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quently that the Purity of Doctrine herein advanced, is clearly demonftrated, which learns us to deny ourfelves, and to take hold of Jefus, our perfect Rédeemer.

Q. What do you learn from hence?

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A. That we ought to repent us of our Sins, to take Notice of that Grace which is offered to us in Chrift Jefus; forfaking our own Works and Righteoufnefs, depending folely on our Lord Jefus Chrift, to be faved and redeemed from all our Sins and Mifery, fo that we may live holily, glorifying God in this Life with our Body and Soul, and in the Life to come, with his Saints to all Eternity.

The 31st Question of the HEIDELBERG CATECHISM.

Q. WHY is he called Chrift that is anointed?

"A. Because he was ordained by God "the Father, and annointed by the Holy Ghoft, to be "our fovereign Prophet and Teacher, who haft fully "manifefted unto us, the fecret Counsel and Will of "God, concerning our Redemption, and our only high "Pricft, who, by offering up his Body once for us, "has deliver❜d us; and who, by his Interceffion is "alfo continually putting up Petitions for us to God, "his Father; and laftly, our eternal King, who governs us with his Word and his Spirit, and who "referves for us the Redemption he has acquired " for us.' ""

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QBy what can you prove that Chrift is ordained by God the Father, i. e. from Eternity, feparated and elect ød to the Office of a Mediator?

A. By Teftimony of the holy Scripture, as Pf. ii. 6. Yet have I fet my King upon my holy Hill of Zion. Prov. viii. 23. I was fet up from Everlasting, from the Beginning, or ever the Earth was.

How is he anointed by the Holy Ghoft, i, e. qua

lified by the abundant Gifts of the Holy Ghost to his Offices?

A. Pf. xlv. 7. Thou loveft Righteousness, and hateft Wickedness; therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the Oyl of Gladness above thy Fellows. And Acts x. 38. How God anointed Jefus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghoft and with Powers.

Q. What is the Distinction between these two Sorts of anointing?

A. The Ordination is the first and principal, upon which the Qualification followed. 2d, The Ordaining is from everlasting; but the Qualification confists in the Time when the Godhead was united to his human Nature. 3d, The Ordaining has regard to both his Natures; but the Qualification belongs only to his human Nature.

Q. To what Offices is Chrift anointed?

A. To three; to the Office of a Prophet, of a Priest, and of a King.

Q. How appears it that Chrift is anointed to the Office of a Prophet?

A. We have the written Word for it, Deut. xviii. 18. I will raise them up a Prophet from among their Brethren, like unto thee, and will put my Words in his Mouth, and he fhall fpeak unto them that I fhall command him. And Acts iii. 22. For Mofes truly faid unto the Fathers, A Prophet fhall the Lord your God raife up unto you, of your Brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all Things, whatsoever he shall fay unto you.

Q. How doth Chrift execute the Office of a Prophet? A. In revealing to us, by his Word and Spirit, the Will of God, for our Salvation. 1, Preaching the Gofpel, Matt. iv. 23. And Jefus went about all Ġalilee, teaching in their Synagogues, and preaching the Gofpel of the Kingdom, &c. 2d, Explaining the Law, Matt. v. And 3d, He himself has predicted and explained the Prophecies, Matt. xxiv.

Q: Why do you call him a fovereign Prophet?

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A. ft, Because he has fent the other Prophets, Eph. iv. 11. 2d, They have predicted by his Spirit, 1 Pet. i. 10, 11. 3d, More glorious he was than Mofes, who could only inftruct Externally; but he has taught Men the Will of God, not only by external Revelation, but by internal Illumination, Luke xxiv. 45.

Q. Is Chrift a Priest too?

A. Yes, fo he is called, Heb. ii. 17. That he may be a merciful and faithful High Priest in Things pertaining to God, to make Reconciliation for the Sins of the People, and well according to the Order of Melchizedec, Heb. vii. II.

Q. What do you take to be the Nature of the priestly Office?

A. The Bufinefs of the Priest was, I apprehend, to offer Sacrifices, and to make Interceffion for the People.

Q. How doth Chrift execute the Office of a Prieft?

A. By his once offering up himself a Sacrifice to fatisfy divine Juftice, and reconciling us to God, and making continual Interceffion for us.

