Q. 3. By what other names is Chrift defcribed, with relation to this office?

A. By the names of an Apoftle, Heb. iii. 1.; of a Witnefs, Ifa.lv. 4.; and of an Interpreter, Job xxxiii. 23. Q4 Why is he called an Apofle?

A. Because he is the great Ambassador of Heaven, fent to declare the will of God unto men, John iii. 34; hence called the Meffenger of the covenant, Mal. iii. 1.

Q. 5. Why called a Witness ?

A. Because being a fon of Adam, Luke iii. 38. he was the more to atteft the will of God unto men the eternal Son of God, was therefore liable to mistake in his teftimony: hence called the faithful and true witness, Rev. iii. 14.

Q. 6. Why is he called an Interpreter ?

and being no error or Amen, the

A. Because the mystery of godlinefs lies fo far beyond the reach of our natural understanding, that we could never take it up in a faving 'manner, unless the Son of God gave us an understanding that we may know him that is true, I John v. 2c.

27. What was the neceffity of his bearing, this office of a Prophet?

A. Because there could be no knowledge of the things of the Spirit of God, without a revelation of them, I Cor. . 14; and there could be no revelation of these things but through Chrift, John i. 18.,

Q. 8. By what means doth Chrift reveal to us the will of God?

A. He reveals it to us outwardly [by his word], and inwardly, by his [Spirit], 1 Pet. i. 11, 12.

Q. 9. To whom doth he reveal the will of God out. wardly in his word?

A. To his church; which, on this account, is called the valley of vifion, Ifa. xxii. 1.

Q. ic. Did he reveal the will of God to his church under the Old Teftament?

A. Yes; for the Spirit of Chrift was in the Old Teftament prophets, Pet. i. 1; he is faid, in the days of Noah, to have preached unto the fpirits [now] in prifon, 1 Pet. iii. 19; and to have spoken to Mofes on Mount Sinai, A&s vi. 38.

Q11. Does he continue to be the prophet and teacher of the church, fill, under the New Teftament?

A. Yes; and therefore faid to fpeak from heaven, in

his word and ordinances, Heb. xii. 25. See that ye refufe not him that speaketh; for, if they escaped not, who refufed him that fpake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn from him that speaketh from heaven.

Q12. In what manner did he reveal the will of God under both Teftaments?

A. Both immediately, in his own perfón; and mediately, by the intervention of others.

2. 13. How did he reveal the will of God immediately in his own perfon?

A. By voices, vifions, dreams, and divers other manners, under the Old Teftament, Heb. i. .; and by his own perfonal miniftry, while here on earth, under the New, Heb, ii. 3.

Q 14. How doth he reveal the will of God mediately, or by the intervention of others?

A. By infpiring the prophets, under the. Old Teftament, and his apostles under the New, to speak and write as they were moved by the Holy Ghoft, 2 Pet. i. 21.; and by commiffionating ordinary paftors to teach all things whatsoever he has commanded; and in fo doing, promising to be with them alway, even unto the end of the world, Mat. xxviii. 20.

215 Wherein doth Chrift excel all other prophets and teachers whatfoever, whether ordinary or extraordinary?

A. They were all commiffioned by him as the original Prophet, Eph. iv. 11.; none of them had ever any gifts or furniture, but what they received from him, John xx. 22. ; and none of them could ever teach with fuch authority, power, and efficacy, as he doth, John vii. 46.

216 What will become of those who will not hear this prophet?

A. They fhall be deftroyed from among the people, Acts iii. 23.

Q. 17. May not a people enjoy a faithful miniftry, have the word purely preached unto them, and yet not profit thereby?

A. No doubt they may; as was the cafe of many of the Jews in Ifaiah's time, Ifa liii. 1.; and of Chorazin and Bethfaida, under the ministry of Christ himself, Mat. xi. 21: 218. What is the reafon why the word purely preached doth not profit?

PART I.

T

A. Because it is not mixed with faith in them that hear it, Heb. iv. 2.

Q19. What commonly follows upon people's not profiting by the word preached?

A. The word of the Lord lays them, Hof. vi. 5.; and proves the favour of death unto death unto them, 1 Cor. ii. 16. 2. 20. Secing the external difpenfation of the word has fo little influence upon the generality, what elfe is neceffary

to make it effectual?

A. The inward teaching of Chrift by his Spirit, John vi. 63. and xiv. 26.

2. 21. How doth this great prophet teach inwardly by his Spirit?

