Of man's misery,
An Exposition of the Affembly's Catechism. thathadnot finned after the fimilitude ofAdam's tranfgreffion.
Q. 9. What is the ſecond inſtruction ?
A. It teaches us humility, and ſhouldbe matter ofconfef fionandhumiliation,when we fin actually; Pfal. li. 5. Behold
Iwas ſhapen in iniquity, andin findidmymother conceiveme.
Q. 10. What is the third inſtruction ?
A. It should provoke parents to uſe their utmoſt diligence for the converſion oftheir children who draw fin from them.
Q. 11. What is the laſt iuſtruction ?
•A. Itteaches us the neceſſity of regeneration, and ſhould provokeusgreatly to defire it.
OfMan's Misery.
Queſt. 19. What isthemiſeryofthateſtatewhereintoman fell?
A. Allmankindby theirfall lost communion withGod, are under hiswrath aud curſe; andfo made liable toallthe miferies in this life, todeath itself, and to the pains of hellforever.
Q1 . What communionhadGod withmanbefore the fall?
A.Manthenenjoyed the gracious prefence and favour of Godwithhim, which was betterthan life.
Q. 2. How doth it appear this was lostby the fall?
A. Itappears by ſcripture-teſtimony,that Adam loftit as to himself ; Gen. iii. 8. And Adam and his wife hid them. ſelves from the presence ofthe Lord God, amongthe trees of the garden. And we inhim; Eph. ii. 12. Atthat time ye werewithout Chriſt, being aliens from the commonwealth of Ifrael, and ſtrangers from the covenants ofpromiſe,having no hope, andwithoutGod in the world.
Q. 3. Was this theonly miſery that camebythe fall.
A. No; mandidnotonly loſe communion with God, but fellunder his wrath and curſe; Eph. ii. 3. And were by nature children of wrath, even as others.
Q.4. Doth thewrath and curſeofGodthenlieon all men ?
A. It lies on allthe unregenerate inthe world ; Gal. iii. 10.
Curſed is everyone thatcontinueth not in all things which are writtenin thebook ofthe law,to do them : But believers are delivered from it by Chriſt ; 1 Theſ. i. 10. Even Jeſus, which delivered us from the wrath tocome.
Q. 5.How arethe miſeriesofmanby the falldivided ?
A. They are dividedinto themiſeries of thisworld, and of the world to come.
Q.6.What arethe miſeriesthat comeonthem inthisworld!
A. Themiſeries of life; as fickneſs, pain, poverty on the
An Exposition of the Affembly's Catechism.
bodys fear, trouble, forrow on the mind, and at laſtdeath itſelf; Rom. vi. ult. The wages offin isdeath.
Q. 7. What are the miſeries after this life ?
A. The pains and torments of hell for ever; Pfal. ix. 17.
The wicked ſhallbe turned into hell.
Q. 8. What are the tormentsofhell?
A.Painoflofs, andpain of ſenſe; Matth. xxv. 41. Depart from me, ye curſed, into everlasting fire.
Q. 9. What learn you from hence?
A. Thewoful stateofthe unconverted; miferablehere, and miferable to eternity.
Q. 10. What elſe learn we hence?
A. Thegreat falvation believers have byChriſt from all this mifery; Heb. ii. 3. How shall we eſcape, ifwe neglect fo great falvation, which at the firſt began to be ſpoken by the Lord,and was confirmedunto usby them thatheardhim.
Ofthe Salvation ofGod's Elect, and ofthe Covenant ofGrace.
Queſt. 20.
IDGod leave all mankind toperish in the eſtate of fin and miſery?
D A. God havingout ofhis meregood pleasure,from all eternity, elected some to everlasting life, did enter into a covenant of grace, todeliver them out ofthe estate offin and mifery ; and to bringthem into an estate offalvation by a Redeemer.
Q. 1. Are ſome perſons choſen to falvation andothers left ?
A. Yes: God hath choſen ſome to ſalvation, and paſſedby others; as the Scriptures ſpeak ; SeeRom. viii. 30. Moreover, whom he did predestinate,them he alſo called. And Jude 4.
For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before ofold ordained to this condemnation,ungodly men, &c.
