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and intercedes for us. See John xiv. 13, and Heb. vii. 25.

54. Have we any authority for believing in guardian angels ?—Yes; they not all ministering

St. Paul asks, "Are spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" Heb. i. 14.

55. Is an observer of times approved of in Scripture ?-No. He is specially condemned.

See Deut. xviii. 10.

56. What is meant by an observer of times?— One who is superstitious about lucky and unlucky days, as the heathens were.

57. Was the Bible originally divided into chapters and verses, as we find it now?-No.

58. When was it so divided ?-It was divided into chapters about the year 1240, and into verses, about 1445.

59. What was the use of so dividing it ?—In order to render the finding of any particular word or passage more easy.

60. When we read or hear the Bible, with what feeling of reverence does St. Paul tell us we are to regard it ?-Not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the Word of God. 1 Thess. ii. 13.

QUESTIONS ON THE MORE IMPORTANT ARTICLES OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND.

ARTICLE IX.

1. Who are meant by the Pelagians here spoken of ?-The followers of a man named Pelagius, a heretic, who lived about 1400 years ago.

2. What is meant by a heretic ?-Any one who departs from the faith, and preaches false doctrine.

3. What does St. Paul tell us is our duty, in regard to heretics?-To reject them after the first and second admonition. Titus iii. 10.

4. What did the Pelagians say about original sin ?-That it consisted in the following of Adam, i. e., in following his bad example; not in any thing naturally bad in ourselves.

5. But what does this Article of our Church say about original sin ?-That it is the fault and corruption of the nature of every man.

6. From whom is this corruption of human nature derived?-From the first man, Adam. 7. Was Adam created corrupt?—No. Gen. i. 31.

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8. In whose image and likeness was Adam created?-In the likeness of God. Gen. v. 1.

9. Does this mean that Adam was created like God, as to bodily form?-No; for God is a spirit. Compare John iv. 24 with Luke xxiv. 39.

10. What then does it mean?-It means that Adam was created like God, in the purity of his

nature.

11. At what time did Adam lose this purity of his nature, and become corrupt and sinful?-The instant he broke the command of God, by eating the forbidden fruit.

12. By what promise did the tempter persuade Adam and Eve to eat the forbidden fruit ?—That their eyes should be opened, so that they should be as Gods, knowing good and evil. Gen. iii. 5.

13. Was this promise in any degree fulfilled? -It was, but unhappily for them; for before they had known nothing of evil, but good only. Now, for the first time, they knew evil as well as good.

14. What one remarkable circumstance is mentioned, which shews they knew nothing of evil originally? Before they committed sin they were naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. Gen. ii. 25.

15. What other circumstance is mentioned, immediately after they had eaten of the forbidden fruit, which shews that they then knew evil, of which they knew nothing before ?-When their

eyes ere opened, they knew that they were nal They then sewed fig-leaves together, and made themselves aprons. And when they heard the Lord God in the garden, they were afraid, because they were naked; and they hid themselves. Gen. iii. 7.

16. What did God threaten should be the consequence, if Adam and Eve did eat the forbidden fruit?-That in the day they eat thereof, they should surely die. Gen. ii. 17.

17. But was that threatening fulfilled? -Not so as for them to die on that very day; but the instant they disobeyed, they became subject to death, which they were not before. See Rom. v. 12.

18. Was the death of the body the only evil they became subject to ?-No; the death threatened affected both body and soul. The body by dooming it to the grave, and the soul, by blighting its original purity, and leaving it "dead in trespasses and sins." See Ephes. ii. 1.

19. What effect has the corruption of human nature upon every man's natural inclinations ?That every man is, of his own nature, inclined to evil.

20. What is it then, that every person born into this world, deserves? - God's wrath and damnation.

21. What is meant by being regenerated?— Being born again.

22. Who is it that teaches us the necessity of being born again? Our Lord Jesus himself. John iii. 3.

23. In what way does he teach us, that men are born again?" Jesus answered, [Nicodemus] "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water, and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." John iii. 5.

24. When men are thus regenerated, or born again, are they then delivered from this infection, or corruption of nature?—No; this infection of nature doth remain; yea, even in them that are regenerated.

25. How does this remaining infection of nature shew itself, even in persons that are born again?-By the desire of the flesh not being absolutely subject to the law of God; i. e. there is a continual struggle between Divine grace and indwelling sin. See Rom. vii. 22, 23.

26. How then, can even persons who are born again, escape condemnation ?- -"There is, therefore, now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Rom. viii. 1.

27. What proof have we, that neither man, nor any other work of God, was evil originally ? "God saw every thing that he had made, and behold, it was very good." Gen. i. 31.

28. What proof have we, that by reason of Adam's sin, we all became subject to sin and

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