An Exposition of the Assembly's
Shorter Catechism

by

John Flavel

Q36. What are the benefits which in this life do either accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification?
A. The benefits which in this life do either accompany, or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification, are assurance of God’s love, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Ghost, increase of grace, and perseverance therein to the end.

Of Assurance, the Fruit of Justification

Q. 1. Is assurance possible to be attained in this life?
A. Yes; for some have had it; Canticles 6:3. I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine. And all Christians are commanded to strive for it; 2 Peter 1:10. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence, to make your calling and election sure.

Q. 2. How many sorts of assurance are there?
A. There is an objective assurance; 2 Timothy 2:19. Nevertheless, the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And a subjective or personal assurance; Galatians 2:20. Who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Q. 3. Is personal assurance perfect in this life?
A. No; It admits of doubts and fears, which interrupts it, and it is not always at one height; 1 Corinthians 13:10. When that which is perfect is come, then that which is in p art shall be done away.

Q. 4. On what testimony is personal assurance built?
A. Upon the testimony of God’s Spirit witnessing with ours; Romans 8:16. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that are the children of God.

Q. 5. Doth the Spirit make use of signs in us to assure us?
A. Yes; ordinarily he doth; 1 John 3:14. We know that we are passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. And verse 24. Hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

Q. 6. How is true assurance discerned from presumption?
A. True assurance humbles the soul; Galatians 2:20. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live: yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. And makes the soul afraid of sin; 2 Corinthians 7:1. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Q. 7. What is the usual season of assurance?
A. The time of greatest sufferings for Christ; 1 Peter 4:14. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you.

Q. 8. Is personal assurance absolutely necessary to salvation?
A. No; a man may be saved, and in Christ, without it; Isaiah 1:10. Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and bath no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God.

Q. 9. What is the fruit of assurance?
A. Joy unspeakable amidst outward troubles; Romans 5:11. And not only so, but we also joy in God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

Q. 10. What sins usually eclipse our assurance?
A. Negligence in duty starves it; 2 Peter 1:10. Give diligence to make your calling and election sure: For if you do these things ye shall never fall. And sinning against light, stabs it; Psalm 51:8. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

Q. 11. What is the first inference from this doctrine?
A. That no unregenerate person can have any assurance; for it is the fruit of justification, adoption, and sanctification.

Q. 12. What is the second inference?
A. That all the joys of heaven are not to come; but some communicated in this life; 1 Peter 1:8. Whom having not seen ye love; in whom though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory.

Q. 13. What is the third inference?
A. That assured believers need to be circumspect persons, that they grieve not the Spirit; Ephesians 4:30. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Of Peace of Conscience

Q. 1. What doth the word peace signify in scripture?
A. In the language of the Old Testament it signifies all temporal good; 1 Sam. 25:6. Peace be both to thee, and peace be in thine house, and peace be unto all that thou hast. And in the New Testament all special good; as 2 Thessalonians 3:16. Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always.

Q. 2. What are the kinds of special peace?
A. There is a twofold peace; one without us, by reconciliation; Romans 5:1. Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God. And peace within us, by way of consolation; Colossians 3:15. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts.

Q. 3. What did our peace cost Christ?
A. It cost him bloody stripes and sufferings; Isaiah 53:5. The chastisement of our peace was upon him; and by his stripes we are healed.

Q. 4. Can none have true peace but such as are in him?
A. No; others may have false peace; Luke 11:21. When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace. But believers only have true peace; Romans 5:1. Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Q. 5. Have all believers peace in their consciences at all times?
A. No, they are always in a state of peace, but have not always the sense of peace; Isaiah 1:10. Who is among you that feareth the Lord, and obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God.

