Of Christ's Humiliation
being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.
Q. 7. What learn we from hence?
A. That the church is saved amidst all dangers; Jer. 30:11. For I am with thee, saith the Lord, to save thee; though I make a full end of all nations, whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee.
Q. 8. What is the second instruction?
A. That the godly may safely trust to Christ's care; 2 Chron. 16:9. For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect towards him.
Q. 9. What is the third instruction?
A. That all plots against the church shall surely be defeated; Isa.
54:17. No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper.
Q. 10. What is the fourth instruction?
A. It gives the saints full satisfaction in all conditions; Rom. 8:28.
And we know that all things work together, for good to them that love God, to them that are the called according to his purpose.
Q. 11. What is the last inference?
A. We should not stand in a slavish fear of men; Isa. 51:12. I, even I am he that comforteth you; who art thou, that thou shouldst be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man, which shall be made as grass.
Of Christ's Humiliation
Quest. 27. WHEREIN did Christ's humiliation consist?
A. Christ's humiliation consisted in his being born, and that in a low condition, made under the law, undergoing the miseries of this life' the wrath of God, and the cursed death of the cross; in being buried, and continuing under the power of death for a time.
Q. 1. What doth Christ's humbling of himself import?
A. His voluntariness in the deepest point of self-denial? Psal. 40:7.
Then said I, Lo, I come; in the volume of the book it is written of me.
Q. 2. What was the first act of Christ's humiliation?
A. His taking man's nature on him, with all its sinless infirmities; Rom. 8:3. God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin condemned sin in the flesh.
Q. 3. What is the second part of his humiliation?
A. That mean life he lived in this world, which obscured, his divine glory? Mark 6:3. Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary?
Q. 4. What was the first thing in Christ's life that humbled him?
A. The poverty of it; Mat. 7:20. And Jesus saith unto him, the foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
Q. 5. What was the second thing in his life that humbled him?
A. The temptations of Satan, to which he was subject; Mat. 4:1. Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted of the devil, and that for our sakes. Heb. 2:17. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, ver. 18. For in that he himself hath suffered, being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
Q. 6. What was the third thing in Christ's life that humbled him?
A. His subjection to the law; Gal. 1:4. But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law.
Q. 7. What was the fourth thing in Christ's life that humbled him?
A. The revilings and contradictions of sinners; Heb. 12:3. For consider him that endureth such contradiction of sinners against himself.
Q. 8. Wherein was Christ humbled in his death?
A. His death was painful and ignominious; Gal. 3:13. 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. Made a curse for us, and deserted in it; Mat. 27:46. And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabacthani; that is to say, My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Q. 9. What is the first inference from hence?
A. That lowliness and humility becomes Christ's followers; Mat.
11:29. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart.
Q. 10. What is the second inference?
A. That Christ's love to sinners is astonishingly great; 2 Cor. 8:9. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be made rich.
Q. 11. What is the third inference?