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A. The word, without the Spirit of Chrift, is infuffi. cient to teach us the will of God for our falvation, because it is by the Spirit of Christ only, that we are ena bled to discern and receive the things which are necessary to falvation. I Cor. 11. 14. The natural man receiv eth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.'

Q. 7. Is the Spirit of Chrift, without his word, fufficient to teach us the will of God for our falvation?

A. Chrift by his Spirit, without his word, could teach us the will of God; but he doth not, neither hath promised now to do it, fince the whole will of God neceffary to our falvation, is revealed in his word: the word of Chrift, without his Spirit, cannot; the Spirit of Christ, without his word, will not teach us the will of God for our falvation.

XXV. Queft. How doth Chrift execute the office of a priest?

Anfw. Chrift executeth the office of a prieft, in his once offering up of himself a facrifice to fatisfy divine justice, and reconcile us to God, and in making continual interceffion for us.

Q.1. What is the first part of Chrift's prieftly office? A. The first part of Chrift's prieftly office, is, his of fering up facrifice to God for us. Heb. viii. 3. Every high prieft is ordained to offer gifts and facrifices; wherefore it is of neceffity that this man have fomewhat alfo to offer.'

Q. 2. What is a facrifice?

A. A facrifice is a holy offering rendered to God by a prieft of God's appointment.

Q. 3. Was Chrift a prieft of God's appointment?

A. Yes; for he was called and anointed by God to this office. Heb. v. 4, 5, 6.

No man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron fo alfo Chrift glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that faid, Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchifedec.'

Q. 4. What facrifice did Chrift offer to God for us?

A. Chrift did offer unto God for us, the facrifice of himself. Heb. ix. 26. But now once in the end of the

world hath he appeared, to put away fin by the facrifice of himself.'

Q. 5. Did Chrift offer the facrifice of himself often?

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A. No but he offered the facrifice of himself once only, this being fufficient for our fins.

Heb. ix. 28. 'Chrift was once offered to bear the fins of many.'

Q. 6. Wherefore was it that Chrift did offer the facrifice of himfelf unto God for us?

A. Chrift did offer the facrifice of himself unto God for us, 1. That hereby he might fatisfy God's juftice for us. 2. And that hereby he might reconcile us unto God. Q7. How doth it appear that Chrift did fatisfy God's juftice by the facrifice of himself?

A. 1. Because Chrift's facrifice of himfelf was of fufficient worth to fatisfy God's juftice, infinitely offended by our fins, being the facrifice of him, who, as God, was of infinite dignity. 2. Because this facrifice of Chrift was accepted by God in the behalf of finners. Eph. v. 2. 'Chrift hath loved us, and hath given himself for us, an offering and facrifice to God, for a sweet smelling favour.' 3. It doth further appear, because Chrift in his death, who was our facrifice, did bear our fins, or the punifhment due for our fins; and wherefore did he bear them, but for the fatisfaction of God's justice? 1 Peter ii. 24. Who his own felf bare our fins in his own body on the tree.' And he is faid to give his life a ransom for many, Matth. xx. 28. which ransom was God's fatisfaction.

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Q. 8. What is the confequent of the fatisfaction Chrift hath given to God by this facrifice of himself?

A. The confequent of Chrift's fatisfaction by this facrifice, is our reconciliation unto God. Eph. ii. 16. 'That he might reconcile both unto God in one body by

the cross.'

Q. 9. What is the fecond part of Chrift's priefly office?

A. The fecond part of Chrift's prieftly office, is his making interceffion for us. Ifaiah liii. 12. 'He bare the fins of many, and made interceffion for the tranfgreffors.'

Q. 10. What doth Chrift do for us in his interceffion?

A. Chrift in his interceffion, doth pray unto, and plead with God, as our advocate, that through the merit of his

death we might be actually reconciled, our perfons accepted, our fins pardoned, our confciences quieted, our prayers answered, and at last our fouls faved. I John ii. I. If any man fin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jefus Chrift the righteous.' John xiv. 14. 'If ye fhall afk any thing in my name, I will do it.'

Q. 11. Where doth Chrift make interceffion for us? A. Chrift doth m make interceffion for us at the right hand of God in heaven. Rom. viii 34. It is Chrift that died, yea, rather that is rifen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who alfo maketh interceffion for us.

Q. 12. Doth Chrift make interceffion for us only for a time?

A. Chrift maketh interceffion for us continually and forever. Heb. vii. 25. He is able to fave them to the uttermoft that come unto God by him, feeing he ever liveth to make interceffion for them.'