Q. 6. What is that which hinders the sense of peace in believers?
A. Their sins against the Lord, and grieving of his Spirit; Isaiah 59:2. But your iniquities have separated between you and your God; and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

Q. 7. What maintains the state of peace when the sense of peace is lost?
A. Christ’s continual and potent intercession with the Father for us; 1 John 2:12. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not: And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

Q. 8. What is the best way to maintain our peace with God?
A. Strict walking by gospel rules; Galatians 6:16. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them.

Q. 9. Doth this peace come and go with outward peace?
A. No; we may enjoy this when no peace is to be had in the world; John 16:33. T These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

Q. 10. What is the first instruction from hence?
A. That the wicked are in a sad case at all times, but especially in evil times; Isaiah 57:20-21. 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.

Q. 11. What is the second instruction from hence?
A. That the chief care of a Christian should be to keep his peace with God; Jeremiah 17:17. Be not a terror to me; thou art my hope in the day of evil.

Q. 12. What is the last instruction from hence?
A. Let the saints long to be in heaven, the state of full and perfect peace; Isaiah 57:2. He shall enter into peace; they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.

Of Joy in the Holy Ghost

Q. 1. How many sorts of joy are there among men?
A. There is a sensitive joy; Acts 14:17. Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. A sinful joy; Proverbs 15:21. Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom. And a spiritual joy; Romans 5:11. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Q. 2. Why is spiritual joy called joy in the Holy Ghost?
A. Because the Holy Ghost is the author of it; Galatians 5:22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, &c.

Q. 3. What is the first thing begets joy in the saints?
A. The first thing they joy in is, their justification before God; Isaiah 61:10. I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he bath covered me with the robes of righteousness; Romans 5:11. And not only so, but we also joy in God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

Q. 4. What is the second thing that breeds this joy?
A. Hope of glory breeds joy in the saints; Romans 5:2. And rejoice, in hope of the glory of God.

Q. 5. What is the instrument by which the Spirit conveys this joy?
A. Faith is the instrument of it; Philippians 1:25. And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all, for your furtherance and joy of faith.

Q. 6. What is the first property of this joy?
A. it is joy unspeakable, and full of glory; 1 Peter 1:8. Believing ye rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory.

Q. 7. What is the second property of it?
A. That it is not in the power of men to deprive the saints of it; John 16:22. And your joy no man taketh from you.

Q. 8. What is the third property of it?
A. It makes the soul free and cheerful in the ways of obedience; Psalm 119:32. I will run the ways of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.

Q. 9. What is most destructive to a Christian’s joy?
A. Sin, especially sin against light; Psalm 51:8. Make me to hear joy and gladness, that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

Q. 10. What should be the main care of a Christian in this world?
A. To maintain his joy in God to the last; Acts 20:24. But none of these things move me; neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy.

Q. 11. Have not hypocrites their joys as well as real Christians?
A. Yes; but the joy of the hypocrite is not grounded upon scripture-warrant, and will vanish away, and will come to nothing at last; John 5:35. He was a burning and a shining light; and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.

Q. 12. What is the first inference from hence?
A. Let all that expect joy in the Holy Ghost, see that they preserve purity of conscience and conversation; 2 Corinthians 1:12. For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-wards.

Q. 13. What is the last inference?
A. That religion is no melancholy thing, but the fountain of all joy and pleasure; Proverbs 3:1 7. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

Of the Increase of Grace

Q. 1. Doth all true grace increase and grow?
A. Yes, it doth, like the morning light; Proverbs 4:18. The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. And for that end God hath appointed ministers and ordinances: Ephesians 4:11-12. And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.

Q. 2. Cannot false or seeming grace grow?
A. It may spring up, and seem to flourish for a time, but comes not to perfection; Luke 8:14. And that which fell among thorns, are they, which when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with the cares, and riches, and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

Q. 3. What is the first respect in which grace grows?
A. It grows by deeper rooting itself in the soul; Ephesians 3:17. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye being rooted and grounded in love, may be able, &c.

Q. 4. What is the second respect or manner of its growth?
A. It grows in respect of its greater fitness and readiness for acts of obedience; Colossians 1:11. Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness.

