Images de page
PDF
ePub

IV.

OF THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST.

Christ did truly rise again from death, and took again his body, with flesh, bones, and all things appertaining to the perfection of man's nature; wherewith he ascended into Heaven, and there sitteth, until he return to judge all men at the last day.

Q. What do you say, of the resurrection of Christ?

A. That Christ did truly rise again, from death. Q. In what manner did he rise?

A. He took again his body, with flesh, bones, and all things appertaining to the perfection of man's nature.

Q. To what place, did he ascend?

A. He ascended into Heaven.

Q. Where is he now sitting?

A. In Heaven.

Q. When shall he return?

A. At the last day.

Q. For what purpose shall he return?

A. To judge all men.

Scripture Proofs.

Matthew xx. 19. And the third day he shall rise again. Luke xxiv. 39. Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. Acts ii. 24-36.

Acts x. 40-42. Him God raised up the third day, and showed him openly; not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even unto us who did eat and drink with him, after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the judge of quick and dead.

Psalm lxviii. 18. Thou art gone up on high, thou hast led captivity captive, and received gifts for men. Acts xvii. 31.

John v. 22, 23. The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: that all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father.

2 Peter iii. 10. The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat.

"Seeing, then, that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be, in all holy conversation and godliness looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God." "I am," says the Redeemer, "the resurrection and the life; he that believeth on me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and he that liveth and believeth in me shall never die: believest thou this?" The whole truth of Christianity rests on the certainty of Christ's resurrection from the dead; and the greater our faith is, the deeper will

our self-abasement be, the more fruitful our gratitude, the more active our obedience. "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God," and who ever liveth to make intercession for us.

V.

OF THE HOLY GHOST.

The Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the Son, is of one substance, majesty, and glory, with the Father and the Son, very and eternal God.

Q. Whence doth the Holy Ghost proceed?

A. From the Father and the Son.

Q. Of what substance, majesty, and glory is he?

A. The same as the Father, and the Son.
Q. What else is he?

A. Very and eternal God.

Scripture Proofs.

John xv. 26. But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of me.

Acts v. 3, 4. And Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

Isaiah lix. 19, When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.

In these passages the Holy Spirit is plainly spoken of as a Person, and the powers attributed to him are such, that they can only belong to a divine Person. He is the Author of all good. His sanctifying influences are necessary at all times; corrupt nature must always need them. If we see our need of salvation, it is by his grace; if we see the way of salvation by a crucified Saviour, it is by his teaching; if we are made willing to be saved in that way, it is by his power. If then we would attain the end of our faith, even the salvation of our souls, we must pray earnestly and fervently for the aid of the Spirit, who alone can assist us in the conflict, and secure to us our final triumph. Reader! have Reader! have you the Spirit? He may be known by His fruit. He quickens the dead soul; hath He quickened you? and hath He made you fit for glory? O may this solemn truth be deeply impressed upon your mind, that in all the Book of God, there is not one comfortable word for the disobedient, impenitent, and unbelieving.

Matthew x. 20. Gal. iv. 6.

In the former of these texts, the Holy Ghost is called the Spirit of the Father.

In the latter He is called the Spirit of the Son. The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son, neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding." (See Athanasian Creed.)

« PrécédentContinuer »