* Against both these the Papists are exceedingly blasphemous; against the one, by making their mass a sacrifice for sins, — the other, by making saints mediators of intercession.
2 Christ's undergoing punishment for us was, first, typified by the old sacrifices; secondly, foretold in the first promise; thirdly, made lawful and valid in itself, — Jirst, by God's determination, the supreme lawgiver; secondly, his own voluntary undergoing it; third!;/, by a relaxation of tlie law in regard of the subj;?ct punished; — fourthly, beneficial to us, because united to us; as, frst, our head; s''condly, our elder brother; thirdly, our sponsor or surety; fourthly, our husband; fifthly, our God, or Redeemer, &c.
* No change in all these, but what necessarily follows the change of the persons sustaining.
VOL. I. 31
482 THE PRINCIPLES OF
to sinners, in body and soul. — Gen. ii. 17; Deut. xxvii. 15-26; Isa. lix. 2; Kom. v. 12; Eph. ii. 3; John iii. 36; Heb. ii. 14.
Q. 8. Did Christ undergo all these?
A. Yes; in respect of the gi'eatness^ and extremity, not the eter- nity and continuance of those pains ; for it was impossible he should be holden of death. — Matt. xxvi. 28; Mark xiv. 33, 34, xv. 34; Gal. iii. 13; Eph. ii. 16; Col. i. 20; Heb. v. 7; Ps. xviii. 5.
Q. 9. How could the punishment of one satisfy for the offence of all?
A. In that he was not a mere^ man only, but God also, — of in- finitely more value than all those who had offended. — Rom, v. 9; Heb. Lx. 26; 1 Pet. in. 18.
Q. 10. Hoiu did the oblation of Christ redeem us from death and hell?
A. First, *by paying a ransom* to God, the judge and lawgiver, who had condemned us; secondly, ''by overcoming and spoiling Satan, death, and the powers of hell, that detained us captives. — "Matt. XX. 28; John vi. 51 ; Mark x. 45; Rom. iii. 25; 1 Cor. vl 20; Gal. iii. 13; Eph. i. 7; 1 Tim. ii. 6; Heb. x. 9.— "John v. 24; Col. ii. 13-15; 1 Thess. i. 10; Heb. ii. 14; 1 Pet. i. 18, 19.
Q. 11. What was the ransom that Christ paid for us?
A. His own precious blood. — Acts xx. 28; 1 Pet. i. 19.
Q, 12, How was the new covenant ratified in his blood?
A. By being accompanied Avith^ his death; for that, as all other testaments, was to be ratified by the death of the testator. — Gen. xxii, 18; Heb, ix, 16, viil 10-12,
Q. 13. What is this nevj covenant?
A. The gracious, free, * immutable promise of God, made unto all his elect fallen in Adam, to " give them Jesus Christ, and " in him mercy, pardon, grace, and glory, ''with a re-stipulation of faith from tliem vmto this promise, and new obedience. — '' Gen, iii, 15 ; Jer. xxxi. 31-34, xxxii. 40; Heb. viii. 10-12.— "Gal. iii. 8, 16; Gen. xii. 3.— 'Rom. viii. 32; Eph. i. 3, 4.— 'Mark xvl 16; John i. 12, x. 27, 28.
Q. 14. How did Christ procure for us grace, faith, and glory?
A. By the way of purchase® and merit; for the death of Christ deservedly procured of God that he should bless us with all" spiritual
' Tlie death that Christ underwent was eternal iu its own nature and tendence, — not so to him, becaiise of his holiness, power, and the unity of his person.
' He suffered not as God, but he snffei-ed wlio was God.
^ We are freed from the anger of God, by a perfect rendering to the full value of what he required, — from the power of Satan, by absolute conquest on our behalf,
* The new covenant is Christ's legacy, in his last will unto his people, — the eter- nal inheritance of glory being conveyed thereby.
* The death of Christ was satisfactory in respect of the strict justice of God, — jiieritorious in respect of the covenant between him and his Father.
* All these holy truths are directly denied by the blasphemous Socinians; and
THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST. 488
blessings needful for our coming unto him. — Isa. liii. 11, 12; John xvii. 2; Acts xx. 28; Rom. v. 17, 18; Eph. ii. 15, 16, i. 4; Phil. i. 29 ; Tit. il 14; Kev. i. 5, 6.
Q. 15. What is the intercession of Christ?
A. His continual soliciting^ of God on our behalf, begun here in fervent prayers, continued in heaven by appearing as our advocate at the throne of gi'ace. — Ps. ii. 8; Rom. viii. 84; Heb. vii. 25, ix. 24, X. 19-21; 1 John ii. 1, 2; John xvii.
CHAP. XIII. — Of Christ's Prophetical Office.
Q. 1. Wherein doth the prophetical office of Christ consist?
A. In his embassage^ from God to man, revealing from the bosom of his Father the whole mystery of godliness, the way and truth whereby we must come unto God.— Matt, v.; John i. 18, iii. 32, X. 9, 14, xiv. 5, 6, xvii. 8, xviii. 37.
Q. 2. How doth he exercise this office toivards us?
A. By making known ^ the whole doctrine of truth unto us in a saving and spiritual manner. — Deut. xviii. 18; Isa. xlii. 6; Heb. iii. 1.