Q. 2. DidGodchuſe ſome,becauſehe foreſawthey would be better than others ?
A. No : God's choice was not on foreſeen works, but merelyof his grace, and goodpleafure of his will ; Eph. i. 5,
6. Havingpredeftinated us unto the adoption of children by Jefus Chrift tohimſelf, acccording to the good pleaſure of his will, tothe praiſe ofthe glory of his grace.
Q. 3. Is this election ofGodmade in time,and thataccording as men uſe their free-will, or from eternity ?
A.Election is an eternal act ofGod before the world was, and depends noton man's uſing his free-will ; as appears from Eph i. 4. According as he hath choſenus in him,beforethe
VOL. VII.
Rrr
An Exposition of the Affembly's Catechism. foundationofthe world, that we shouldbe holy,andwithout blame before him in love.
Q. 4. Shall all that are elected,becalledand ſaved ?
A.Yes, theſcripture is full and plain for it; Acts xiii. 48.
Andwhen theGentiles heard this, theywereglad, andglorifiedthewordofthe Lord ; and as manyas were ordained to eternal life believed. Rom. viii. 30. Moreover, whom he did predeftinate, them he also called, &c.
Q. 5. By whom are the elect ſaved ?
A. By Chrift, the onlyRedeemer ; Titus iii. 4, 5, 6. But after that the kindness and love ofGod our Saviour towards man appeared notbyworks of righteousnesswhich we have done,but according to his mercy, he ſaved us, by the washing of regeneration, andrenewing ofthe holy Ghost, which he ſhed on us abundantly through Jeſus Chriſt our Saviour.
Q. 6. Is there no other way offalvation but by Chriſt ?
A. No, no other way is revealed in ſcripture ; Acts iv. 12.
Neither is there falvation in any other; forthere is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we mustbe faved.
Q.7. Whatlearn you fromGod's election?
A. What cauſe we have to admire free-grace in our choice, whowere nobetter than others ; Eph. ii. 3. Andwerebynature children of wrath even as others.
Q. 8. What is the ſecond instruction ?
A. It teaches us humility ; we made not ourſelves to differ, but the free-grace ofGod made the difference ; 1 Cor. iv.
7. For who makeththee to differ from another?
Q. 9. What is the third inſtruction ?
A. It teaches us diligence to make our election fureto our ſelves, by our calling ; 2Pet. i. 10. Wherefore the rather, brethren,give diligence tomakeyour calling and election ſure.
Q. 10. What is the fourth inſtruction ?
A. Itis matter of comfort to God's elect, amidst all dangers intheworld; 2 Tim. ii. 19. Nevertheless,the foundation ofGod ſtandeth ſure, having this feal, The Lord knoweth them that are his.
Queft. 1.W Ofthe Covenant ofGrace.
Hat is the covenantofgrace?
A. It is a new compact,or agreement, madewith finners, out ofmere grace, wherein Godpromiſeth to be ourGod, and that we shallbe his people, and to give everlastinglife to allthatbelieve in Chriſt; Jer. xxxi. 33. But
An Exposition of the Aſſembly's Catechism.
this ſhallbe the covenant that I will make with the houſe of Ifrael, after thoſe days, faith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it intheir hearts, and willbe theirGod, andthey ſhallbe mypeople.
Q2. How doth this covenant differ from the covenantof works?
A. They differmany ways ; but principallyinthreethings.
First, The covenant ofworks had no Mediator; the covenant of grace hath a Mediator ; Heb. xii. 24. And to Jeſus the Mediator of the new covenant. Secondly, In the former, no place was found forrepentance ; in thefecond, Godadmits it;
Heb. viii. 10. For this is the covenant that I will make with thehouſe of Ifrael, after thoſe days, faith the Lord, I will put mylaws intheir minds, and write them in their hearts, and I willbe tothemaGod, and they ſhallbe tome a people ; v. 12.
For I will be merciful to their unrighteouſneſs, and their fins will I remember nomore. Thirdly, In their condition, the former requires exact obedience ; the latter faith and fincere obedience ; Mark. xvi. 16. He that believeth, and is baptized, ſhall be faved.
Q. 3. Maya finner thathathnoworthineſsat allofhis own, be takeninto the covenant ofgrace?
A. Yes, he may ; Ifa. xliii. 25. I, evenI, am he, thatblotteth outthy tranſgreſſions for mine own fake, and will not remember thy fins.
