passover, 1. Cor. v. 7. and the Lamb of God, John

i. 29.

Q. 3. Why did the eternal Son of God become man? A. That he might be qualified to suffer and atone for sin in the same nature in which it had been committed, Heb. ix. 22. and ii. 16, 17, 2. That by the eternal union of his two natures he might be qualified not only to offer an infinite sacrifice, but sustain an unchangeable priesthood, Heb. vii. 24-being made like unto his brethren, Heb. ii. 16, 17, and yet born without şin, Mat. i. 20-24.

Q. 4. What offices does Christ perform as the great prophet of his church?

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."

Q. 5. How is it evident that pardon and salvation could not be obtained without a satisfaction for sin? A. 1. From the nature of sin, which being a breach of law, and rebellion against the divine government, to pardon it without a satisfaction, would be to abolish law and sanction crime. 2. From the nature of God, which is infinitely opposed to all evil, and cannot acquit the guilty. 3. From the justice of God, which demands its punishment & cannot be satisfied, unless equal punishments as well as rewards are administered. 4. From the truth of God, Gen. ii. 17, and Heb. ix. 22. 5. From the gift, John iii. 16, and death of Christ. Job xix. 25, Isaiah liv. 5, and Ix. 16. Mat. xx. 28.

Q. 6. Why, considering Christ our Saviour merely as a great teacher and examplar, may not repentance and reformation procure for us forgiveness and salvation? A. 1. Because man never can truly repent and reform without that gracious assistance of the Spirit which can be given only in consideration of the merits of Christ. 2. Because they cannot atone for past transgression, nor exist in perfection in this life, 1 John i. 9. S. Because the gospel holds out the offer of

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salvation on no such conditions. 4. Because to save sinners on their repentance and reformation and in consideration of it, would partake of the nature of the covenant of works by which none can be saved.

Q. 7. How did the Lord Jesus Christ satisfy the demands of the law in behalf of all true believers?

A. By fully and perfectly obeying the law in their stead; and offering up himself in his human nature both soul and body as a sacrifice to God, and thus suffering the penalty of the law; which, by reason of the dignity of his person, and the perfection of his sufferings, fully answered the demands of justice in their behalf.

Q. 8. How could the sufferings of Christ satisfy the law for others? A. He, with the consent of the Father, in the council of peace, became the substitute of bis people, and justifying faith is the instrument by which they obtain such an imputation of his righteousness as makes his merits theirs; so that just as they di ed in the first Adam, by the imputation of his guilt, they are made alive in the second Adam by the imputation of his righteousness.

Q. 9. How is it evident that the atonement of Christ is sufficient to take away sin? A. From the scripture: 1. Peter, ii. 24-Matt. xx. 28-Zech. ii. 16, &c. 2. His satisfaction was accepted by the Father, Rom. iv. 8. 3. His resurrection and the gift of the Spirit.

Q. 10. Did Christ make an atonement for the sins of all men, or for the elect only? His design in offering up himself a sacrifice to God was to save those that the father gave him only. Isa. liii. 2, Mat. xxvi 28, John x. 15, 16, Acts xx. 28; but his satisfaction nevertheless is sufficient for all men, and being sufficient, all who hear the gospel are sincerely, truly, and fully invited and warranted, on their believing on him, to receive it. Rev. xxii. 17.

Q. 11. How is this apparent? 1. From the scriptures just quoted. 2. From the consideration that if... he had satisfied the justice of God for all the sms of all men, with the design to save them, then he would have interceded for all men, contrary to John xvii. 9,; and

all men would be effectually called and saved; but if he had satisfied for some of the sins of all men, then none could be saved, for there would be a farther satisfaction needed and some would be sent away into everlasting punishment, whose salvation he had in part purchased; and finally his expectations and designs would have been defeated. But as his satisfaction is sufficient for all men, as it is suited to all, as all by it are saved from immediate destruction, and all are called by his word and Spirit; so it is evident that, while the gospel does not require any to believe that he died with the design to save them without having the evidences of their faith in him, that it would be pleasing to him to have them lay aside their sinful inability and unbelief, and come unto him that they might have life. Ezekial xviii 32, Isa. i. 18, Luke xiv. 17.

