priest, and king of his church, in the estate both of his humiliation and exaltation. Q. 43. How doth Christ execute the office of a prophet? A. Christ executeth the office of a prophet, in his revealing to the church, in all ages, by his Spirit and word, in divers ways of administration, the whole will of God, in all things concerning their edification and salvation. deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised. Ver. 21. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. ▾ Heb. v. 5. So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to-day have I begotten thee. Ver. 6. As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchisedec. Ver. 7. Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications, with strong crying and tears, unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared. Heb. iv. 14. Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. Ver. 15. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. w Ps. ii. 6. Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Zion. Matt. xxi. 5. Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. Isa. ix. 6. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Ver. 7. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. Phil. ii. 8. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the oross. Ver. 9. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: Ver. 10. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; Ver. 11. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 43. John i. 18. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. 1 Pet. i. 10. Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Ver. 11. Searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Ver. 12. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us, they did minister the things which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which thing the angels desire to look into. Heb. i. I. God, who at sundry times, and in divers manners, spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets. Ver. 2. Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds. John xv. 15. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. b Acts xx. 32. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. Eph. iv. 11. And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; Ver. 12. For the perfecting of the saints, for the Q44. How doth Christ execute the office of a priest? A. Christ executeth the office of a priest, in his once offering himself a sacrifice without spot to God, to be a reconciliation for the sins of his people; and in making continual intercession for them.• Q. 45. How doth Christ execute the office of a king? A. Christ executeth the office of a king, in calling out of the world a people to himself,' and giving them officers, laws, and censures, by which he visibly governs them;i in bestowing saving grace upon his elect, rewarding their obedience,' and correcting them for their sins," work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Ver. 13. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. John xx. 31. But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. 44. Heb. ix. 14. How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works, to serve the living God? Ver. 28. So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many: and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time, without sin, unto salvation. a Heb. ii. 17. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. e Heb. vii. 25. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. 45. Acts xv. 14. Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. Ver. 15. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, Ver. 16. After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up. Isa. lv. 4. Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people. Ver. 5. Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not; and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee, because of the Lord thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee. Gen. xlix. 10. The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. Ps. cx. 3. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beau ties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. Eph. iv. 11. And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; Ver. 12. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. 1 Cor. xii. 28. And God hath set some in the church, first, apostles; secondarily, prophets; thirdly, teachers; after that miracles; then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. h Isa. xxxiii. 22. For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; he will save us. i Matt. xviii. 17. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Ver. 18. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 1 Cor. v. 4. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, Ver. 5. To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Acts v. 31. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. Rev. xxii. 12. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, preserving and supporting them under all their temptations and sufferings, restraining and overcoming all their enemies, and powerfully ordering all things for his own glory, and their good; and also in taking vengeance on the rest, who know not God, and obey not the gospel. Q. 46. What was the estate of Christ's humiliation? A. The estate of Christ's humiliation was that low condition, wherein he for our sakes, emptying himself of his glory, took upon him the form of a servant, in his conception and birth, life, death, and after his death, until his resurrection. Q. 47. How did Christ humble himself in his conception and birth? A. Christ humbled himself in his conception and birth, in that, being from all eternity the Son of God, in the bosom of the Father, he was pleased in the fulness of time to become the son of man, made of a woman of low estate, and to be born of her; with divers circumstances of more than ordinary abasement.* to give every man according as his work shall be. Rev. ii. 10. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. m Rev. iii. 19. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Isa. lxiii. 9. In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old. 1 Cor. xv. 25. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. Ps. cx. 1. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. Ver. 2. The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies, &c. [See the Psalm throughout.] P Rom. xiv. 10. But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgmentseat of Christ. Ver. 11. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. Rom. viii. 28. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. * 2 Thess. i. 8. In flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Ver. 9. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power. Ps. ii. 8. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Ver. 9. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. 46. Phil. ii. 6. Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God; Ver. 7. But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: Ver. 8. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Luke i. 31. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 2 Cor. viii. 9. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. Acts ii. 24. Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. 47. Johni. 14. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. Ver. 18. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. Q. 48. How did Christ humble himself in his life? A. Christ humbled himself in his life, by subjecting himself to the law, which he perfectly fulfilled; and by conflicting with the indignities of the world, temptations of Satan, and infirmities in his flesh, whether common to the nature of man, or particularly accompanying that his low condition." Q. 49. How did Christ humble himself in his death? b A. Christ humbled himself in his death, in that having been be trayed by Judas, forsaken by his disciples, scorned and rejected by the world, condemned by Pilate, and tormented by his persecutors; d having also conflicted with the terrors of death, and the powers of darkness, felt and borne the weight of God's wrath, he laid down his Gal. iv. 4. But when the fulness of iv. 15. For we have not an high priest the time was come, God sent forth his which cannot be touched with the Son, made of a woman, made under feeling of our infirmities; but was in the law. Luke ii. 7. And she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. 48. Gal. iv. 4. But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law. w Matt. v. 17. Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. Rom. v. 19. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners; so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. * Ps. xxii. 6. But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. Heb. xii. 2. Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Ver. 3. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. y Matt. iv. 1 to verse 12. Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted of the devil, &c. Luke iv. 13. And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season. Heb. ii. 17. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. Ver. 18. For in that he himself hath suffered, being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. Heb. all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Isa. lii. 13. Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. Ver. 14. As many were astonished at thee: (his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men.) 49. Matt. xxvii. 4. Saying, I have sinned, in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. b Matt. xxvi. 56. But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled. Isa. liii. 2. For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. Ver. 3. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from him: he was despised, and we esteemed him not. d Matt. xxvii. 26 to verse 50. Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified, &c. John xix. 34. But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came thereout blood and water. e Luke xxii. 44. And, being in an agony, he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. Matt. xxvii. 46. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? life an offering for sin,' enduring the painful, shameful, and cursed death of the cross.g Q. 50. Wherein consisted Christ's humiliation after his death? A. Christ's humiliation after his death consisted in his being buried," and continuing in the state of the dead, and under the power of death till the third day; which hath been otherwise expressed in these words, He descended into hell. Q. 51. What was the estate of Christ's exaltation? A. The estate of Christ's exaltation comprehendeth his resurrection, k ascension, sitting at the right hand of the Father, and his coming again to judge the world." Q. 52. How was Christ exalted in his resurrection? A. Christ was exalted in his resurrection, in that, not having seen corruption in death, (of which it was not possible for him to be held,°) Isa. liii. 10. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Phil. ii. 8. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Heb. xii. 2. Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 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 hangeth on a tree. 50. 1 Cor. xv. 3. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; Ver. 4. And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures. wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Ver. 31. He, seeing this before, spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. Rom. vi. 9. Knowing that Christ, being raised from the dead, dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. Matt. xii. 40. For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly, so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 51. 1 Cor. xv. 4. And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures. 1 Mark xvi. 19. So then, after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. m Eph. i. 20. Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places. Acts i. 11. Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. Acts xvii. 31. Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. iPs. xvi. 10. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Compared with Acts ii. 24. Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. Ver. 25. For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face; for 52. Acts ii. 24. Whom God hath he is on my right hand, that I should raised up, having loosed the pains of not be moved: Ver. 26. Therefore did death: because it was not possible my heart rejoice, and my tongue was that he should be holden of it. Ver. glad; moreover also, my flesh shall 27. Because thou wilt not leave my rest in hope: Ver. 27. Because thou soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither thine Holy One to see corruption. |