Q. 5. What is the third respect or manner of its growth?
A. It grows in respect of its abilities to fix the mind more steadily on spiritual things. Hence grown Christians are called spiritual men; Galatians 6:1. Ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness.

Q. 6. Why must all true grace grow?
A. Because there is a stature to which Christians are appointed; Ephesians 4:13. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.

Q. 7. What are the causes of a Christian’s growth?
A. Union with Christ; John 15:4. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. And his blessings on the ordinances; Isaiah 55:10-11. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater; so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth; it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. And providences; Philippians 1:19. For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayers, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

Q. 8. May not true grace sometimes decay?
A. Yes, it may; Revelation 2:4. Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. But not utterly; 1 John 2:9. Whosoever is born of God, doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him.

Q. 9. What is the first inference from hence?
A. To bless God for gospel ordinances; Psalm 92:13-14. Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God; they shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing.

Q. 10. What is the second inference?
A. Hence we see the miserable state of them that grow worse and worse; Jude 12. These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: Clouds they are without water, carried about of winds: Trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the root.

Q. 11. What is the third inference?
A. Christians should not be discouraged at their weakness in grace, for they have a merciful Christ; Isaiah 42:3. A bruised reed shall he not break; and the smoking flax shall he not quench; he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. And a sure promise; Job 17:9. The righteous also shall hold on his way; and he that bath clean bands shall be stronger and stronger.

Q. 12. What is the last inference?
A. That all true Christians draw daily nearer and nearer to the heavenly and perfect state; 2 Corinthians 4:16. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day; Romans 13:11. For now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

Of Perseverance

Q. 1. What is perseverance to the end?
A. It is the steady and constant continuance of Christians in the ways of duty and obedience, amidst all temptations and discouragements to the contrary; Colossians 1:23. If ye continue in the faith, grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven, whereof I Paul am made a minister.

Q. 2. Do all that profess Christ continue in him?
A. No; many that at first zealously profess him, afterwards fall away; John 6:66. From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

Q. 3. Why do not all persevere?
A. Because all professors have not a good root and foundation; Matthew 13:20-21. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that beareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; yet bath he not root in himself, but endureth for a while; for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

Q. 4. What is the first ground of the saints perseverance?
A. God’s electing love, in which they are given to Christ; John 10:20. My Father which gave them me is greater than all; and none is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

Q. 5. What is the second ground of perseverance?
A. The immortal nature of sanctifying grace; John 4:14. But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst, but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life, 1 John 3:9. For his seed remaineth in him.

Q. 6. What is the third ground of it?
A. The covenant of grace; Jeremiah 32:40. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.

Q. 7. What is the fourth ground of it?
A. Christ’s effectual intercession; Luke 22:32. But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not.

Q. 8. Are there no declinings of grace in the saints?
A. Yes, there are Revelation 2:4. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Yet grace cannot be totally or finally lost: For the seed of God remaineth in the sanctified; 1 John 3:9. Whosoever is born of God, doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: And be cannot sin; because he is born of God.

Q. 9. Is there no hope of salvation for final apostates?
A. No, the gospel gives none; Hebrews 10:38. But if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

Q. 10. What is the first instruction from hence?
A. It warns all men to lay a good foundation, lest the buildings of hope be over-turned when the storm comes; Matthew 7:24-25. Therefore, whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doth them, I will liken him unto a wise man which built his house upon a rock:

And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock.

Q. 11. What is the second instruction?
A. That all men should look to themselves, lest they lose the things which they have wrought; 2 John 8. Look to yourselves, that ye lose not these things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. 1 Corinthians 10:12. Wherefore let him that thinketh be standeth take heed lest he fall.

Q. 12. What is the last instruction?
A. Let no true Christian be discouraged, how weak soever, for God is able to make him stand; Romans 15:4. Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? To his own master he standeth or falleth; yea, he shall be holden up, for God is able to make him stand.