A. It was decreed from Eternity; it was actually wrought on the Cross, Col. i. 20. And having made Peace through the Blood of his Crofs, by him to reconcile all Things unto himfelf, by him, I fay, whether they be Things in Earth, or Things in Heaven.

Q. 5. How then could they be redeemed that died before? A. Though Chrift's Blood was actually fhed after the Old Teftament, Believers died; yet the Virtue of Christ's Death extends to them, as well as us, Heb. xi. 39, 40. And thefe all having obtained a good Report through Faith, received not the Promife, God having provided fome better Thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

Q. 6. Why would not God deliver us without such a Redeemer?

A. Because it was not fo much for the Honour of his Juftice, Rom. iii. 25. Whom God hath fet forth to be a Propitiation through Faith in his Blood, to declare his Righteousness, for the Remiffion of Sins that are paft, through the Forbearance of God. To declare, I fay, at this Time his Righteousness, that he might be juft, and the Juftifier of him that believeth in Jefus.

Q. 7. What is the first Inftrnction hence ?

A. That all that are out of Christ are in a miferable Bondage, and Captivity, John viii. 36 If the Son therefore fhall you free, ye shall be free indeed.

make

Q. 8. What is the fecond Inftruction?

A. Hence fee the heinous Nature of Sin, which required fuch a Price to fatisfy for it, 1 Pet. i. 18, 19. We were not redeemed with corruptible Things, as Silver and Gold, but with the precious Blood of Chrift, as of a Lamb without Blemish, and without Spot.

Q. 9. What is the third Inftruction hence?

A. The wonderful Love of Chrift in redeeming us at such a Rate, Rev. i. 5. Who loved us, and washed us from our Sins in his own Blood.

Q. 10. What is the laft Inftru&tion?

A. This ftrongly obligeth us to an univerfal Holiness, 1 Cor. vi. 20. For ye are bought with a Price; therefore glorify God in your Body, and in your Spirit, which are God's.

Of

Queft. 22.

H

Of Christ's Incarnation.

WOW did Chrift, being the Son of God, become Man?

A. Chrift the Son of God became Man, by taking to himfelf a true Body, and a reasonable Soul, being conceived by the Power of the Holy Ghost, in the Womb of the Virgin Mary, and born of her, yet without Sin.

Q1. Who is the only Redeemer of God's Ele&?

A. The Lord Jefus Christ is their only Redeemer, and there is no other Redeemer befides him, Acts iv. 12. Neither is there Salvation in any other; for there is none other Name under Heaven given among Men, whereby we must be saved.

Q. 2. How is he the Son of God, or can be, as no other is fo?

A. He is the Son of God by Nature, from all Eternity, and fo no Angel or Saint is, Heb. i. 5. For unto which of the Angels, faid he, at any Time, Thou art my Son, this Day have I begotten thee?

Q3. Why was it neceffary he should become Man?

A. That he might be capable to fuffer Death in our room. Heb. ii. 15, 16, 17. For verily he took not on him the Nature of Angels, but he took on him the Seed of Abraham; 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.

Q. 4. Why muft the Redeemer be God as well as Man? A. Because the Blood of a meer Man could not fatisfy and redeem us, Acts xx. 28. Feed the Church of God, which he hath purchased with his own Blood.

Q5. Do thefe Natures make two Perfons?

Word

A. No, The humane Nature is united to the fecond Perfon, and fubfifts in Union with it, John i. 14. And the was made Flefh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his Glory, the Glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of Grace and Truth.

Q6. Was the Union only for a Time?

F 2

A. No,

A. No, it continues and abides for ever, Heb. vii. 24. But this Man, because he continueth for ever, hath an unchangeable Priefhood.

Q7. What is the first Inftruction hence?

A. Hence we learn the tranfcendent Love of God to poor Sinners, John iii. 16. God fo loved the World, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perith, but have everlasting Life.

Q. 8. What is the fecond Inftruction?

A. Hence we learn the matchlefs Love of Christ, that he should stoop to fuch a Condition for us, 2 Cor. viii. 9. For ye know the Grace of our Lord Jefus Chrift, that though he was rick, yet for your fakes he became poor, that ye through his Poverty might be made rich.

Q. 9. What is the third Instruction ?

A. That the greateft Sins are capable of Remiffion to Believers, John i. 29. Behold, the Lamb of God which taketh away the Sins of the World.

Q. 10. What is the fourth Inftruction?

A. That those that be in Chrift need not fear the Denial

or Want of any other Mercy, Rom. viii. 32. He that Spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall be not with him alfo freely give us all things?

