2. There are none so dull and ignorant but Christ can teach them. Every one is not fit to make a philosopher's scholar of: ex omni I'lgno non Jit Mercitrnis ; but there is none so dull, but Christ can make a good scholar of. Even such as are igno- rant, and of low parts, Christ teachcth them in such a manner, that they know more than the great sages and wise men of the world. Hence that saying of St. Agustrne, mrgwit indocti, et rapiinit calum^ — the un- learned men rise up, and take heaven : they know the truths of Christ more savingly than the great admired Rabbles. The dul- ler the scholar, the more is his skill seen that teacheth. Hence it is, Christ delights in teaching the ignorant, to get himself more glory, Isa. xxxv. 5., " The eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped." Who would go to teach a blind or a deaf man ? Yet such dull scholars Christ teacheth. Such as are blinded with ignorance, they shall see the mysteries of the gospel, and the deaf ears shall be unstopped.
3. Wait upon the means of grace which Christ hath appointed. Though Christ teach- eth by his Spirit, yet he teachcth in the use of ordinances. Wait at the gates of wis- dom's door ; ministers are teachers under Christ, Eph. iv. 11., "Pastors and teach- ers." We read of pitchers and lamps with- in the pitchers. Judges vii. 16. Ministers are earthen vessels, but these pitchers have lamps within them to light souls to heaven. Christ is said to speak to us from heaven now, Ilcb. xii. 25. viz. by his ministers, as the king sj)caks by his ambassador. Such as wean themselves from the breast of ordi- nances, seldom thrive; either they grow light in their head, or lame in their feet. Tlie word pre«iched is Christ's voice in the mouth of the minister, and they that refuse to hear Christ speaking in the ministry, Christ will refuse to hear them speaking on their death-bed.
4. If you would have the teachings of Christ, walk according to that knowledge which you liave already. Use your little knowledge well, and Christ will teach you more, John vii. 17, " If any man will do
OF CHRIST'S PHIESTLY OFFICE.
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his will, lie shall know of my doctrine, whether it he of God, or whether I speak of myself." A master seeing his servant improve a little stock well gives him more to trade with.
Use Sd. If you have been taught by Christ savingly, be thankful ; it is your honour to have God for your teacher, and that he should teach you and not others, is matter of admiration and gratulati<ui. O how many knowing men are ignorant ! They are not taught of God ; they have Christ's word to enlighten them, but not his Spirit to sanc- tify them. But that you should have the inward as well as the outward teaching, — that Christ should anoint you with the hea-
venly unction of his Spirit, — that you can say as he, John ix. 25., " One thing I know, that whereas I was blind, I now see,'* -O how thankful should you be to Christ, who hath revealed his Father's bosom secrets unto you ! John i. 18., " No man hath seen God at any time ; the only begotten Son which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him " If Alexander thought him- self so much obliged to Aristotle for the philosophical instructions he learned from liim ; O how are we obliged to Jesus Christ, this great Prophet, for opening to us the eternal purposes of his love, and revealing to us the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven !
OF CHRIST'S PRIESTLY OFFICE.
Quest. XXV. HO JV doth Christ execute the office of a priest ?
Ans. In his once offering up of himself a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice, and recon- cile us to God, and in making continual in- tercession for us. — Heb. ix. 26., " Now once in the end of the world hath he ajipeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself"
Quest. IVhat are the parts o/ Christ's priest- ly office ?
Ans. Christ's priestly office hath two parts, his satisfaction and intercession.
I. His satisfaction. And this consists of two branches: \st. His active obedience, Mat. iii. 15., He fulfilled all righteousness. Christ did every thing which the law re- quired ; his holy life was a perfect commen- tary upon the law of God ; and he obeyed the law for us. — 2d. His passive obedience. Our guilt being transferred and imputed to him, he did undergo the penalty which was due to us ; he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. The paschal-lamb slain, was a type of Christ who was offered up in sacrifice for us. Sin could not be done away without blood, Heb. ix. 22., *' Without blood is no remission." Christ was not only a lamb without spot, but a lamb slain.
Quest. Why was it requisite there should he a priest ?
Ans. There needed a priest to be an um-
pire, to mediate between a guilty creature, and an holy God.
Quest. How could Christ suffer, being God?
Ans. Christ suffered only in the human nature.
Quest. But if only Chrises humanity suf- fen d, hoir could this suffiring satisfy for sin ?