Of Christ's exaltation,
An Exposition of the Affembly's Catechism.
3. Forconſiderhim that endured ſuch contradiction offinners against himself.
Q. 8. Wherein was Chriſt humbled in his death ?
A. His death was painful and ignominious ; Gal. iii. 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 acurſe for us, and deſerted in it ;
Matth. xxvii. 46. And about the ninth hour, Jeſus cried with a loud voice, ſaying, Eli, Eli, lama fabacthani ; that is to ſay, My God, MyGod,why hat thou forſaken me ?
Q. 9. What is the firſt inference from hence ?
A. That lowlineſs and humility becomes Chriſt's followers ; Matth . xi. 29. Take my yoke uponyou, and learn of ine, for I am meek and lowly in heart.
Q. 10. What is the ſecond inference ?
A. That Chriſt's love to ſinners is astonishinglygreat ; 2Cor. viii. 9. For ye know the grace ofour Lord Jeſus Chriſt, that though he was rich, yet for our fakes he became poor, that ye through his povertymightbe maderich.
Q. 11. What is thethird inference ?
A. Chriſtians ſhould be ready to fuffer for Chriſt ; 1 Peter iv. 1. Foraſmuch as Chriſt hath fuffered for us inthe flesh, arm yourſelves likewife with the fame mind: for he that hath ſuffered inthe fleſh, hath ceaſed from fin.
Q. 12. What is the laſt inference ?
A. That humiliation is the true way to exaltation ; Matth. xxiii. 12. And whosoever ſhall exalthimself, ſhall be abaſed ; and he that ſhall humble himself, ſhallbe exalted.
Queſt. 28.W Of Christ's exaltation .
HEREIN conſiſts Chriſt's exaltation ?
A. Christ's exaltation conſiſts in his rifing againfrom the dead on the thirdday ; in afcending up into heaven, infitting at the right hand ofGod the Father,andin coming tojudge the world at the lift day.
Q1 . What is the firſt ſtep of Chriſt's exaltation ?
A. His refurrection from the dead.
Q2. How doth his refurrection appear ?
A. By the fcripture prophecies accomplished inhim ; 1 Cor. xv. 4. And that he was buried, and that he roſe again the thirdday, according tothe ſcriptures .
Q. 3. Why did Chriſt riſe again ?
A. To eſtabliſh our faith, and abolish our fins ; 1 Cor. xv.
17. And ifChriſt be not riſen, your faith is vain ; ye are yet in your fins.
An Expofition of the Affembly's Catechism.
9 .
Q. 4. What other end was there of Chriſt's refurrection ?
A. To declare his divine power ; Rom. i. 4. And declared tobe the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holineſs, by the refurrection from thedead. And to evidence thefulness of his fatisfaction ; John xvi. 10. Ofrighteouſneſs, becauſeI goto my Father, and ye ſee me no more.
Q. 5. Did Chriſt riſe in the ſamebody he laiddown ?
A. It was ſubſtantially the ſame ; John xx. 27. Then faith he toThomas, Reachhither thy finger, and behold myhands ; and reach hither thy hand, andthrust it intomy ſide, andbe not faithleſs, but believing.
Q. 6. What doth Chriſt's refurrectionteach us ?
A. The certainty of our refurrection after death ; 1 Cor. xv. 20. But now is Chriſt riſen from the dead, and become the firſt fruits ofthem that flept.
Q. 7. Whatwas theſecond ſtep ofChriſt's exaltation ?
A. His aſcenſion after forty days into heaven ; Acts i. 2, 3. Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the holyGhoſt, had given commandment unto the apoſtles, whom hehad chofen : To whom alſo he ſhewed himfelfalive after his paſſion,bymany infallible proofs, being ſeen ofthem forty days, and ſpeaking ofthe things pertaining to thekingdom ofGod.
Q. 8. Why didChriſt ſtay ſo long on earth ?
A. To aſſure the truth of his refurrection, and to fettle the duegovernment ofhis church, Acts i. 2, 3 .
Q. 9. For what enddid he aſcend ?
A. To takepoffeffion of his glory ; John xvii. 5. And now, O Father, glorifythoume with thine ownſelf, with the glory which I had with thee before the world was .