This covenant is not of works, but of grace,Rom.xi. 6. And ifbygrace, then it is nomore ofworks, otherwiſe grace is no more grace.
But ifitbe ofworks, then it is no more grace, otherwife work is nomore work.
Q. 4. Is this covenant changeable, or an unchangeablecovenant ?
A. No, it is not changeable, but everlastingandunchangeable for ever ; Ifa. liv. 10. For the mountains ſhall depart, and the hills be removed, but my kindneſs ſhall not depart from thee, neither ſhall the covenant ofmypeace be removed, faith the Lord, thathath mercyon thee.
Q. 5. What are the principalthings bestowedin thiscovenant?
A. Godhimself,andinandwith him pardonandfalvation ; Jer. xxxi. 33. Iwill be theirGod, and they ſhallbe mypeople.
Q. 6. Canno fin be forgiven outofthis covenant?
A. No, God pardons none out of this covenant ; John iii..
18. But he thatbelieveth not iscondemnedalready.
Q.7. What is is the firſt inſtructionhence ?
Brr2
An Exposition of the Affembly's Catechism.
A. Humbled and believing ſinners have fingular fuppert fromthis new covenant, 1 John ii. 12. Iwriteuntoyou, little children,becauſe your finsare forgivenyoufor hisname'sfake.
Q. 8. What is the ſecond inſtruction from hence ?
A. That it is the great concern of allmen to examinewhether they be in this covenant, orno ; 2 Cor. xiii. 5. Examine yourſelves, whether yebeinthe faith; proveyourownſelves; know ye not your ownſelves, howthat Jesus Chriſt is in you, except ye be reprobates ?
Q. 9. What is the third inſtruction ?
A. See here the miſerable ſtate of the wicked, which have no intereft in it ; Pfalm 1. 16. Butunto the wickedGod faith,
What haſt thou to declare my ſtatutes, orthat thou ſhouldſt takemy covenant in thy mouth ?
Q. 10. What is the laſt inſtruction ?
A. That Chriſtians are obliged towalkaspeople incovenant with God ; 1 Pet. ii. 9. But ye are a chofen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, apeculiar people, that ye ſhouldthew forth the praiſes of him who hath calledyouout ofdarkneſs into his marvellous light.
Queſt. 21.W Of the only Redeemer.
HO is the Redeemer ofGod's elect?
A. The only Redeemer of God's elect, is the Lord Jesus Christ, who, being the eternalSon ofGod,became man, and so was, and continueth to beGodand man, in two distinctnatures, and onepersonforever.
Q. 1. Whatdoth the name Redeemer ſignify ?
A. It ſignifies one that frees another out of captivity and bondage, as Chriſt did us ; Matth. xx. 28. And to give his life aranfom for many.
Q. 2 Whatwas the miferyfrom which Chriſtdeliveredus?
A. Atwofold miſery, viz . Sin andhell. First, Sin ;Matth. i. 21. Thou shalt call his name JESUS, for he ſhall fave his people fromtheir ſins.
Secondly, Hell ; 1 Theſ. i. 10. Even Jeſus, who delivered us from the wrath tocome.
Q. 3. How did Chriſt deliver us from this mifery?
A First, By price. Secondly, Bypower. By price ; 1 Pet. i. 18, 19. Ye are notredeemedwith filverand goldfrom your. vain converfation, received by tradition from your fathers ; but with the precious blood of Chriſt, as of a lamb without blemish, and without ſpot. Bypower; Col. i. 13. Who hath deliveredus from the power ofdarkness, andhath tranſlated us intothekingdom ofhisdear Son.
An Exposition of the Affembly's Catechifm.
4. Whenwas the redemptionwrought by Chriſt?
A It was decreed from eternity ; it was actually wrought on the croſs ; Col. i. 20. And (having made peace through theblood ofhis croſs) byhim toreconcile allthings untohimſelf, by him, I ſay, whether theybe things inearth, or things inheaven.
Q5. How then could theybe redeemed that died before ?
A. Though Chriſt's blood was actually ſhed after the Old Teftament believers died ; yet the virtue of Chriſt's death extends to them, as well as us ; Heb. xi. 39,40. Andtheſe all, havingobtainedagood report through faith, received not the promiſe, God having provided ſome better things for us, that theywithout us ſhould notbe madeperfect.
