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A. Because he became man by being born of a woman who was a virgin.

Matt. i. 18. Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 20. Behold the Angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife for that which is conceived in her, is of the Holy Spirit. 21. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his naine Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins.

Luke i. 31. Behold thou shalt conceive, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. 34. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be seeing I know not a man? 85. And he angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee; therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee, shall be called the Son of God.

Gal. iv. 4. But when the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his Son made of a woman.

24th Q.-How did Christ bruise the serpent's head?

A.-By his triumph over sin and the devil, the author of it.

See the Proofs to the 49th, 50th, and 51st Answers.

25th Q.-If Christ be the Word and Son of God, and also the seed of the woman, is he not both God and man?

A. Yes, for it was the Eternal Word, who is also God, by whom all things were created, that took upon him our nature.

John i. 1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 3. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 10. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 14. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth. Matt. i. 23. And they shall call his name Emmanuel, which, being interpreted, is, God with us.

John x. 30. I and my Father are one. 33. And the Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

John xx. 28. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord, and my God.

Rom. ix. 5. Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever.

Eph. iii. 9.

And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.

Phil. ii. 6. Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7. But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.

Col. ii. 9. In him [Christ] dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

Col. i. 16. For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in the earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by him, and for him.

1 Tim. iii. 16. And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

Heb. i. 2. [God] hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3. Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high. 5. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? 8. But un

to the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever; a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

Heb. ii. 16. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

Heb. xiii. 8.

Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and for ever.

26th Q.-How long was it after the fall of Adam before Christ took upon him our nature?

A.-About four thousand years.

SECT. VI.

27th Q.-How did God, during this period, reveal his will to mankind?

A.-In various ways. 1st. By the Patriarchs, 2dly. By the Law, 3dly. By the Prophets and universally by the redeeming and reconciling Spirit and power of Christ, which began to work in the hearts of men immediately after the fall.

See the Proofs to the following Answers.

SECT. VII.

28th Q.-Who were the Patriarchs?

A.-A Patriarch was the father of a large family or nation, who, in the early ages of the world, governed them by virtue of his paternal authority: the Patriarchs of whom we are speaking, were good men who feared and loved God and obeyed his commands; such were Seth and Enoch, such also was Noah, who, with his family, was saved from the deluge or flood by which all the rest of the world were destroyed for their great wickedness, and disregard to the warning of God.

Gen. v. 24. And Enoch walked with God, and he was not; for God took him.

Heb. xi. 5. By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him; for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

Jude 14.

And Enoch the seventh from Adam prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, 15. To execute judgment

upon all, &c. Gen. vi. 9. Noah was a just man, and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. 13. And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

2 Pet. ii. 5. And God] spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness; bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly.

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29th Q.-Are these all the Patriarchs that are mentioned in the Scriptures ?

A.-No, there are others mentioned, particularly Abraham who, in obedience to the divine command left his native country and sojourned in the land of Canaan, and, by his faith in the promises of God, obtained the appellation of the father of the faithful, and the friend of God.

Gen. xii. 1. Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee. 4. So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him, and Lot went with him.. 5. And into the land of Canaan they came. 7. And there builded he an altar unto the Lord, who appeared unto him.

Gen. xv. 6.

And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

Rom. iv. 11. And he [Abraham] received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also. 12. And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. 16. Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed, not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.

Jam. ii. 23. And the Scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness; and he was called the friend of God. See also Isaiah xli. 8.

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