A. He opens the understanding, and makes the entrance of his words to give fuch light, Pfal. cxix. 130. as the foul is made to fee a divine beauty and glory in the gofpel method of falvation, 1 Cor. ii. 10-12. and powerfully inclined to fall in therewith, 1 Tim i. 15.

222. Doth Chrift, as a prophet, make all welcome to come and be taught by him?

A. Yes: for, in the outward difpenfation of the gospel, he cafts open the door to every man and women, faying, Come unto me and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, Mat. xi. 28, 29

2. 23. At what fchools doth Chrift, as a prophet, train up his disciples?

A. At the fchool of the law, the school of the gospel, and the fchool of affliction.

2. 24. What does he teach them at the school of the law? A. The nature and defert of fin; that thereby they are without Chrift having no hope, and without God in the world, Eph. ii. 12.

2.25. What doth he teach them at the School of the gospel?

A. That he himself is the great doer of all for them, and in them, Mark x. 51.; and that their business is to take the cup of falvation, and call upon the name of the Lord, Pfal. cxvi. 13.

2. 26. What doth he teach them at the school of afflic

tion?

A. To juftify God, Ezra ix. 13.; to fet their affections

on things above, 2 Cor. iv. 17, 18.; and to pray that their affliction may be rather fanctified, than removed without being fo, Ifa. xxvii. 9.

2. 27. How may a perfon know if they have profited under this great Prophet and Teacher?

A.

will follow on to know him more and more, Hof. vi. 3.; ey will delight in his company, Pfal. xxvii. 4 ; grieve at his abfence, Job xxiii. 3.; and hide his word in their heart, Pfal. cxix. 11,

25. QUEST. How doth Chrift execute the office of a Prieft?

ANSW. Chrift executêth the office of a Prieft, in his once offering up of himfelf a facrifice, to fatisfy divine juftice, and reconcile us to God; and in making continual interceffion for us.

2.1. What do you understand by a [Prieft]?

A. A Prieft is a public perfon, who, in name of the guilty, deals with an offended God, for reconciliation, by facrifice, which he offereth to God upon an altar, being thereto called of God, that he may be accepted, Heb. v. 1, 4.

22. What was the great thing which the priesthood under the law, efpecially the office of high pricft, did typify and point at?

A. It was Chrift's becoming an high priest, to appear before God, in the name of finners, to make atonement and reconciliation for them, Heb. viii. 1, 2, 3.

2. 3. Of whom was the high priest a reprefentative, when bearing the names of the children of Ifrael upon his fhoulders, and in the breaf plate, Exod. xxviii. 12, 29. ?

A. He was reprefentative of all Ifrael; and fo an illuf. trious type of Christ, as the representative of a whole elect world, Ifa. xlix. 3.

24. Were not the ordinary priests, as well as the high. priest, types of Chrift?

A. Yes: becaufe though the high prieft was a more eminent type of him, yet the apoftle, Heb. x. 11, 12. com

pares every prieft who offered facrifices, with Chrift, as a type with the antitype.

2. Wherein did Chrift excel the priests after the order of Aaron?

A. In his perfon, manner of inftalment, and in the efficacy and perfection of his facrifice,

26. How doth he excel them in his perfon?

A They were but mere men, He, the true God and eternal life, John v 20.: they were finful men, He is holy, harmefs. undefiled, and feparated from finners, Heb. vii. 26.

27. How did he excel them in the manner of his inftalment?

A. Those 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 for ever after the order of Melchiz deck, Heb. vii, 21,

28. Why was Chrift made a Brieft with the folemnity of an oath ?

A Becaufe, as the weight of the falvation of finners lay upon his call to this office, fo his Father's folemn investing of him therein by an oath, gave him access to offer himfelf effectually, even in fuch fort, as thereby to fulfil the con-dition of the covenant, and to purchafe eternal life for them, Heb. ix. 12.

29 Wherein did Chrift excel the Aaronical priefs in the efficacy and perfection of his facrifice?

A It is not poffible that the blood of bulls and of goats Should take away fins ---But this man, after he had offered one facrifice for fins, for ever fat down on the right hand of God, Heb. x.

4, 12.

2 10. After what order was Christ a priest? A. After the order of Melchizedeck, Pfal. cx. 4. 21. What was the order of Melchizedeck?

A. That being made like unto the Son of God, he abideth a prieft continually, Heb vii. 3.

Q 12. How could Melchizedeck abide a prieft continu. ally, when he furely died like other men?

4. The meaning is, he came not unto his office by fucceffion to any who went before him, and none fucceeded him after his death.

213. Why then is Chrift called a prieft after the order of Melchizedeck?