Q. 6. Why would not God deliver us without ſuch aRedeemer?
A. Because itwas not ſomuch forthe honour ofhisjuſtice; Rom. iii. 25, 26. Whom God hath ſet forth tobe a propitiationthrough faith inhis blood,to declare his righteouſneſs for theremiſſionof fins thatare paſt, through the forbearance of God. To declare, Ifay, at this time his righteouſneſs, thathe mightbejuſt, and the juftifier of him that believeth inJeſus.
Q7. What is the firſt inſtruction from hence?
A. Thatallthat are out of Chriſtare inamiferablebondage and captivity ; John viii. 36. Ifthe Son therefore ſhall make you free, ye ſhallbefree indeed.
Q. 8. What is the ſecond inſtruction?
A. Hence feethe heinous natureoffin,whichrequired ſuch a price to fatisfy for it ; 1 Pet. i. 18, 19. We were not redeemedwith corruptible things, as filver and gold, butwith the precious blood of Chriſt, as ofa lamb without blemish, andwithout ſpot.
Q. 9. What is the third inſtruction fromhence ?
A. Thewonderful love of Chriſt in redeeming us at ſuch a rate ; Rev. i. 5. Who loved us, andwaſhedusfrom our fins in his own blood.
Q. 10. What is the laſt inſtruction ?
A. This strongly obligeth us to an univerſal holiness ; Cor. vi. 20. Forye areboughtwith aprice; therefore glorify
Godinyourbody, and inyour ſpirit, which are God's.
Of Christ's Incarnation.
OW did Chriſt,beingthe SonofGod,becomeman?
Queſt. 22.H° :
A. Christ,the Son ofGod,became man, bytaking tohimselfa
An Exposition of the Affembly's Catechism. true body, anda reasonablefoul, being conceivedby thepowerof theHolyGhost in the womb ofthe virginMary, andborn ofher, yet withoutfin.
Q. 1. Who is the onlyRedeemer ofGod's elect ?
A. The Lord Jesus Chriſt is their only Redeemer, and there is noother Redeemer beſides him; Acts iv. 12. Neither is their ſalvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven givenamong men, wherebywe mustbe ſaved.
Q. 2. How is he the Son ofGod, orcanbe, as no other is fo?
A. He is the Son ofGod by nature, from all eternity, and ſo no angelor faint is ; Heb. i. 5. For unto which ofthe angels faidhe atany time, Thou art my Son, this dayhave Ibegottenthee?
Q. 3. Whywas it neceſſary he ſhouldbecome man ?
A. That he mightbe capable to fuffer death inour room ; Heb. ii. 15, 16, 17. For verilyhetook noton him the nature of angels, buthe took onhim the feed of Abraham ; wherefore in all things it behovedhim tobemade like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest, in things pertaining toGod, to makereconciliation for the fins ofthepeople.
Q. 4. Why muſt theRedeemer be Godas well as man ?
A. Becauſe the bloodof a mereman could not fatisfy and redeem us ; Acts xx. 28. Feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Q. 5. Do theſetwo natures make twoperſons ?
A. No, the human nature is united to theſecond perſon, and ſubſiſts in union with it ; John i. 14. And the word was made fleſh , and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as ofthe onlybegotten ofthe Father, full of grace and truth.
Q. 6. Was the union only for atime ?
A. No, it continues and abides for ever; Heb. vii. 24.
But this man, becauſehe continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
Q. 7. What is the firſt inſtruction from hence ?
A. Hence we learnthe tranſcendent love of God to poor finners ; John iii. 16. God ſo lovedthe world, that he gave his onlybegotten Son, that whoſoeverbelieveth on him ſhould not perish, but have everlasting life.
Q.8 What is the ſecond inſtruction ?
A. Hence we learn the matchless love of Chriſt, that he ſhould ftoop toſuch acondition for us; 2Cor. viii. 9. For ye
An Exposition of the Affembly's Catechism.
knowthegrace ofour LordJesus Chriſt, that though he was rich, yet for yourſakes he became poor, that ye through his povertymightbemade rich.
Q.9. What is the third inſtruction ?
A. That the greateſt ſins are capable of remiſſion to believers ; John i. 29. Behold the Lamb ofGod which taketh awaythe ſins ofthe world.
