Of Christ's priesthood,
An Expofition of the Affembly's Catechism.
10. What is the laſt inſtruction ?
A. Learn hence the tranſcendent excellency of the knowledge of Chrift above all other knowledge ; Phil. iii. 8. Yea, doubtleſs, I count all things but loſs, for the excellency of the knowledge of Chriſt Jeſus my Lord.
Of Christ's Priesthood.
OW doth Chriſt executethe office of a HO Queſt 25 . prieft?
A. Chrift executeth the office of a priest, in his once offering up ofhimself a facrifice tofatisfy divine juſtice, and reconcile us toGod, and in making continual interceffionforus.
1. What is the priesthood ofChriſt in general ?
A. It is his expiation of our fins bythe facrifice ofhimself, and obtainingGod's favour for us ; Col. i. 20. And (having madepeace throughthe blood ofhis croſs) byhim to reconcile all things unto himself; byhim, I ſay, whetherthey be things in earth, or things in heaven Q. 2. What are the parts ofChriſt's prieſtly office ?
A Ithath two parts.
First, Oblation, or offering ofhimſelf; Heb. ix. 14. How much more ſhall the blood of Chriſt, whothrough the eternal Spirit offered himself without ſpot to God, purge your confciences from dead works, to ſerve the living God ?
Secondly, Interceſſion for us ; Heb. vii. 25.
Wherfore he is able alſo to ſave them tothe uttermoſt, that come untoGod by him, ſeeing he ever liveth tomake interceffion for them.
Q. 3. What is the end of Chriſt's oblation ?
A. The end of it, as to God, was to fatisfy his incenfed justice ; Rom. iii. 25. Whom Godhath fet forth to be a propitiation, through faith in his blood, to declare his righteoufneſs for the remiſſion offins thatare paſt, through the forbearance ofGod.
And as to men, to put away their fins; Heb. ix. 26. Forthen muſt heoften have fuffered ſincethe foundation ofthe world; but now once in the endofthe world, hath he appeared to put away fin by the facrifice ofhimself.
Q. 4. What is the firſt difference between Chriſt and other priefts?
A. Other priests offeredtheblood of beasts ; Chrift his own blood ; Heb. ix. 12. Neither bythe bloodof goats and calves, butby his own blood, he entered once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
Q. 5. What is the ſecond difference ?
A.They offeredmanyſacrifices ;Chriſt perfectedall by one
An Expofition of the Affembly's Catechifm..
offering, Heb. x. 14. For by one offeringhe hath perfected: for ever them that are fanctified.
Q. 6. What was the facrifice Chriſt offered toGod?
A. His body ; Heb. x. 10. Bythe which will we are fanctified, through the offering ofthe bodyofJesus Chrift once for all. And his foul ; Ifa. liii. 10. Whenthou shalt make his
foul anoffering for fin.
Q. 7. Whence isthe efficacy ofthis ſacrifice ?
A. From the divine Perſon towhom that foul and body was united ; Acts xv. 28. Feed the church of God, which he hath purchaſed with his own blood.
Q. 8. What is the firſt inference from hence ?
A. That believers are diſcharged by Chrift from all their fins and debts ; Acts xiii. 39. Andbyhim, allthat believe are juſtifiedfrom all things.
Q. 9. What is theſecond inference ?
A. That it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands ofan abſolute God ; Luke xxiii. 31. For iftheydo theſe things in a greentree, what ſhall bedone inthe dry?
Q. 10. What is the third inference?
A. That it is impoſſible forman to fatisfyGod for his own fins ; Plal. cxxx. 3. Ifthou, Lord, ſhouldeſtmarkiniquities,
O Lord, who ſhall ſtand ?
Q. 11. What isthe laſt inference ?
A. That the Chriſtian religion only ſettles the conſcience in peace ; Heb. ix. 14. How much more ſhall the bloodof
Chrift, who through the eternal Spirit offered himſelfwithout ſpot to God, purge your confciences from dead works to ferve thelivingGod ?
Of Christ's Kingly Office.
OW dothChriſt execute the office ofaking?
Queſt. 26.H A. Chriſt executeth the office ofa king, in fubduingus to himself, in ruling anddefending us,and inrestrainingand conquering all his andour enemies.
Q. 1. Howmanifoid is Chriſt's kingdom ?
A. Twofold.
First, Internal, in mens fouls ; Luke xvii .
21. Behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
Secondly, External, over all the world ; Eph. i. 22. And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be Head over all things to the church.
Q. 2. What is the end ofChriſt's providential kingdom ?
A. Thegoodand falvation ofthe church ;John xvii. 2. As
An Exposition of the Affembly's Catechism. thou hast given him power over all fleſh, that he ſhould give
: eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
Q. 3. Wherein doth he exerciſe his kingly power ?
A. In reftraining his, and his people's enemies ; Pfalm lxxvi. 10. Surelythe wrath ofman ſhall praise thee; the remainder of wrath ſhalt thou restrain.
; Q. 4. How elſe is it exerciſed ?
A. In protecting his church amidſt all enemies; Exod. iii.
3. And Mofes faid, I will now turn afide,and ſee this great fight, why the bush is notburnt.
Q. 5. What inſtruments doth Chriſt uſe ?
A. Angels are miniſtring ſpirits to him ; Heb. i. 14. Are they not all miniftring ſpirits, fent forth to minifter forthem who ſhall be heirs offalvation ?And men, yea the worst of men; Rev. xii. 16. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth openedher mouth, and ſwallowed up the flood which thedragon caft out ofhis mouth.
Q. 6. In what manner doth Chriſt rule the world ?
A. By fupreme power ; Rev. xix. 16. He hath on his vefture, and onhis thigh a namewritten, King of kings, and Lordof lords.
And perfect wisdom ; Eph. i. 11. In whom alſowe have obtained an inheritance, being predeſtinated according to the purpoſe ofhim who worketh all things afterthe
# counfel ofhis own will.
7. What learn we from hence ?
A. That the Church is faved amidst all dangers ; Jer. xxx.
11. For I amwith thee, faith the Lord, to fave thee ; though Imakea full end of all nations, whither I have ſcattered thee, yetwill Inot make a full endofthee.
Q. 8. What is the fecond inſtruction ?
A. Thatthegodly mayfafely truft to Chrift's care ; 2 Chron . xvi. 9. For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to ſhew himselfſtrong in the behalfofthem whofe heart is perfect towards him.
Q. 9. What is the third inſtruction ?
A. Thatallplots against the church ſhall furely be defeated ; Ifa. liv. 17. No weapon that is formed againsttheeſhallprofper.
Q. 10. What is the fourth inftruction ?
A. Itgives thefaints full fatisfaction in all conditions ; Rom. viii. 28. Andweknow that all things work together for good, tothem that love God, to them who are the called according tohispurpoſe.
Q. 11. What is the laſt inference ?
A. We should not stand in a flaviſh fear of men; Ifa. li.