A. It was substantially the same ; John xx. 27. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands ; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side, and be not faithless, but believing.
Q. 6. What doth Christ's resurrection teach us ?
A. The certainty of our resurrection after death ; 1 Cor. xv. 20. Rut now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept.
Q. 7. What is the second step of Christ's exaltation ?
A. His ascension after forty days into heaven ; Acts i. 2, 3. Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Gho3t, had given commandment unto the apostles, whom he had chosen : To v/hom also he shewed himself alive after his passion, by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
Q. 8. Why did Christ stay so long on earth ?
A. To assure the truth of his resurrection, and to settle the due government of his church. Acts i. 2, 3.
Q. 9. For what end did he ascend ?
A. To take possession of his glory ; John xvii. 5. And now, O. Father, glorify thou me with thine own self, with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. And that as our fore-run- ner, Heb. vi. 20. Whither the Fore-runner is for us entered, even Jesus, &c.
Q. 10. In what manner did Christ ascend ?
A. Triumphantly, and magnificently ; Psal. xlvii. 5. God is gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.
Q. 11. What doth his ascension teach us ?
A. Heavenly-mindedness ; Col. ill. 1, 2. If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth at the right-hand of God ; set your affections on things above, and not on things on the earth. And an encouragement in our Christian race ; Heb. xii. 1, 2. Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith ; who for the joy that was set before him, endured the
AN EXPOSITION OF THE ASSEMBLY'S CATECHISM. 189
eross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right-hand of the throne of God.
The second Part of the 9Sth Question of Christ'' s exaltation.
Quest. 1. W HAT was the third degree of Christ's exaltation .?
A. His sitting at God's right-hand in heaven ; Heb. i. 3. When he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right-hand of the majesty on high,
Q. 2. What doth God's right-hand signify ?
A. A state of honour; Heb. i. 13. But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right-hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool .f^ And power; Matt. xxvi. 64. Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right-hand of power.
Q. 3. What is implied in Christ's sitting there ?
A. That his work on earth is finished ; Heb. x. 12. But this man after he had offered one sacrifice for sin, for ever sat down on the right-hand of God.
Q. 4. What else doth it signify ?
A. Christ's power over all his enemies ; Psal. ex. 2. The I^ord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: Rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
Q. 5. What learn we from Christ's sitting there ?
A. The high honour believers are advanced to by Christ ; Eph. ii. 6. And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
Q. 6. What is the last step of Christ's exaltation ?
A. His coming to judgment; Acts x. 42. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
Q. 7. Is it certain there shall be a judgment-day .'*
A. Yes; the scripture assures it; 2 Cor. v. 10. For we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ. And every man's con- science witnesseth to it; Rom. ii. 16. In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.
Q. 8. What is the first property of Christ's judgment ?
A. It will be awful and solemn; 1 Thess. iv. 16. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God ; and the dead in Christ shall rise first.
Q. 9. What is the second property of it ?
A. It will be exact and critical; Rom. ii. 16. In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel. Mat. xii. 36. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give an account thereof in the day of judgment.
Q. 10. What is the third property of it ?
A, It will be an universal judgment ; Rev. xx. 12. And I saw the
190 AN EXPOSITION OF THE ASSEMBLY'S CATECHISM.
dead, small and great, stand before God, and the books were opened.
Q. 11. How is this a }3art of Christ's exaltation ;
A. He now acts in the fulness of his kingly power ; Mat. xxv. 34. Then shall the king say unto them on his right-hand, Come ye bles- sed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. And this will roll away the reproach of his enemies ; Rev. i. 7. Behold, he cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him.
Q. 12. What learn we from Christ's being judge ?
A. That believers shall not be cast in judgment; Rom. viii. 1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.
Q. 13. What learn we from hence ?
A. The deplorable state of Christless persons ; Luke xix. 27. But those mine enemies that \\ould not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.
Q. 14. What else learn we from Christ''s judgment ?
A. To give all diligence to be found of him in peace ; 2 Pet. iii. 14. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be dili- gent, that ye may be found of him in peace.
Of the Applicaticni of Christ.
Quest. 29. -HO"W are we made partakers of the redemption pur- chased by Christ.'^
A, We are made partakers of the redemption purchased hy Chj'isf^ hy the effectual application of it to us by Ms Holy Spirit,
Q 1. What did our redemption cost Christ.''
A. It cost him his own blood to obtain it; Heb. ix. 12. Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
Q. 2. Can none have the benefit of it, except it be applied to them ?
A. No, if Christ be not applied, we cannot be saved ; John i. 12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.
Q. 3. Whose work or office is it to apply Christ to us ?
A. It is the office and work of God's Spirit; Titus iii. 4, 5. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toAvards man ap- peared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.