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. 3. Amongst whom also we all had our conversation in times past, in the lusts of the flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh, and of the mind, and were by nature the children of wrath even as others.

1 Cor. xv. 22. In Adam all die.

Rom. v. 12. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed on all men, for that all have sinned. 18. By the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation." 19. By one man's disobedience many were made

sinners.

11.

Rom. iii. 9. We have before proved both Jew and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; 10. As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 16. Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17. And the way of peace have they not known.

God before their eyes.

18. There is no fear of

Gen. viii. 21. The imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth.

1 John v. 19. The whole world lieth in wickedness. Gal. iii. 22. The Scripture hath concluded all under sin.

§. V.

21st Q. Are mankind left to perish in this state of alienation from God?

A.-No, God had compassion on fallen man, and in unmerited mercy provided a

Saviour to restore to man the image of God which Adam, by disobedience, had lost.

See the Proofs to the next Answer.

22d Q.-Who is this Saviour?

A-Jesus Christ, the Word and Son of God; who is also called the seed of the woman, which was to bruise the head of the serpent or devil that had beguiled Eve.

John iii. 16. God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. See also 1 John iv. 9, 10.

Rom. v. 8. But God commendeth his love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Eph. ii. 4. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5. Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by Grace ye are saved).

Mark i. I. The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God.

John iv. 42.

of the world.

Luke ii. 11.

This is indeed the Christ the Saviour

Unto you is born this day, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Gen. iii. 15. And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed: it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Acts xiii. 23. Of this man's [David's] seed hath God according to his promise, raised unto Israel a Saviour: Jesus.

23d Q.-Why is Christ called the seed of the woman?

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

Mat. 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 name 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 the 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 unto 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.

§. 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.