Of Chrift's offices, page
An Exposition of the Affembly's Catechism.
2Cor. i. 20. For all the promiſes ofGod in him, are yea, and inhim, amen.
Q.6. What promiſes flow out ofthe prophetical office ?
A. All promifes of illumination, guidance, and direction flow out of Chriſt's prophetical office ?
Q.7. What promiſes flow out ofthe priestly office ?
A. All the promiſes of pardon and peace flow out of it.
Q. 8. What promiſes flow out ofthekingly office ?
A.Allthe promiſes ofdefence,protection, anddeliverances.
Q. 9. What is the firſt inſtruction ?
A. Hencewe learn the completeness of Chriſt for all the wants of his people; Col. ii. 10. Andyè are complete in hini .
Q. 10. What is the fecond inſtruction ?
A. Hence we learn the follyand miſery of all thoſe hypocrites that cloſe partiallywith Chrift.
Q.rr. What isthe third inſtruction ?
A. Hence we learn the fingular dignity of the Lord Jeſus :
None ever having had all thoſe offices but Chrift.
Q. 12. What is the laſt inſtruction ?
A. That faith is a confiderate act ; and requires much deliberation.
Queft. 24.4H Of Christ's Prophetical Office.
OW doth Chrift execute the office of a prophet?
A. Ghrift executeth the office of a prophet, in revealing to us by his word and Spirit, the will of God for our falvation.
Q. 1. What doth Chrift's prophetical office imply ?
A.Itimpliesman's natural blindneſs and ignorance ; 1 Cor. ii. 14. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him ; neither can he know them, because they are ſpiritually difcerned.
Q. 2. What elſe doth it imply ?
A. That Chriſt is the original and fountain of all that light which guides us to falvation ; 2 Cor. iv. 6, 7. For God that commanded the light to fhine out ofdarkness, hath ſhined in ourhearts, togive the light ofthe knowledge of the glory of God in the face ofJesus Chrift.
Q. 3. How doth Chrift teach menthe will ofGod ?
A. He doth it by external revelation of it ; Acts iii. 22.
For Mofes truly faid to the fathers,Aprophet ſhall the Lord yourGod raife up unto you ofyour brethren, like unto me, him ſhall ye hear in allthings, whatsoever he ſhall ſay unto you. And by internal illumination; Luke xxiv. 45. Then
An Exposition of the Assembly's Catechism.
openedhe their understanding, that they might understand the ſcripture.
Q. What need then ofman's miniſtry ?
A. Very much ; for Chrift hath inſtituted minifters as inſtruments, by whom he will teach us ; Eph. iv. 11 , 12. And he gave fome apostles, and ſome prophets, and fome evangelifts, and ſome paſtors, and teachers, for the perfecting of the faints, for the work ofthe ministry, for the edifying of the body of Chrift. Acts xxvi. 18. To open their eyes, and to turnthem from darkneſs to light, and from the power ofSatanuntoGod, thattheymay receive forgiveness of fins.
Q. 5. Can no man ſavingly know the will ofGod without the teachings of Chrift ?
A. No; though common knowledge may be obtained in a naturalway, yet not ſaving ; Matth. xi. 25. At that timeJefus anſwered, and faid, Ithank thee, O Father, Lord ofheaven and earth, becauſe thou hast hidtheſe things from the wife and prudent, and haft revealed them unto babes .
墨 Q. 6. How appears it that Chrift is appointed to this office ?
A. We have the written word for it ; Acts iii. 22. For.
Moſes trulyfaid unto the fathers, A prophet ſhall the Lord. yourGod raiſe up unto you of your brethren, like unto me, him ſhall ye hearin all things, whatsoever he shall fay unto you.
Q. 7. What is the firſt inſtruction from hence ?
A. None needbe diſcouraged at their natural weakneſs, if Chriſt be their teacher ; Matth. xi. 25. Atthat time Jeſus anſweredand faid, Ithank thee, O Father, Lord ofheaven and earth, becauſe thou hast hid theſe things from the wife and prudent, and haft revealed them unto babes.
Pfalm xix. 7.
The teftimonies of the Lord are fure, making wife the ſimple.
Q.8 . What is the ſecond inſtruction ?
A. That it is a dreadful judgment to be ſpiritually blinded under the gofpel ; 2 Cor. iv. 3, 4. But if ourgoſpelbe hid, it. is hid to them that are loft ; in whom the god of this world. hath blinded theminds ofthem which believe not, left the light.. of the glorious goſpel of Chrift, who is the image of God, ſhould thine unto them.
Q. 9. What is the third inſtruction ?
A. That prayer is the beſt expedientto obtain ſaving knowledge; James i. 5. Ifany of you lack wisdom, lethim afk of God, thatgiveth to allmen liberally,andupbraideth not;and
it ſhall be given him .
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