teousness, and the corruption of his whole nature, which is commonly called Original Sin; together with all actual transgressions which proceed from it f. Q. 19. What is the misery of that estate whereunto man fell? A. All mankind by their fall lost communion with God, are under his wrath and curse ", and so made liable to all the miseries in this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell for ever. world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. 18. f Rom. v. 12. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. Ver. 19. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners; so by the obedience of one shail many be made righteous. Rom. v. from Verse 10. to the 20. Eph. ii. 1. And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins. Ver. 2. Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience : Ver. 3. Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past, in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. James i. 14. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Ver. 15. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin : and sin, when it is finished, bring eth forth death. Mat. xv. 19. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blas phemies. 19. Gen. iii. 8. And they heard the voice of the Lord God walk Q. 20. Did ing in the garden in the cool of the day and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. Ver. 10. And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden: and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. Ver. 24. So he drove out the man: and he placed, at the east of the garden of Eden, cherubims, and a flaming sword, which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. h Eph. ii. 2. Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Ver. 3. Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. Gal. iii. 10. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. i Lam. iii. 39. Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? Rom. vi. 23. For the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Q. 20. Did God leave all mankind to perish in the estate of sin and misery? A. God having, out of his mere good pleasure, from all eternity, elected some to everlasting life, did enter into a covenant of grace, to deliver them out of the estate of sin and misery, and to bring them into an estate of salvation by a Redeemer 1. Q. 21. Who is the Redeemer of God's elect? A. The only Redeemer of God's elect is the Lord Jesus Christ, who, being the eternal Son of God, became man", and so was, and continueth to be, God and man in two distinct natures, and one person, for ever °. our Lord. Mat. xxv. 41. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. Ver. 46. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. 20. k Eph. i. 4. According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, and without blame before him in love. 1 Rom. iii. 20. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. Ver. 21. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Ver. 22. Even the righte ousness of God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all, and upon all them that believe; for there is no difference. Gal. iii. 21. Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid; for if there had been a law given which could have given Ask, verily righteousness should have Ween by the law. Ver. 22. But the scripture hath concluded all under Q. 22. How sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. m 21. 1 Tim. ii. 5. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Ver. 6. Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. n John i. 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. Gal. iv. 4. But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law. Rom. ix. 5. Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. Luke i. 35. And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost 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. Col. ii. 9. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. Heb. vii. 24. But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Q. 22. How did Christ, being the Son of God, become man? A. Christ, the Son of God, became man, by taking to himself a true body, and a reasonable soul, being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of the Virgin Mary, and born of her, yet without sin . Q. 23. What offices doth Christ execute as our Redeemer ? 4. Christ, as our Redeemer, executeth the offices of a prophet, of a priest, and of a king, both in his estate of humiliation and exaltation *. priesthood. Ver. 25. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. 22. P Heb. ii. 14. Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil. Ver. 16. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Heb. x. 5. Wherefore, when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me. 9 Mat. xxvi. 38. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. r Luke i. 27. To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. Ver. 31. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. Ver. 35. And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost 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 Q. 24. How the Son of God. Ver. 42. And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. Gal. iv. 4. [See in the preceding question, letter ".] s Heb. iv. 15. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Heb. vii. 26. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens. 23. Acts iii. 21. Whom the hea ven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. Ver. 22. For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatso ever he shall say unto you. xii. 25. See that ye refuse not him that speaketh: for if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven. Conan pared with 2 Cor. xiii. 3. Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not Heb. weak, Q. 24. How doth Christ execute the office of a prophet? A. Christ executeth the office of a prophet, in revealing to us, by his word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation". Heb. weak, but is mighty in you. v. 5. So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to-day have I begotten thee. Ver. 6. As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchisedec: Ver. 7. Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications, with strong crying and. tears, unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared. Heb. vii. 25. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Psal. ii. 6. Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Zion. Isa. ix. 6. For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Ver. 7. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice, from henceforth, even for ever: the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. Mat. xxi. 5. Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. Psal. ii. 8. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the 20 Q. 25. How uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Ver. 9. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron, thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. Ver. 10. Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Ver. 11. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 24. u John i. 18. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. 1 Pet. i. 10. Of which salvation the prophets have enquired, and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Ver. 11. Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Ver. 12. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you, with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. John xv. 15. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. John xx. 31. But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing ye might have life through his name, 25. " Heb. W Q. 25. How doth Christ execute the office of a priest? A. Christ executeth the office of a priest, in his once offering up of himself a sacrifice to satisfy divine justiceTM, and reconcile us to God; and in making continual intercession for us . Q. 26. How doth Christ execute the office of a king? a A. Christ executeth the office of a king, in subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies. Q. 27. Wherein did Christ's humiliation consist? A. Christ's humiliation consisted in his being born, and that in a low condition ", made under the law, undergoing the miseries 25. W Heb. ix. 14. How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works, to serve the living God? Ver. 28. So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time, without sin, unto salvation. * Heb. ii. 17. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. y Heb. vii. 24. But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Ver. 25. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. 26. 2 Acts xv. 14. Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. Ver. 15. And to this agree the words of the pro 21 phets; as it is written, Ver. 16. After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up. a Isa. xxxiii. 22. For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our law-giver, the Lord is our king; he will save us. b Isa. xxxii. 1. Behold, a King shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment. Ver. 2. And a man shall be as an hidingplace from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place; as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. c 1 Cor. xv. 25. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. Psal. cx. throughout. 27. d Luke ii. 7. And she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him in swaddling-clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Gal. iv. 4. But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law. f Heb. |