Q. 11. What is the fifth Inftruction?

A Hence we learn how impious it is to afcribe any of the Glory of Redemption to any other befides Christ. Q. 12. What is the fixth Inftruction ?

Part

A. This teaches us the miferable Condition of all that are out of Chrift, and the Neceffity of their Damnation, he being the only Redeemer.

Of the Manner of Christ's Incarnation.

Quest. 1.

W

AS Chrift's Incarnation a voluntary A&t in him?

A. Yes, it was; for though he had a Command to die for us, John x. 18. No Man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself, I have Power to lay it down, and I have Power to take it again; yet he came willingly, Pfal. xl. 6, 7. Sacrifice and Offerings thou didst not defire, mine Ears haft

thou

thou opened; burnt offerings, and Sin Offerings haft thou not required; lo, I come, in the Volume of thy book, it is written of me, v. 8. I delight to do thy Will, O my God, yea, thy Law is within my Heart.

Q. 2. Was the Body of Chrift a real and true humane Body?

A. Yes, it was a true and real Body, not the Appearance and Shape of a Body only, Luke xxiv. 38. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled, and why do Thoughts arife in your Hearts? v. 29. Behold my Hands, and my Feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and fee, for a Spirit hath not Flesh and Bones as ye fee me have.

Q3. Had he a true humane Soul as well as a Body?

A. Yes, he had, a real humane Soul alfo, and all the natural Faculties and Powers therecf, Mat. xxvi. 38. Then faith he unto them, My Soul is exceeding forrowful, even unto Death. Q4. Was he then in all Respects like to other Men ?

A. No; his Conception was not like others, Ifa. vii. 14. Behold, a Virgin fhall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call his Name Emanuel. And he had no Sin in him as others have, Heb. vii. 26. For fuch an High Prieft became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, Separate from Sinners.

Q5. Did Chrift put off the humane Nature at his Af

cention ?

A. No, he did not, but carried it up to Glory, and now is in our Nature in Heaven, 1 Tim. iii. 6. Received up into Glory.

Q6. Why did he affume our Nature?

A. That he might die in it for our Salvation, Heb. ii. 15. And delivered them who through Fear of Death were all their Life-time fubject to Bondage.

Q7. Why did he rife in it after Death?

A. He raised it from the Dead, for our Juftification, Rom. iv. 25. Who was delivered for our Offences, and was taifed again for our Juftification.

vii.

Q. 8. Why did he afcend in our Nature into Heaven? A. To be a Mediator of Interceffion in our Nature, Heb. 25. Wherefore he is able alfo to fave them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, feeing he ever liveth to make Interceffion for them.

F 3

Q. 9. What is the firft Inftruction from hence?

A. That the Body of Chrift is not every where, but is contained in Heaven, Acts iii. 21. Whom the Heaven must receive till the Times of Reftitution of all Things.

Q. 10. What is the fecond Instruction?

A. That Chrift is full of tender Compaffion to his Peoples infirmities, Heb. iv. 15. For we have not an High Prieft which cannot be touched with the feeling of our Infirmities, but was in all Points tempted like as we are, yet without Sin. Q. 11. What is the third Inftruction?

A. That great and admirable is the Glory defigned for the Bodies of Believers, Phil. iii. 21. Who shall change our vile Bodies, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious Body, according to the working, whereby he is able even to fubdue all Things unto himself.

Q 12. What is the laft Inftruction?

A. That the bodily Eyes of Believers after the Resurrection, fhall fee Christ in Glory, Job xix. 26, 27. And though after my Skin, Worms dftroy this Body, yet in my Flefh fhall I Jee God. Whom I shall fee for myself, and mine Eyes fhall bebold, and not another.

Of Chrift's Offices.

Queft. 23. WHAT Offices doth Chrift execute as our

Redeemer?

A. Chil as our Redeemer doth execute the Office of a Prophet, of a Prieft, and of a King, both in his Estate of Humiliation and Exaltation.

Q. 1. What are the States and Conditions of our Redeemer?

A. Chrift's States are twofold, namely, his State of Humiliation, and his State of Exaltation, Phil. ii. 8, 9. And being found in Fashion as a Man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto Death, even the Death of the Cross, wherefore God alfo bath bighly exalted him, and given him a Name above every Name.

Q. 2. How many Offices belong to Chrift in these States? A. Chrift hath a threefold Office, namely, of a Frophet, of a Priest, and of a King.

Q3. Why deth Christ take all these three Offices?

A. Because