Q. 4. How else is it exercised ?
A. In protecting his church amidst all enemies ; Exod. iii. 3. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.
Q. 5. What instruments doth Christ use.^
Af Angels are ministring spirits to him ; Heb. i. 14. Are they not all ministring spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation ; And men, yea, the worst of men ; Rev. xii. 16. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
Q. 6. In what manner doth Christ rule the world ?
A. By supreme power; Rev. xix. 16. He hath on his vesture, and on his thigh a name written. King of kings, and Lord of lords. And perfect wisdom ; Eph. i. 11. In whom also we have obtained an in- heritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.
Q. 7. What learn we from hence ?
A. That the church is saved amidst all dangers; Jer. xxx. 11. For I am with thee, saith the Lord, to save thee ; though I make a full end of all nations, whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee.
Q. 8. What is the second instruction ?
186 AN EXPOSITION OF THE ASSEMBLY S CATECHISM.
A. That the godly may safely trust to Christ's care ; 2 Chron. xvi. 9. For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is, perfect towards him.
Q. 9. What is the third instruction ?
A. That all plots against the church shall surely be defeated ; Isa. liv. 17. No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper.
Q. 10. What is the fourth instruction ?
A. It gives the saints full satisfaction in all conditions ; Rom. viii. 28. And we know that all things work together, for good to them that love Gcd, to them that are the called according to his purpose.
Q. 11. What is the last inference.^
A. We should not stand in a slavish fear of men ; Isa. li. 12. I, even 1 am he that comfovteth you ; who art thou, that thou shouldst be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man, which shall be made as grass.
Of Chrisfs Humiliation.
Quest. 27. tV HEREIN did Christ's humiliation consist ?
A. Chrisfs liumiliation consisted in his being born^ and that in a low conditioji, made under the law, undergoing" the miseries of this life^ the wrath qfGod, and the cursed death of the o-oss ; in being buried, and continuing under the power of death fbr a time.
Q. 1. What doth Christ's liumbling of himself import ?
A. His voluntariness in the deepest point of self-denial ? Psal. xl. 7. Then said I, Lo, I come ; in the volume of the book it is written of me.
Q. 2. What was the first act of Christ's humiUation ?
A. His taking man's nature on him, with all its sinless infirmities ; Rom. viii. 3. God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin condemned sin in the flesh.
Q. 3. What is the second part of his humihation ?
A. That mean life he lived in this world, which obscured his di- vine glory .? Mark vi. 3. Is not this the ca]penter, the son of Mary ?
Q. 4. What was the first thing in Christ's life that humbled him ?
A. The poverty of it; Mat. vii. 20. And Jesus saith unto him, the foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests ; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
Q. 5. What was the second thing in his life that humbled him ?
A. The temptations of Satan, to which he was subject ; Mat. iv. 1. Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness, to be tempt- ed of the devil, and that for our sakes. Heb. ii. 17. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, ver. 18. For in that he himself hath suffered, being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
Q. 6. What was the third thing in Christ's life that humbled him.^
AN EXPOSITION OF THE ASSEMBLY'S CATECHISM. 1^7
yf. His subjection to the law; Gal. i. 4. But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, mad'j of a woman, made under the law.
Q. 7. What was the fourth thing in Christ's life that humbled
A. The revilings and contradictions of sinners ; Heb. xii. 3. For consider him that endureth such contradiction of sinners against himself
Q. 8. Wherein was Christ humbled in his death?
A. His death was painful aixl ignominious ; Gal. iii. 13. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us : For it is written, cursed is every one that hangcth on a tree. Made a curse for us, and deserted in it ; Mat. xxvii. 46. And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabacthani ; that is to say, My God, My God, why hast thou for- saken me ?
Q. 9. What is the first inference from hence ?
A. That lowliness and humility becomes Christ's followers ; Mat. xi. 29. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in lieart.
Q. 10. What is the second inference ?
A. That Christ's love to sinners is astonishingly great; 2 Cor. viii. 9. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be made rich.
Q. 11. What is the third inference ?
A. Christians should be ready to suffer for Christ ; 1 Pet. iv. 1. Forasmuch as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm your- selves likewise with the same mind : for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin,
Q. 12. What is the last inference ?
A. That humiliation is the true way to exaltation; Mat. xxiii. 12. And whosoever shall exalt himself, shall be abased ; and he that shall humble himself, shall be exalted.
Of Christ'' s Exaltation.
Quest. 28. W HEREIN consists Christ's exaltation ?
A. Christ''s exaltation consists in his risi?ig again from the (lend on the third day ; in ascending up into heaven.^ in sitting at the right hand of God the Father^ and in coming tojudge tJi e zmrldai the last day,
Q. 1. What is the first step of Christ's exaltation ?
A. His resurrection from the dead.
Q. 2. How dotli his resurrrection appear ?
A. By the scripture prophecies accomplislied in him ; 1 Cor. xv. 4. And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day, ac- cording to the scriptures.
18S AN EXPOSITION OF THE ASSEMBLY'S CATECHISM,
Q. 3. Why did Christ rise again?
A. To establish our faith, and abolish our sins ; 1 Cor. xv. 17, And if Christ be not risen, your faith is vain ; ye are yet in your sins.
Q. 4. What other end was there of Christ's resurrection ?
A. To declare his divine power ; Rom. i. 4. and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. And to evidence the fulness of his satisfaction ; John xvi. 10. Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more.
Q. 5. Did Christ rise in the same body he laid down ?