by the Holy Spirit. ^aGal. v. 1. ^bJohn viii. 32, 34, 36; Rom. vi. 17, 18; Isa. lxi. 1; 1 John i. 7; 2 Cor. v. 21. ^cRom. viii. 15; Heb. ii. 15; 1 Cor. xv. 55,
57. ^dGal. iii. 13; Eph. ii. 15, 16; Gal. iv. 5; Rom. viii. 1. ^eActs xv. 10, 11; Gal. 3, 4, 5. ^f2 Cor. i. 24; 1 Cor. vii. 23; 1 Pet. ii.
16. ^g1 Cor. ii. 12.

Q. 6. Are we, then, wholly freed from the moral law?

A. Yes, as ^aa covenant, [92] or as it hath any thing in it bringing into bondage, -- as the curse, power, dominion, and rigid exaction of obedience; ^bbut not as it is a rule of life and holiness. ^aJer. xxxi. 31-33; Rom. vii. 1-3, vi. 14; Gal. iii. 19, 24; Rom. viii. 2; Gal. v. 18. ^bMatt. v. 17; Rom. iii. 31, vii. 13, 22, 25.

Q. 7. Are we not freed by Christ from the magistrate's power and human authority?

A. No; being ordained of [93] God, and commanding for him, we owe them all lawful obedience. Rom. xiii. 1-4; 1 Tim. ii. 1, 2; 1 Pet. ii. 13-15.

[88] By virtue of this union, Christ suffereth in our afflictions; and we fill up in our bodies what remaineth as his.

[89] From Christ, as head of the church, we have spiritual life, sense, and motion, or growth in grace; secondly, as the husband of the church, love and redemption; thirdly, as the foundation thereof, stability and perseverance.

[90] This is that great honour and dignity of believers, which exalts them to a despising all earthly thrones.

[91] Our liberty is our inheritance here below, which we ought to contend for, against all opposers.

[92] Nothing makes men condemn the law as a rule, but hatred of that universal holiness which it doth require.

[93] Rule and authority are as necessary for human society as fire and water for our lives.