Q. 13. Wherein doth Cbrift's prieftly office differ from the prieftly office under the ceremonial law?

A. 1. The priests under the law, were priefts after the order of Aaron; but Chrift is a priest after the order of Melchifedec, without father, as man, without mother, as God, &c. Heb. vii. from verfe 1. to verfe 20. 2. The priests under the law were finful; but Chrift is holy, and perfectly free from fin. Heb. vii. 26. Such an high prieft became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, feparate from finners.' 3. The priests under the law were many, because mortal; but Chrift is the one only high priest of his order, and abideth continually. Heb. vii. 23, 24. They truly were many priests, because they were not fuffered to continue by reafon of death; but this man continueth ever.' 4. The priests under the law were confecrated and fettled in their office without an oath, but Chrift with an oath. Heb vii. 21. For thofe priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath, by him that faid unto him, The Lord fware, and will not repent, Thou art a prieft forever', &c. 5. The priesthood under the law was changeable; but Chrift's priesthood is unchangeable. Heb. vii. 12. 24. For the priesthood being changed, there is made of neceflity a change alfo of the law; but this man hath an

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unchangeable priesthood.' 6. The priests under the law offered up many facrifices, and thofe of bulls and goats, and the blood of others; but Chrift offered up but once one facrifice, and that the facrifice of himself, and his own blood. Heb. ix. 25. Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with the blood of others." Chap. X. 12. 'He offered one facrifice for fins forever.' 7. The priests under the law offered facrifice for themselves, for their own fins as well as for the fins of the people; but Chrift offered facrifice only for others, being himself without fin. Heb. vii. 27. Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up facrifice, firft for his own fins, and then for the people's. 8. The facrifices which the priefts under the law did offer, were types of Christ's facrifice, not being fufficient in themfelves to take away fin, nor accepted by God any further than Chrift was eyed in them: But Chrift's facrifice of himself was the thing typyfied, and is efficacious in itself for remiffion, and for itfelf is accepted. Heb. x. 1. The law having a fhadow of good things to come, can never, with thofe facrifices, make the comers thereunto perfect.' Verse 4. For it is not poffible that the blood of bulls and goats fhould take away fins. Verse 14. Chrift, by one offering, hath perfected forever them that are fanctified.' 9. The priests under the law appeared in the behalf of the people before God in the temple, the holy place made with hands; but Chrift appeareth before God in heaven for us. Heb. ix. 24. 'Chrift is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itfelf, now to appear in the prefence of God for us.' 10. The priests under the law had only the office of priesthood; but Chrift is priest, prophet, and king.

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XXVI. Quest. How doth Chrift execute the office of a king? Anfw. Chrift executeth the office of a king, in fubduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in reftraining and conquering all his and our enemies.

Q. 1. Over whom doth Chrift exercife his kingly office ? A. Chrift doth exercise his kingly office, 1. Over his elect people. John i. 49. Thou art the Son of God,

thou art the King of Ifrael. 2. Over his and their ene mies.' Pfal. xc. 2. Rule thou in the midst of thine

enemies.'

Q. 2. How doth Chrift exercife his kingly office over his elec people?

A. Chrift doth exercise his kingly office over his elect people, 1. In his fubduing them to himself. 2. In his ruling them. 3. In his defending them.

Q3. What doth Chrift's fubduing his elect people to himself Suppofe?

A Chrift's fubduing his elect people to himself doth fuppofe, that at firft they are stubborn and disobedient, rebellious, and enemies unto him. Titus iii. 3. For we ourselves were fometimes foolish, difobedient, ferving divers lufts. Col. i. 21. You were fometime alienated, and enemies in your mind by wicked works.'

Q. 4. What doth Chrift's fubduing his elect people to himself imply?

A. Chrift's fubduing his elect people to himself doth imply, his effectual calling them, and bringing them under his government, wherein, by his word and Spirit, he doth conquer their stubbornness and enmity, and make them a willing people to himself. Pfal. cx. 3. Thy people fhall be willing in the day of thy power.'

Q. 5. How doth Chrift rule his people?

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A. Chrift doth rule his people, 1. By giving them laws, unto which they are to conform their hearts and lives. Ifaiah xxxiii. 22 The Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king' 2. By annexing or adding to his laws, threatenings of punishing the difobedient, and promifes of rewarding the obedient. Rev. ii. 23. I will kill her children with death: and all the churches fhall know that I am he which fearcheth the reins and hearts : and I will give to every one of you according to your works." 3. By appointing church-officers, not only for declaring and publifhing his laws, but alfo for the execution of fome threatenings, who having the key of difcipline as well as the key of the doctrine committed to them, are to rule under him in the church, and have power of binding and loofing, of adminiftering church-cenfures, and relaxing or taking them off. Matth. xvi. 19. And I will give unto

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