Q. 10. What is the fourth inſtruction ?
A. Thatthoſe thatbe in Chriſt need not fear the denial or want of any other mercy ; Rom. viii. 32. He that ſpared not his own Son, but deliveredhim upfor us all; how shallhe not withhim alſo freely give us all things ?
Q. 11. What is the fifth inſtruction ?
A. Hencewe learnhow impious it is to aſcribe any part of theglory ofredemption to any other beſides Chriſt.
Q. 12. What is the fixth inſtruction ?
A. This teaches us the miferable condition of all that are out of Chriſt, andthe neceffity oftheir damnation, he being the onlyRedeemer.
AS Chriſt's incarnation a Queſt. 1.Whim? voluntary act in Of the Manner of Christ's Incarnation.
A. Yes, it was; for though he hada command to die for us, John x. 18. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down ofmyſelf; I have power to lay itdown, and I have power to take it again.
Yet he came willingly; Pfalm xl.6, 7. Sacrifice and offering thou didſt not defire, mine ears haftthou opened; burnt-offerings, and fin-offerings haſtthou not required; lo, Icome; inthe volume ofthy book, it is written ofme.
Ver. 8. I delight to do thywill, O myGod, yea, thy law is withinmyheart.
Q. 2. Was thebody of Chriſt areal andtruehumanbody ?
A. Yes, itwas a true and real body, notthe appearance and ſhape of a body only ; Luke xxiv. 38. And he ſaid unto them,
Whyareyetroubled, andwhydothoughts arife inyourhearts ?
Ver. 39. Behold my hands, and my feet,that it is I myſelf ; handle me, and fee, for a ſpirit hath not flesh and bones as you feemehave.
Q.3 . Had he a truehuman foul as well as a body ?
A. Yes, he had a real human foul alſo, and all the natural faculties and powers thereof; Matth. xxvi. 38. Then faith he untothem, My foul is exceeding forrowful, even unto death.
Q. 4. Was he then in all refpects like to othermen ?
A.No, his conceptionwas not like others ; Ifa. vii. 14. Be
An Expofition of the Affembly's Catechifm. hold, aVirgin ſhall conceive,andbear aSon,and ſhallcallhis name EMANUEL. And he had no fin inhim as others have;
Heb. vii. 26. For fuch anHigh Priestbecameus,who isholy, harmleſs, undefiled, ſeparate from finners.
Q.5. Did Chrift put offthehuman nature athis afcenfion?
A. No, hedid not,but carried ituptoglory, andnow is in ournature in heaven; 1 Tim. iii. 16. Received up intoglory.
Q.6. Why did he affume our nature ?
A. That he mightdiein it forour ſalvation ; Heb. ii.15.
Anddeliver them, who through fear of death were all their lifefubject tobondage.
Q. 7. Whydid herife in itafterdeath?
A. Heraiſed it from the dead for our justification; Rom. iv. 25. Whowasdelivered forour offences, and was raiſed-2gain for ourjuftification.
Q. 8. Whydidhe afcendin ournature intoheaven?
A. To be a Mediator of interceffion inour nature ; Heb. vii. 25. Whereforehe is able alſo toſavethemto theuttermoſt thatcomeuntoGodbyhim, ſeeing he ever liveth tomake interceffion for them .
Q. 9. What is the firſt inſtruction from hence ?
A. Thatthebody of Chriſt is not everywhere,but is con tained inheaven ; Acts iii. 21. Whom the heaven muſt receive, untilthetimes ofreſtitution ofallthings.
Q. 10.What is theſecond inſtruction ?
A. That Chrift is full oftender compaſſions to his people's infirmities; Heb. iv. 15. Forwehave notanhigh prieſt which cannot be touchedwiththe feeling ofour infirmities; butwas inall points tempted like as we are, yet without fin.
Q. 11. What is the third inſtruction ?
4. That great and admirable is the glorydefigned for the bodesofbelievers ; Phil. iii. 21. Who ſhall change our vile bodies, that it maybe fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working wherebyhe is ableevento fubdueall things unto himself.
Q. 12. What is the laſt inſtruction ?
A. That the bodily eyes of believers afterthe refurrection, ſhall fee Chriſt in glory ; Job xix. 26, 27. And though after my skin worms deſtroy this body, yet in my fleſh ſhallI fee
God, whom I ſhallfee for myself,andmineeyes ſhallbehold, and not another.
The End of the Seventh Volume.
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
3 9015 06534 4544