Christ, the Son of God, became man, by taking to himself a true body and a reasonable soul, being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of the Virgin Mary, and born of her, yet without sin.

What did Christ take to himself that he might become man? A true body and a reasonable soul. Heb. x. 5, Wherefore, when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me.

Matt. xxvi. 38, Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. What is meant by a true body?-A real body of flesh, and blood, and bones, like our own. Luke. xxiv. 39, Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

What is meant by a reasonable soul?-A soul having all the rational or reasoning powers of man. Luke, ii. 52, And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. By whose power was he conceived?

By the power of the Holy Ghost. Luke i. 35. See page 16. Of whom was he born?-He was born of the Virgin Mary.

Luke, ii. 7, And she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

What was he conceived and born without?

He was conceived and born without sin. Heb. vii. 26, For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens,

Should we not endeavour to be holy like him?-Yes.

1 Peter, ii. 21, 22, 23, 24, For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously. Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye are healed.

1 When it is said, that Christ took to himself a true body and a reasonable soul, we are not to understand that his person became human.

No: the meaning is, that he took unto himself the human nature, both soul and body, that he united the human nature to the divine; and that the human nature subsists in the divine person, which he had from all eternity, and which is unchangeable. He is, therefore, God and man, in two distinct natures, and one person for ever,

23. What offices doth Christ execute as our Redeemer?

Christ, as our Redeemer, executeth the offices of a Prophet, of a Priest, and of a King, both in his estate of humiliation and exaltation.

What is it to execute an office?-To perform the duties of it. How many offices doth Christ execute?-Three-the offices of a Prophet, of a Priest, and of a King.1 Acts, iii. 22, For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.

Heb. v. 6, As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchisedec.

Psalm ii. 6, Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Zion. In what estates doth he execute these offices?

In his estates of humiliation and exaltation.

24. How doth Christ execute the office of a Prophet? Christ executeth the office of a Prophet, in revealing to us, by his Word and Spirit, the will of God, for our salvation.

What is a Prophet?

One appointed by God to reveal or make known his will.2
How doth Christ execute or perform this office?

By revealing the will of God, or making it known to us.

John, vii. 16, Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.

John, viii. 20, These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.

John, xii. 49, For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

1 These three offices were never united in any one person, but in Christ alone. The nature of our salvation required that it should be revealed by him as a Prophet; purchased by him as a Priest; and applied by him as a King,

man.

2 In relation to this office, Christ is described by the names of an Apostle, a Witness, and an Interpreter. An Apostle, because he is the great Ambassador of Heaven, sent to declare the will of God unto A Witness, because, being a son of Adam, he was the more fit to attest the will of God unto men; and being the eternal Son of God, was therefore liable to no error or mistake in his testimony. An Interpreter, because, by the powerful illumination of his word and Spirit, he explains, and shows unto men, the deep and dark things of God.

What do you mean by the will of God?-All that he would have us to know, believe, and do, in order to be saved.

John, xx. 31, But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

By what does Christ reveal God's will?-By his Word and Spirit. What is his Word?-The Bible, or the Holy Scriptures.

What is his Spirit?-The Holy Ghost. John, xiv. 26, But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

How does the Spirit make known God's will to us?-Through his Word. John, xv. 26, But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me. Why does the Spirit reveal God's will to us by his Word?

For our salvation. John, vi. 63, It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

2 Tim. iii. 15, And that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Seeing that Christ reveals the will of God for our salvation, what should we do?-We should highly value the Scriptures, and pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Psalm xliii. 3, O send out thy light and thy truth; let them lead me, let them bring me into thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.

Psalm cxliii, 10, Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy Spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness. Eph. i. 17, That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him.

25. How doth Christ execute the office of a Priest? Christ executeth the office of a Priest, in his once offering up of himself a sacrifice, to satisfy divine justice, and reconcile us to God; and in making continual intercession for us.

What is a Priest?-One who offers sacrifices, and prays for us. What sacrifice did Christ offer?-Himself, both soul and body.i

1 Every sacrifice had to be offered on an altar. The altar on which Christ offered his soul and body, or human nature, as a sacrifice, was his divine nature; and this sacrifice was not offered only while he hung upon the cross, but was laid on the altar at the moment he took our nature upon him, remained thereon during his whole life, and was com. pleted on the cross and in the grave.

Heb. x. 10, By the which will we are sanctified, through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Isaiah liii. 10, Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

For what purpose did he offer this sacrifice?-To satisfy divine justice. 1 John, ii. 2, And he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

John, i. 29, The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Eph. v. 2, And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour.

Did he offer this sacrifice for any other purpose?

Yes, to reconcile us to God. 2 Cor. v. 18, 21, And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation. For he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin: that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Heb. ii. 17, Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

What is it to reconcile?

To do away any grounds of separation or variance. Matt. v. 24, Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. How is Christ now executing the office of a Priest?

In making continual intercession for us. Heb. vii. 25, Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. What is it to make intercession?-It is to pray for.

For whom does Christ intercede?-For all who believe on him. 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.

26. How doth Christ execute the office of a King? Christ executeth the office of a King, in subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies.

To whom does Christ subdue us?-He subdues us to himself. Psalm cx. 3, Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.

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What is it to subdue us to himself?-It is to make us willing to believe, and ready to cbey him. Acts, v. 31, Him hath God exalted with his right hand, to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

Rom. xv. 18, For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed.

What is it for Christ to rule us?

It is to incline us to the way of holiness.

What is it for Christ to defend us?-It is to preserve us from the error and temptation that would lead us astray.

Whom does he restrain and conquer?-All his and our enemies. Who are his and our enemies?

Sin, Satan, the world, and death,1

How does he restrain them?

By limiting or setting bounds to their influence.

How does he conquer them?

By depriving them of all power to injure or harm us, and causing them to advance his glory, and our final good.

Does not this teach us that all who obey Christ shall be preserved by his mighty power?-Yes.

Rom. viii. 37, Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

27. Wherein did Christ's humiliation consist?

Christ's humiliation consisted in his being born, and that in a low condition, made under the law, undergoing the miseries of this life, the wrath of God, and the cursed death of the cross; in being buried, and continuing under the power of death for a time.

In what condition was Christ born?-In a low condition.
Luke, ii. 7, See page 22.

What is meant by Christ being made under the law?

That he was to obey it, and suffer its penalty. Gal. iv. 4, 5, But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. What is meant by his undergoing the miseries of this life? That he endured hunger, thirst, weariness, and grief.

1 Sin, that is, sinful inclinations and actions;-Satan, the grand enemy to God and man;-the world, or the undue love of the pomp, pleasure, and good things of a present life;-and death, the last enemy, who really ruins the wicked, terrifies the righteous, and for a time de tains their bodies from heavenly glory.