and to be Lord of quick and dead: all which he did as a publick person*, the head of his Church, for their justification, quickening in grace, support against enemies, and to assure them of their resurrection from the dead at the last day. Q. 53. How was Christ exalted in his ascension? A. Christ was exalted in his ascension, in that having after his resurrection often appeared unto and conversed with his apostles, speaking to them of the things pertaining to the kingdom of Godd, and giving them commission to preach the gospel to all nations, forty days after his resurrection, Rom. xiv. 9. For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. * 1 Cor. xv. 21. For since by man came death. by man came also the resurrection of the dead. Ver. 22. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. Y Eph. i. 20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places. Ver. 22. And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Ver. 23. Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. Col. i. 18. And he is the head of the body the church, who is the beginning, the first-bern from the death; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 2 Rom. iv. 25. Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. a Eph. ii. 1. And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins. Ver. 5. Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved.) Ver. 6. And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Col. ii. 12. Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him, through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. b1 Cor. xv. 25. For he must reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet. Ver. 26. The last ene my that shall be destroyed is death. Ver. 27. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith, all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted which did put all things under him. € 1 Cor. xv. 20. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept. 53. d Acts i. 2. Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen. Ver. 3. To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. e Mat. xxviii. 19. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, bapti zing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the resürrection, he, in our nature, and as our head, triumphing over enemies, visibly went up into the highest heavens, there to receive gifts for men, to raise up our affections thither', and to prepare a place for us, where himself is, and shall continue till his second coming at the end of the world 1. Q. 54. How is Christ exalted in his sitting at the right hand of God? A. Christ is exalted in his sitting at the right hand of God, in that as God-man he is advanced to the highest favour with God the Father, with all fulness of joy", glory, and power h Acts i. 9. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. Ver. 10. And, while they looked stedfastly toward heaven, as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Ver. 11. Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. Eph. iv. 10. He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things. Psal. Ixviii. 18. Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them. i Col. iii. 1. If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Ver. 2. Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth. * John xiv. 3. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that were I am, there ye may be also. 1 Acts iii. 21. Whom the heaven 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. 54. m Phil. ii. 9. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name, which is above every name. Acts ii. 28. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. Compared with Psal. xvi. 11. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy, at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. • John xvii. 5. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self, with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. P Eph. power over all things in heaven and earth; and doth gather and defend his church, and subdue their enemies ; furnisheth his ministers and people with gifts and graces, and maketh intercession for them. Q. 55. How doth Christ make intercession? A. Christ maketh intercession, by his appearing in our nature continually before the Father in heaven', in the merit of his obedience and sacrifice on earth, declaring his will to have it applied to all believers"; answering all accusations against them", and procuring for them quiet P Eph. i. 22. And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church. 1 Pet. iii. 22. Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels, and authorities, and powers, being made subject unto him. some 4 Eph. iv. 10. He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things. Ver. 11. And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and pastors and teachers; Ver. 12. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edify ing of the body of Christ. Psal. cx. 1. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool, &c. [See the Psalm throughout.] Rom. viii. 34. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 55. Heb. iz. 12. Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. Ver. 24. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are of the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us. t Heb. i. 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. John iii. 16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotter Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John xvii. 9. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me, for they are thine. Ver. 20. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word. Ver. 24. Father, I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. me * Rom. viii. 33. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect: It is God that justifieth: Ver. 34. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, of conscience, notwithstanding daily failings, access with boldness to the throne of grace, and acceptance of their persons and services a. Q. 56. How is Christ to be exalted in his coming again to judge the world? b A. Christ is to be exalted in his coming again to judge the world, in that he, who was unjustly judged and condemned by wicked men', shall come again at the last day in great power, and in the full manifestation of his own glory, and of his Father's, with all his holy angels d, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, to judge the world in righteousness f. rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. * Rom. v. 1. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Ver. 2. By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 1 John ii. 1. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: Ver 2. And he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. Heb. iv. 16. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. 2 Eph. i. 6. To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved. *1 Pet. ii. 5. Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 56. b Acts iii. 14. But ye denied Q. 57. What the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; Ver. 15. and killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead, whereof we are witnesses. Mat. xxiv. 30. And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn; and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. d Luke ix. 26. For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels. Mat. xxv. 31. When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory. e1 Thess. iv. 16. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. f Acts xvii. 31. Because he hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by 26 that Q. 57. What benefits hath Christ procured by his mediation? A. Christ, by his mediation, hath procured redemption, with all other benefits of the covenant of grace h. Q. 58. How do we come to be made partakers of the benefits which Christ hath procured? A. We are made partakers of the benefits which Christ hath procured, by the application of them unto us, which is the work especially of God the Holy Ghost *. Q. 59. Who are made partakers of redemption through Christ? A. Redemption is certainly applied, and effectually communicated, to all those for whom Christ hath purchased it'; who are in time by the Holy Ghost enabled to believe in Christ according to the gospel m. that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance un to all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. 57. & Heb. ix. 12. Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. h 2 Cor i. 20. For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him amen, unto the glory of God by us. 58. i John i. 11. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. Ver. 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. k Tit. iii. 5. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, tut according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost: Ver. 6. Which he shed on us abundantly, through Jesus Christ Saviour. our 59. 1 Eph. i. 13. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word 27 60. Can of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, Ver. 14. Which is the earnest of our inheritance, until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. John vi. 37. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out. Ver. 39. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. John x. 15. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. Ver. 16. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. m Eph. ii. 3. For by grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. 2 Cor. iv. 13. We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken: we also believe, and therefore speak. 60. Rom. |