from the fear of suffering, and is not accompanied with the love of God, and thorough amendments, is not a saving repentance. Q. Is confession of sin necessary?

A. Yes; without confession we cannot obtain pardon. 1 John i. 9. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all iniquity."

Q. In what manner are we to make confession ?

A. It is not sufficient to acknowledge in general that we are sinners; we ought to confess in the presence of God the particular sin of which we are guilty.

Q. Are we to confess our sins to any but God?

A. It is our duty to confess them to our neighbour when they have been committed against him; to the church when they come under its cognizance; and to our pastor when we may have need of his counsel.

Q. What ought to accompany our confes

sion of sin ?

A. Supplication for mercy of God, through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Q. Can all who sincerely repent confide in this mercy?

A. Yes; and this confidence is founded on the infinite goodness of God, upon the promises, and the sacrifice of Christ. 1 John ii. 1, 2. If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and he is

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the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world."

Q. What are we to do, besides making confession of our sins, and imploring the pardon of them?

A. We must reform our lives wherever we are conscious of their irregularity.

Q. What is the nature of this reformation? A. It is not merely forming the resolution to change our lives, but putting this resolution into execution. Isaiah i." Cease to do evil, learn to do well." Titus ii. 12. "Teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godlily in this present world."

Q. What is it that he who desires to reform, should most attend to?

A. To obtain grace; to guard against favorite sins, or such as most easily beset him.

Q. What more is incumbent on one who repents of sin?

A. He should feel himself bound, as far as in his power, to repair any evils which he may have caused: those who do not this, do not give signs of true repentance.

Q. What are the signs of true repentance? A. Its being an indwelling sentiment, and being universal and uniform in its operations on the life.

Q. Is it safe to defer repentance to the close of life?

A. No; for we may at all times be surprised by death; and moreover the longer it is defer

red, the more difficult it becomes, as evil habits gain strength, and the heart becomes hardened.

Q. Is there any hope remaining for those who have lived in sin and impenitence to the close of life?

A. They are in extreme danger, and at such a moment, their repentance must be deep and overwhelming; but it is rarely known to be genuine, after such a life.

Q. What is the use we should make of this conclusion?

A. We should earnestly seek for salvation, by turning to God, and devoting ourselves to his service, while we have health and capacity, not knowing how long such an opportunity will be afforded.

SECT. 2. Of good Works.

Q. What are we to understand of the nature of good works?

A. That they are obligatory, not only as actions that are just and reasonable, but are necessary as evidences of our faith, without which we cannot obtain salvation.

Q. Where is this obligation enforced?

A. In the commandments of God, which are sanctioned both by promises and threatenings. "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?" 1 Cor. vi. 9. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he

hath done, whether it be good or bad." 2 Cor. v. 10. "Who will render every man according to his deeds." Rom. ii. 6.

Q. What further obligation have we for the performance of good works?

A. Gratitude to God for his benefits, and the consideration that these duties are just and right in themselves; they agree with the dictates of conscience, and in the practice of them we become like to God.

Q. What is the effect of these works?

A. They not only tend to promote our present and future happiness, but serve to advance the glory of God, and the salvation of our fellow men. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven." Matth. v.

Q. What then are our incitements to a holy and useful life?

A. Our duty; the promotion of our happiness; gratitude which we owe to God; the perfect rectitude of his commands; zeal for his glory, and the desire of contributing to the welfare and edification of our fellow men.

Q. But is not faith alone sufficient to save

us?

A. Faith is sufficient to salvation, but it is thus sufficient, because uniting us to Christ, it begets holiness of heart, and is fruitful of good works. "What doth it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, and hath not works? can faith save him? Faith, if it hath not works is dead, being alone." James ii. 14, 17.

Q. Are we not saved through the mercy of God, by the blood of Christ?

A. We are; but God shews mercy to those only who repent, and the design of Jesus Christ in dying for us, was "To redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." Titus ii. 14.

SECT. 3.-On the nature of good Works.

Q. Are not our thoughts and desires to be regulated by the same principles as our actions?

A. Yes, for the laws of God extend to our thoughts as well as to our actions. We are required to be pure in heart.

Q. How are we to ascertain the nature of our actions, whether they are good or bad?

A. We may judge by the dictates of conscience, by the law of God, and the motive that actuates us.

Q. What is conscience?

A. It is that faculty which God has implanted in our breast, which condemns us when we do evil, and which renders our mind tranquil and happy when we do right.

Q. Ought we to be uniformly governed by the dictates of conscience?

A. We should listen to them as to the voice of God; but we must beware that our conscience be enlighted, or we may be deceived by it, and led into error.

Q. Are we always culpable, when we act contrary to the dictates of conscience?

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