Fourthly, General infirmities of nature. — Matt. iv. 2 ; John iv. 6 ; Heb. ii. 18.
Q. 6. Wherefore was our Redeemer to be man ?
A. That the nature which had offended might suffer, and make satisfaction, and so he might be every way a fit and sufficient Saviour for men.— Heb. ii. 10-17.
480 THE PKINCIPLES OF
CHAP. XI. — Of the Offices of Christ ; and, First, of ms Kingly,
Q. 1. How many are the offices of Jesus Christ?
A. Three ; first, of a * King ; secondly, '' a^ ^ Priest ; thirdly, a ' Pro- phet.—"Ps. ii. 6.— "Ps. ex. 4.— '^Deut. xviii. 15.
Q. 2. Hath he these offices peculiar by nature ?
A. No; he only received them for the present dispensation, until the work of redemption be perfected. — Ps. ex. 1; Acts ii. 86, x. 42; 1 Cor. xi. 3, XV. 27, 28; PhH. ii. 9; Heb. iii. 2, 6, ii. 7-9.
Q. 3. Wherein doth the kingly office of Cltrist consist ?
A. In a two-fold power; first, his power of ruling in and over his church; secondly, his power of subduing his enemies. — Ps. ex. 3-7.
Q. 4. What is his ruling power in and over his peop)le ?
A. That supreme authority which,^ ^ for their everlasting good, he useth towards them, whereof in general there be two acts ; first, " in- ternal and spiritual, in converting their souls unto him, making them unto himself a willing, obedient, persevering people; secondly, ''ex- ternal and ecclesiastical, in giving perfect laws and rules for their government, as gathered into holy societies under him. — *Isa. liii. 12, lix. 20, 21, with Heb. Adii. 10-12; Isa. Ixi. 1, 2; John i. 16, xii. 32; Mark i. 15; Matt, xxviii. 20; 2 Cor. x. 4, 5.— "Matt. xvi. 19; 1 Cor. xii. 28; Eph. iv. 8-14; 2 Tim. iii. 16, ]7; Rev. xxii. 18, 19.
Q. 5. How many are the acts of his kingly power towards his enemies ?
A. Two also; first, * internal, by the^ mighty working of his Word, and the spirit of bondage upon their hearts, convincing, amazing, terrifying their consciences, hardening their spirits for ruin ; secondly, "external, in judgments and vengeance, which ofttimes he begin- neth in this life, and will continue unto eternity. — ^ Ps. ex. ; John vi. 46, viii. 59, ix. 41, xii. 40; 2 Cor. x. 4-6; 1 Cor. v. 5; 1 Tim. i. 20. — "Mark xvi. 16; Luke xix. 27; Acts xiii. 11; Rev. xvii. 14,
1 In the exercise of these offices, Christ is also the sole head, husband, and first- born of the church.
2 Papal usurpation upon these offices of Christ manifests the pope to be the Man of Sin.
' Christ's subjects are all born rebels, and are stubborn, until he make tiiem obedient by Iiis Word and Spirit,
* Christ Iiath not delegated his kingly power of law-making for his church to any here below.
' The end of Christ in exercising liis kingly pow'er over his enemies, is the glory of his gospel and the good of his people.
THE DOCTEINE OF CHRIST. 48]
CHAP. XII. — Of Christ's Priestly Office.
Q. 1. By what means did Jesus Christ undertake the office of an etei^nal priest ?
A. By * the decree, ordination, and will of God his Father, '' where- imto he yielded voluntary obedience; so ""that concerning this there was a compact and covenant between them. — " Ps. ex. 4 ; Heb. v. 5, 6, vii. 17, 18.— "Isa. 1. 4-6; Heb. x. 5-10.— "^Ps. ii. 7, 8; Isa. liii. 8, 10-12; Phil. ii. 7, 9; Heb. xii. 2; John xvii. 2, 4.
Q. 2. Wherein doth his execution of this office consist ?
A. In bringing his people unto God. — Heb. ii. 10, iv. 16, vii. 25.
Q. 3. What are the paints of it ?
A. First, " oblation ; secondly, ^ intercession.^ — " Heb. ix. 1 4. — '' Heb. vii. 25.
Q. 4. What is the oblation of Christ?
A. The " offering up of himself upon the altar of the cross, an holy propitiatory sacrifice for the sins of all the elect throughout the world ; as '' also, the presentation of himself for us in heaven, sprinkled with the blood of the covenant. — ^Isa. liii. 10, 12; John iii. 16, xi. 51, xvii. 19; Heb. ix. 13, 14.— "Heb. ix. 24.
Q. 5. Whereby doth this oblation do good unto us ?
A. Divers ways ; first, in that it satisfied the justice of God ; se- condly, it redeemed us from the power of sm, death, and hell ; thirdly, it ratified the new covenant of grace; fourthly, it procured for us grace here, and glory hereafter; — by all which means the peace and reconciliation between God and us is wrought. — Eph. ii. 14, 15.
Q. 6. How did the oblation of Christ satisfy God's justice for our sin ?
A. In that for us he underwent the^ punishment due to our sin. — Isa. liii. 4-6; John x. 11; Rom. iii. 25, 26, iv. 25; 1 Cor. xv. 3; 2 Cor. V. 21 ; Eph. v. 2; 1 Pet. ii. 24.
Q. 7. What ivas that punishment ?
A. The wrath of God, the curse ^ of the law, the pains of hell, due