Q. 3. By what means doth he perform all this ?
A. Divers; as, first, * internally and effectually, by his Spirit writing his law in our hearts; secondly, ''outwardly and instrumen- tally, by the Word preached. — ^ Jer. xxxi. 31-34 ; 2 Cor. iii. 3 ; 1 Thess. iv. 9; Heb. viii. 10.— 'John xx. 81; 1 Cor. xii. 28; Eph. iv. 8-13; 2 Pet. i. 21.
CHAP. XIV. — Of the Two-fold Estate of Christ.
Q. 1. In what estate or condition doth Christ exercise these offices ?
A. In a two-fold estate; first, of humihation'* ' ^ or abasement; secondly, of exaltation or glory. — Phil. ii. 8-10.
by the Papists, with their merits, masses, penance, and purgatory, by consequent, overthrown. »
' To make saints our intercessors, is to renounce Jesus Christ from being a sufficient Saviour.
' Christ differed from all other prophets; first, in his sending, wliich was imme- diately from the bosom of his Fatlier; secondly, his assistance, which was the fulness of the Spirit; thirdly, his manner of teaching, — with authority.
3 To accuse his Word of imperfection, in doctrine or discipline, is to deny him a perfect prophet, or to have borne witness unto all truth.
* The humiliation of Christ shows us what we must here do and suffer, — his ex- altation, what we may hope for.
* The first of these holds forth his mighty love to us, the other his mighty power in himself.
* Tlie only way to heaven is by the cross.
484 THE PRINCIPLES OF
Q. 2. Whereiyi consisteth the state of Christ's humiliation?
A, In three things; first, "in his incarnation, or being bom of woman ; secondly, ^ his obedience, or fulfilhng the whole law, moral and ceremonial; thirdly, in his "passion, or enduring all sorts of miseries, even death itself — "Luke i. So; John i. 14; Rom. i. S; Gal. iv. 4; Heb. ii. 9, 14.— 'Matt. iii. 15, v. 17; Luke ii. 21; John viii. 46; 2 Cor. v. 21; 1 Pet. i. 19; 1 John iii. 5.— "Isa. liii. 4-6; Heb. ii. 9; 1 Pet. ii. 21.
Q. S. Wherein consists Jiis exaltation f
A. In, fii'st, his resurrection; secondly, ascension; thirdly, sitting at the right hand of God ; — by all which he was declared to be the Son of God with power.— l^.Iatt. xxviii. 18; Rom. i. 4, vi. 4; Eph. iv. 9; Phil. ii. 9, 10; 1 Tim. iii. 16.
CHAP. XV. — Of the Persons to whom the Benefits of Christ's Offices
DO BliLONG.
Q. 1. Unto whom do the saving benefits of what Christ performeth, in the execution of his offices, belong?
A. Only to his elect.^ ^ ^ — John xvii. 9 ; Isa. Ixiii. 9 ; Heb. iii. 6, X. 21.
Q. 2. Died he for no other?
A. None, in respect of his Father's eternal purpose, and his own in- tention of removing wrath from them, and procuring gxace and glory for them.— Acts xx. 28; Matt. xx. 28, xxvi. 28; Heb. ix. 28; John xi. 51, 52; Isa. liii. 12; John iii. 16, x. 11-13, 15; Eph. v. 25; Rom. viii. 32, 34; Gal. iii. 13; John vi. 37, 39; Rom. iv. 25; 2 Cor. v. 19, 20.
Q. 3. What shall become of them for luhom Christ died not ?
A. Everlasting torments for their sins; their portion in their own place. — Mark xvi. 16; John iii. 86; Matt. xxv. 41; Acts i. 25.
Q. 4. For whom doth he make intercession?
A. Only for those Avho from eternity were given him by his Father. — John xvii.; Heb. vii. 24, 25.
CHAP. XVI.— Of the Church.
Q. 1. How are the elect called, in respect of their obedience unto Christ, and union loith him?
A. His church.— Acts xx. 28; Eph. v. 32.
' Christ giveth life to all that world for whom he gave his life.
' None that he died for shall ever die.
' To say that Christ died foi- every man universally, is to affirm that he did no more for the elect than the reprobates, — for tliem that are saved than for them that are damned; whicli is the Armiuian blasphemy.
THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST. '485
Q. 2. What is the church of Christ ?
A. The whole company of God's' ^''' elect, "called ''of God, 'by the Word and Spirit, '^ out of their natural condition, to the dignity of his children, and ' united unto Christ their head, by faith, in the bond of the Spirit— " Acts ii. 47; 1 Tim. v. 21; Heb. xii. 22-24.— "Rom. i. 5, 6, ix. 11, 24; 1 Cor. iv. 15; 2 Tim. i. 9.— "Acts xvi. 14; John iii. 8; 1 Cor. iv. 15; 1 Pet. i. 23; Heb. viii. 10.— "Eph. ii. 11-13; Col. L 13; Heb. ii. 14, 15; 1 Pet. ii. 9.—* John xvii. 21; Eph. ii. 18-22.
Q. 3. Is this ivhole church always in the same state?
A No ; one part of it is militant, the other triumphant.
Q. 4. What is the church militant?
A. That portion of God's elect which, in t)ieir generation, cleaveth unto Christ by faith, and fighteth against the world, flesh, and devO. —Eph. VL 11, 12; Heb. xi. 13, 14, xii. 1, 4.
Q. 5. What is the church triumphant?