And that as our fore-runner, Heb. vi. 20. Whither the Fore-runner is for us entered, even Jeſus, &c.
Q. 10. Inwhatmanner did Chriſt aſcend ?
A. Triumphantly, andmagnificently; Pfalm xlvii. 5. God is goneupwith a ſhout, the Lord with the found ofatrumpet.
Q. 11. Whatdoth his afcenfion teach us ?
A. Heavenly-mindedness ; Col. iii. 1, 2. Ifye thenbe riſen with Chriſt, ſeek thoſe things which are above, where Chrift fitteth at the right handofGod; ſet your affections on things above, and not on things on the earth. Andan encouragement in our Chriſtian race ; Heb. xii. 1, 2. Wherefore, feeing we alſo are compaſſed about with ſo great a cloudof witnefſes, letus lay afide every weight, andthe ſinwhichdoth ſo ea-
VOL. VIII.
Yo An Expofition of the Affembly's Catechism. filybeſet us, and let us runwith patience the race that is ſet before us, looking unto Jeſus the author and finiſher ofour
! faith ; who for the joy thatwas ſet before him, endured the croſs, defpifingthe ſhame, and is fetdown atthe righthand ofthe throne ofGod.
Thesecond Part of the 28th Question, of Christ's Exaltation.
Queſt. 1.
HAT was the thirddegree ofChrift's exW altation?
A. His fitting at God's righthand in heaven; Heb. i. 3 .
Whenhehadbyhimselfpurged our fins, fatdownonthe right hand ofthe majesty on high.
Q2. What dothGod's righthand fignify?
A.Aftateofhonour; Heb. i. 13. Buttowhichofthe angels faidhe at any time, Sit onmy righthand until I make thine enemies thyfootſtool ? And power ; Matth. xxvi. 64. Hereafter ſhallyeſee theSon ofman fitting ontherighthandofpower.
Q. 3. Whatis impliedin Chriſt's fittingthere?
A. Thathis work on earth is finished; Heb. x. 12. But this man after he had offered one facrifice for fin, for ever fat downon the right hand ofGod.
Q. 4. What elſe doth it fignify ?
Chrift's power over all enemies ; Pfalm cx. 2. The Lord ſhall ſend the rod of thy ſtrength out of Zion : Rule thou in the midst ofthine enemies .
Q. 5. What learnwe from Chriſt's fitting there?
A. The high honour believers are advanced to by Chrift; Eph . ii. 6. And hath raiſed usup together, and madeus fit togetherin heavenlyplaces inChrift Jeſus.
Q. 6. What is the laſt ſtep ofChriſt's exaltation?
A. His coming to judgment; Acts x. 42. Andhe commandedus topreachunto the people, andtoteftifythat it is he which was ordainedofGod to be theJudgeofquickanddead.
Q. 7. Is it certain there ſhall be ajudgment-day ?
A.. Yes; the fcripture affures it; 2 Cor. v. 10. For we muft all appearbefore thejudgment-feat ofChrift. And every man'sconfcience witneſſethto it; Rom. ii. 16. Inthedaywhen
God fhalljudgethe fecrets ofmenby Jefus Chrift, according tomy gofpel.
Q. 8. What is the first property ofChriſt's judgment?
A. It will be awful andfolemn , 1 Thef. iv. 16. For the Lord himselfſhall defcend from heaven witha shout, with the voice of the arch-angel, and with the trump ofGod; andthe dead inChriſt ſhall riſe firſt Q. 9. What is the ſecondproperty ofit ?
An Exposition of the Affembly's Catechism.
H A. It will be exact and critical ; Rom. ii. 16. Intheday whenGod ſhall judge the ſecrets ofmen by Jeſus Chriſt, according to mygoſpel. Matth. xii. 36. But I say unto you,
That everyidleword that men ſhall ſpeak, they ſhall give account thereofinthe day ofjudgment.
Q. 10. Whatis thethird property of it ?
A. Itwillbe an univerſaljudgment; Rev. xx. 12. And I faw thedead, ſmall andgreat, ſtandbeforeGod,and thebooks were opened.