Q. 12. What would be the absurdity of supposing that Christ atoned equally for all, with the design to save all? A. 1. That his designs and efforts were defeated in the case of many, and his expectations, concerning them, disappointed. 2. That the success of his mediation would be wholly dependent upon the will of sinners, and that some would be finally lost for whom he had fully atoned. "To all those for whom Christ hath purchased redemption, he doth certainly and effectually apply the same, making intercession for them, and revealing unto them, in and by the word, the mysteries of salvation; effectually persuading them by his Spirit to believe and obey; and governing their hearts by his word and Spirit; overcoming all their enemies by his mighty power and wisdom, in such manner and ways as are most consonant to his wonderful and unsearcha ble dispensation.-(Confession of Faith p. 55.) John vi. 97, and x. 16.

Q. 13. What is the other part of our Saviour's office as the great high priest of the church? A. "His making continual intercession for us in heaven." Rom.

viii. 34, Heb. vii. 25.

Q. 14. What is the extent, design, and duration of the mediatorial kingdom of Christ? A. His kingdom

extends over his own chosen people, and over his and all their enemies, John i. 4, 9. Psal. xc. 2. The first believers, after the fall, were its first subjects, and it is to last until all his people shall be gathered in and Christ shall deliver up the "kingdom to the Father," 1 COF, xv. 24. It is a spiritual, Acts v. 31, happy and glorious kingdom, and Christ exercises his powers in subduing to himself his chosen people, defending them, Tit. iii. 2, Col. i. 21, and Psalm xc. 3; giving them offices, laws, and censures by which he visibly governs them, rewarding their obedience, and correcting their sins, by putting his Spirit in their hearts, and defeating and subduing all their spiritual enennies. Rev. iii. 19, and xxii. 21.

Q. 15. What was the nature, necessity, and some of the fruits of Christ's humiliation? A. He was the Eternal Son of God, and yet was born in the flesh in the humblest condition, Luke i. 48-subjected himself to the law-endured the temptations of Satan and the reproaches of men, Heb. xii. 3. Mat. x. 25, and the sinless infirmities of the flesh; suffered himself to be betrayed, taken, denied, and put to a most shameful and painful death; Phil. ii. 8, endured in his body and spirit the wrath of God; consecrated the grave by descending into it, and all by and when veiling his divinity in the form of humanity, and of a servant, that he might become the author of eternal salvation by humbling himself, and making his soul an offering for sin.

Q. 16. How can it be proved that Jesus Christ rose from the dead and ascended to heaven? A. That he rose from the dead on the 3d day is proved, 1. By the testimony of his disciples, who seem not fully to have anticipated it, 1 Cor. xv. 5, 6, Luke xxiv. 34, Mark xvi. 14, Mat. xxviii. 10; by above 500 at once, they saw and identified his person, John xx. 27; their testimony was often repeated and exactly agreed; it was given on the spot and but three days after the event. They could have had no motives to deceive, and unless they believed it would not have died in confirmation of the truth of it. 2. Christ foretold his resurrection, John x. 17, 18, and the time. 9. The report of the guard carries with

it its own fallacy, and all the circumstances of the case, though designed to defeat, confirm the truth and certai ty of his resurrection. That he ascended is equally certain from-1. the testimony of the disciples, Acts i. 9.2. The fact that he was not afterward seen on earth, and 3. from the descent of the promised gift of his Holy Spirit.

Q. 17. What peculiar honours did Christ as Godman Mediator, receive after his resurrection? A. He was advanced to the highest favour-received all pow er, 1. Peter iii. 22, in heaven and on earth, Mat. xxviii. 18, and is appointed to judge the world, 1 Thess. iv. 16, Acts xvii. 31.

Q. 18. By whom and to whom are the benefits of his mediation applied? A. Redemption is certainly applied, and effectually communicated, to all those for whom Christ purchased it; who are in time by the Holy Ghost enabled to believe in Christ, according to the gospel; but those who having never heard the gospel, know not Jesus Christ, and believe not in him cannot be saved, be they never so diligent to frame their lives according to the light of nature, or the laws of that religion which they profess; neither is there salvation in any other, but in Christ alone, who is the Saviour only of his body the church, and only they who are true members of the church invisible."

Q. 19. Are not the invitations of the gospel addressed to all who hear it? A. They are: John iii. 14, 19, Mat. xxii. 14, Prov. viii. 4, Mat. xi. 28, Mark xvi. 5; and though such is the depravity of man, that none thus receiving only the general call of the gospel will receive the invitation, John vi. 41; yet it may serve to restrain them from wicked practices; render their unbelief and rejection of Christ more inexcusable, and set forth the glorious fulness of the redemption purchased by Christ, Mat. xxii. 14.

Q. 20. What is regneration?

A. It is that instantaneous change which passes upon the heart of a sinner, when he is born again, created anew in Christ Jesus, and raised from death to life,