A. Yes, it was a true and real body, not the appearance and shape of a body only ; Luke xxv. 38. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled, and why do thoughts arise in your hearts ? Ver. 39- Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see, for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as you see me have.
Q. 3. Had he a true human soul as well as a body ?
A. Yes, he had a real human soul also, and all the natural faculties and powers thereof; Matth. xxvi. 38. Then saith he unto them. My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death.
Q. 4. Was he then in all respects like to other men ?
A. No, his conception was not like others; Isa. vii. 14. Behold, a Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call his name Emma- >ruEL. And he had no sin in him- as others have ; Heb. vii. 26. For such an High Priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners.
Q, 5. Did Christ put off the human nature at his ascension .?
A. No, he did not, but carried it up to glory, and now is in our nature in heaven ; 1 Tim. iii. 16. Received up into glory.
Q. 6. Why did he assume our nature ?
A. That he might die in it for our salvation; Heb. ii. 15. And deliver them, who through fear of death were all their lifetime sub- ject to bondage.
Q. 7. Why did he rise in it after death ?
A. He raised it from the dead for your justification ; Rom. iv. 25. Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
Q. 8. Why did he ascend in our nature into heaven ?
A. To be a Mediator of intercession in our nature; Heb. vii. 25. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Q. 9. What is the first instruction from hence ?
A. That the body of Christ is not every where, but is contained in heaven ; Acts iii. 21. Whom the heaven must receive, until the times of restitution of all things.
Q. 10. What is the second instruction?
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J, That Christ is full of tender compassion to his people's infir- tnlties ; Heb. iv. 15. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infii*mities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Q. 11. What is the third instruction.?
J. That great and admirable is the glory designed for the bodies of believers ; Phil. iii. 21. Who shall change your vile bodies, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the work- ing whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself
Q. 12. What is the last instruction.?
J. That the bodily eyes of believers after the resurrection, shall see Christ in glory ; Job xix. 26, 27. And though after my skin ■worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God, whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another.
Quest. 23. W HAT offices doth Christ execute as our Redeem- er.''
A. Christ, as our Redeemer, cloth execute the office of a prophety of a priest, and of a Icing, both in his estate of humiliation and ex-- altation.
Q. 1. What are the states and conditions of our Redeemer?
A. Christ's states are twofold ; namely, his state of humiliation, and his state of exaltation; Phil. ii. 8, 9- And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross : Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name above every name.
Q. 2. How many offices belong to Christ in these states ?
A. Christ hath a threefold office ; namely, of a prophet, of a priest, and of a king.
Q. 3. Why doth Christ take all these three offices ?
A. Because they are all necessary for our salvation, and we have the benefit of them all ; 1 Cor. i. 30. Who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.
Q. 4. Can no man take Christ in one office, and not in another ?
A. No; whoever will have the benefit of any one, must receive him in all ; Acts v. 31. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince, and a Saviour, for to give repentance unto Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
Q. 5. What respect have the offices of Christ to the promises?
A. The promises flow out of them as out of their fountain ; 2 Cor. i. 20. For all the promises of God in him, are yea, and in him, Amen.
Q. 6. What promises flow out of the prophetical office ?
A. All promises of illumination, guidance, and direction flow out of Christ's prophetical office ?
Q. 7. What promises flow out of the priestly office ?
A. All the promises of a pardon and peace flow out of it
Q. 8. "What promises flow out of the kingly ofl^ice ?
A. All the promises of defence, protection, and deliverances,
Q. 9. What is the first instruction ?
A. Henc€ we learn the completeness of Christ for all the wants of his people ; Col. ii. 10. And ye are complete in him.
Q. 10. What is the second instruction ?
A. Hence we learn the folly and misery of all those hypocrites that close partially with Christ.
Q. 11. What is the third instruction.?
A. Hence we learn the singular dignity of the Lord Jesus : None ever having had all those ofiices but Christ.
Q. 12. What is the last instruction.?
A. That faith is a considerate act ; and requires much deliberation.
OfChrisfs Prophetical Office.
Quest. 24. JlI-OW doth Christ execute the ofiice of a prophet.?
A. Christ executeth the office of a prophet^ in revealing to us hy his word and Spirit^ the will of God for our salvation.
Q. 1. What doth Chrisfs prophetical oflice imply.?
A. It implies man's natural blindness and ignorance ; 1 Cor. ii. 14. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him ; neither can he know them^ because they are spiritually discerned.
Q. 2. AY hat else doth it imply .?
A. That Christ is the original and fountain of all that Hght which guides us to salvation ; 2 Cor. iv. 6, 7. For God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Q. 3. How doth Christ teach men the will of God .?
A. He doth it by external revelation of it; Acts ili. 22. For Mo- ses truly said to the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me, him shall ye hear, in all things, whatsoever he shall say unto you. And by internal illumina- tion ; Luke xxiv. 45. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scripture.
Q. 4. What need then of man's ministry .?