Q. 11. How is this a part ofChriſt's exaltation ?
A. He now acts inthe fulness ofhis kingly power ; Matth. xxv. 34. Then ſhall the king ſay unto them on his right hand, Comeyebleſſed ofmyFather, inherit the kingdomprepared for you from thefoundation of the world. And this will roll awaythe reproach ofhis enemies ; Rev. i. 7. Behold, hecometh withclouds ; and everyeye ſhall ſeehim, and they alſowhichpierced him.
Q. 12. What learnwe from Chriſt's beingjudge ?
A. Thatbelievers ſhall not be caft injudgment; Rom. viii.
1. There is therefore now no condemnationto them that are inChriftJefus.
Q. 13. What learn we from hence ?
A. The deplorable ſtate of Chriſtleſs perſons ; Luke xix.
27. But thoſe mine enemies that would not that I should reignover them,bring hither, and ſlay them before me.
Q. 14. What elſe learnwefrom Chriſt'sjudgment ?
A. Togive alldiligence tobe foundofhim inpeace; 2 Pet. iii . 14. Wherefore, beloved, ſeeing thatye look for ſuch things, bediligent, thatye may be found ofhim inpeace.
Ofthe Application of Christ.
HOW are we made partakers oftheredemption on purchasedby Chriſt?
A. Wearemade partakers of the redemption purchased by Chrift, by the effectual application ofit to us by his holy Spirit.
Queſt. 29.
Q. 1. What did our redemption coſtChriſt?
A. It coſt him his own blood to obtain it; Heb. ix. 12.
Neitherby theblood ofgoats andcalves, butbyhis ownblood, heentered inonce into theholyplace,having obtained eternal redemption for us .
Q. 2. Can none have the benefit ofit, except it be applied to them ?
A. No, ifChriſt be not applied,we cannotbe ſaved;John B 2
An Expofition of the Affembly's Catechifm. i. 12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the ſons of God, even to them that believe on his name.
Q.3 . Whoſe work or office is it to applyChriſt tous ?
A. It is the office and work of God's Spirit ; Titus iii . 4, 5. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour towards man appeared, not by works of righteouſneſs which wehave done, but according to his mercy he ſaved us, by the waſhing ofregeneration, and renewing ofthe holy Ghost.
Q. 4. What means doth the Spirit uſe in applying Chrift ?
A. The external means he makes uſe of, is the miniſtry of the goſpel ; 1 Cor. iii. 5. Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but miniſters by whom ye believed ?
Q. 5. Is this fufficient of itſelf ?
A. No, the bleffing and power of the Spirit muſt accompany it, or Chriſt cannot be applied; 1 Theff. i. 5, 6. For our goſpel came not unto you in word only, but alſo in power, and in the holy Ghost, and in much aſſurance, as ye know whatmanner ofmen we were among you for your fake. And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received theword in much affliction, with joy of the holy Ghost.
Q. 6. To whom doth the Spirit apply Chriſt ?
A. To thoſe that were given him ofthe Father before the world was ; Acts xiii. 48. And as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. John xiv. 17. Even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, becauſe it feeth him not, neither knoweth him ; but ye know him, for he dwelleth with you, and ſhall be in you.
Q. 7. Is the application ofChrift to a ſoul finiſhed atonce?
A. Tho' the firſt act offaith unites the foul to Chriſt, yet it is a continued act ; 1 Pet. ii. 4. To whom coming, as unto a living stone.
Q. 8. What learn you from hence?
A. What a deftitute thing the foul isthat is out ofChrift ; Rev. iii. 18. Becauſe thou ſayeſt I am rich, and inereafed with goods, and have need ofnothing ; and knoweſt not that thou art wretched, and miferable, and poor, andblind, and naked.
Q. 9. What elſe doth it teachus ?
A. The riches and dignity of believers.
Chriſt, and all his Whether Paul, or or death, or things purchaſes are theirs ; 1 Cor. iii . 22, 23 .
Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, preſent, or things tocome ; all areyours, andye are Chrift's, and Christ is God's.