Q. Can you prove that Chrift offered up himself to reconcile us to God?

A. Yes. Col. i. 20. And having made Peace through the Blood of his Crofs, by him to reconcile all Things unto himfelf; by him, I fay, whether they be Things on Earth, or Things in Heaven. And Heb. v. 2. Heb. ix. 26. The Cross, rather his divine Nature being the Altar, his Soul and Body each immaculately pure, being the Sacrifice; thefe he refigned, the one to Death by Wounds, the other to inexpreffible Anguish, and both to be inftead of all whole Burnt Offerings.

Q. By what do you prove his Interceffion for us with God?

A. From Heb. vii. 25. Wherefore he is able alfo to fave them to the uttermoft, that tome unto God by him, Jeeing he ever liveth to make Intercession for them; which

Interceffion

Interceffion at the Right Hand of his Father, is founded on his invaluable Oblation.

Q. But wherefore muft Chrift offer himself?

A. t, To fatisfy God's incenfed Juftice, Ron. iii. 23. Whom God hath fet forth to be a Propitiation through Faith in his Blood, to declare his Righteoufnefs, for the Remiffion of Sins that are past, through the Forbearance of God. 2dly, To put away our Sins, Heb. ix. 26. He appeared to put away Sin by the Sacrifice of himself?

Q: What is the first Difference between Chrift and other Priefts?

A. Other Priefts offered the Blood of Beafts, but Christ offered his own Blood, Heb. ix. 12. Q. What is the fecond Difference?

A. They offered many Sacrifices; Christ perfected all by one offering, Heb. x. 14.

Q. What was the Sacrifice Chrift offered to God?
A. His Body, Heb. x. 10. and his Soul, Jef

liii. 10.

Q. Has Chrift, as a Prieft, bleffed the People?

A. Yes. Luke xxiv. 50. And he led them out as to Bethany, and he lift up his Hands and bleffed them. Q. What follows on that?

A. That this Priest also should be fet and rule upon his Throne, Zach. vi. 13. to demonftrate hereby, that he was a King. He is called in many Parts of Scripture, The King of Zion, of Righteousness, of Peace, and of Kings.

Q. How manifold is Chrift's Kingdom?

A. It is two-fold. ift, External over all the World, Eph. i. 22. And bath put all Things under his Feet, and gave him to be the Head over all Things to the Church. 2dly, Internal in Men's Souls, Luke xvii. 21. Behold, the Kingdom of God is with you.

Q. How doth Chrift govern us in a fpiritual Senfe? A. He fubdueth the People to himself, P. xlv. 4. and Pf. cx. 3. He prefcribes to them his Laws, Jef

XXX ill

xxxiii. 22. James i. 25. Faith and Love; whofe Yoke is eafy, Matt. xi. 28, 30. Governing them according to his Laws, by his Word and Spirit, Jef. lix. 2.

Q. What is the End of Chrift's providential Kingdom? A. ft, To protect all his true Subjects amidst all Enemies, Exod. iii. 3. 2dly, To referve for them the Redemption which he has acquired for them, 1 Pet. i. 5. Who are kept by the Power of God, through Faith, unto Salvation, ready to be revealed in the laft Time. And John x. 28.

Q. Is then Chrift Jefus the true Meffias?

A. Yes. Because every Thing is fullfilled in him which was predicted of the Meffiah. ft, As to the Time of his coming, Gen. xlix. 10. 2dly, The Place where he should come from, Mich. v. 1. 3dly, Who fhould conceive and bear him, Ifa. vii., 14. And 4thly, His undergoing the Sufferings which were foretold of him, Luke xxiv. 26.

Q. Is this Article of Doctrine neceffary to be believed? A. It is extremely fo, fince no other could be our Redeemer but who was ordained by God; for none but he who bears thefe Offices, was capable of being an Inftrument of Salvation, for he, as a Prieft, obtains, and, as a Prophet, announces our Salvation, and delivers it to his People with the Authority of a King, powerful to help the Sinner out of his Mifery. What then is more neceflary to be believed than this Doctrine, which is fo effential to our Welfare and Salvation?

Q. What then do you conclude from hence?

A. That the Catechift has perfectly answered his Intention, by giving unto them who are defirous after Grace, the Means of Confolation for their Souls, in all Circumstances; and from what he has faid concerning the Name of Chrift, he has manifefted the Purity of our Doctrine.

Q. What must we learn from hence?

4. Our Duty to Chrift, 1, As a Prophet, to con

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