veal the Grace of God to Men, both for the Pardon of Sin and eternal Life.

5. He appointed the Profeffion of his Religion to be made by Baptism, to denote the washing away of our Sins, and our being renewed to Holiness by the Spirit of God.

6. Juft before his Sufferings and Death, he appointed the Feast of the Lord's Supper, as a conftant Memorial of his dying for the Sins of Men, and our partaking the Benefits thereof, Matth.xxvi.17-31. 1 Cor. x. 16, 17.

Note, This Difpenfation during the Life of Chrift, was a Medium between the Jewish and Chriftian Difpenfations.

CHAP. XXIV.

Of the Death, Refurrection, and Afcenfion of CHRIST.

SECT. I. Of his Sufferings, and Death and

Burial.

IQ. WHEN Jefus bad inflituted his holy Supper, whither did he go? A. He knew that the Hour of his Sufferings was at hand, and he went with his Difciples into a neighbouring Garden in Gethsemane, where he sustained great and grievous Agonies and Sorrows in his Soul, Mat. xxvi. 38, 39.

2 Q. How did it appear that his Anguish was fo great? A. It is written of him, that he began to be fore amazed and very heavy, or over-burdened. He told his Difciples, that his Soul was exceeding

forrowful

forrowful even unto Death; and under this Agony or fharp Conflict, his Sweat was like great Drops of Blood falling down to the Ground, Mark xiv. 34. Luke xxii. 44.

3Q. What was the Caufe of thefe Sorrows and Agonies? A. They could not arife merely from the Fears of Death, or being nailed to a Crofs; for then he would not have been a fit Example of Courage and Patience to his Difciples and Followers, fome of whom have fuffered the fame Death of the Crofs, without fuch overwhelming Terrors and Fears as Chrift difcovered: It has been generally supposed therefore, and with very good reason, that thefe Agonies of his Soul arofe from a Senfe of the Anger of God for the Sins of Men, fome way manifefted to him; perhaps alfo increafed by the Temptations of evil Angels, for it pleafed God to bruife him and make his Soul an Offering for Sin. Luke xxii. 53. Ifa. liii. 6, 10. and it is evident the Powers of Darkness were let loose upon him, Luke xxii. 53. John xiv. 30.

4 Q. What did Jefus do in thefe Agonies? A. He prayed three times earneftly that, if poffible, this hour might pass from him; his innocent human Nature being afraid of fuch fharp and smarting Sorrows; yet he fubmitted himself to the Wisdom and Will of his Father, Mark xix. 35, 36.

52. What affiftance had he to support him under this Agony? A. There appeared an Angel from Heaven, encouraging and ftrengthning him, v. 43.

6 Q. Where were his Difciples at this time? "A. He had withdrawn to a little distance from the reft of his Difciples; but Peter, James, and John were nearest to him, Mark xiv. 32, 33. yet they could not help him; and indeed they fell asleep part of the time, ver. 17.

7Q. Was Judas the Traitor with the Reft of the Difciples in the Garden? A. Judas had privately departed from them juft after the Paffover, and having agreed with the chief Priefts and Elders, for thirty pieces of Silver, to betray him into the hands of their Officers, he was now at hand with a Band of Men, with Weapons and Torches to accomplish his Defign and betray his Mafter, Mark xiv. 43. Mat. xxvi. 14-16.

8Q. How came the Rulers of the Jews to be fo much offended with Chrift, as to feek to deftroy him? A. For feveral Reasons, viz.

1. Because he being a poor Man in Ifrael, and the fuppofed Son of a Carpenter, owned himself to be the Meffiah, whom they expected to be an earthly King, and to deliver them from subjection to the Romans.

2. Because in his Sermons, and in his whole Conduct, he endeavoured to reform thofe Corruptions which the Priefts and Teachers, and Rulers of the Jews, had brought into their Religion.

3. He had foretold the Anger of God againft them and their Nation, in fome of his Parables pretty plainly, for their great Sins, and for their rejection of his Miniftry.

4. They envied him, because many of the People followed him;

9 Q: How did Judas give notice to the Officers which was Jefus? A. He gave them a fign, that he would kiss him; and accordingly, when he came to him, he said, Hail Master! and kissed him, Mat. xxvi. 48, 49.

10 Q. Was there any refiftance made for the relief of Chrift? A. Simon Peter cut off the Ear of Malchus, the High-Priest's Servant; but Jefus bid

him put up his Sword, and he healed the Man's Ear with a touch, Lukexxii. 50, 51. John xviii. 1o.

11 Q. Did Chrift fhew any further Inftance of his divine Power on this occafion? A. When they afked for Jefus, he answered, I am he; and they went backward, and fell to the Ground, John xviii. 5, 6.

12 Q. Did they yet, after this, perfift to lay hands on him? A. Yes, they took him, and carried him away to Caiaphas the High-Prieft's Houfe, where the Scribes and Elders were affembled, Mat. xxvi. 57.

13 Q. What became of his Difciples? A. They all forfook him and fled, as Christ foretold them they would do, Mat. xxvi. 31, 56.

14 Q. What did Peter do, who particularly boafted of his Love and Courage? A. Peter fullowed him afar off, into the High-Prieft's Hall, but there for fear of fuffering he fhamefully denyed his Lord and Mafter thrice, and that with fwearing and curfing, Mark xiv. 70, 71, 72.

15 Q. How was Peter brought to Conviction and Repentance for this Sin? A. When Jefus heard Peter a little before boafting of his Zeal and Courage, he foretold him that he fhould deny him thrice before the Cock crowed twice; and when Peter heard the Cock crow, Jefus ftanding now before the High-Prieft, turned and looked upon him; and his Heart melted within him and he went out and wept bitterly, Mark xiv. 72. Luke xxii. 61, 62.

16 Q. What Accufations did they bring against Chrift? A. Several falfe Witneffes accufed him about Words that he fpake; but they agreed not together, and therefore they could not find fufficient Caufe to condemn him, though they fought it earneftly, Mark xiv. 56.

17 Q. How did they condemn him at laft? A. The High-Prieft afked him, Art thou the Chrift the Son of God? and Jefus faid, I am; and ye fhall fee the Son of Man fitting on the right hand of Power, and coming in the Clouds of Heaven. Whereupon they condemned him as worthy of Death for Blafphemy, Mark xiv. 61-64.

18 Q. Did they then put him to Death immediately? A. The Jews being under the Government of the Romans, had not the full power of Life and Death in their own hands; but they fhewed their Spite against him by many Indignities offered to him, and never left till they had procured a Sentence of Death against him from the Roman Governor.

19 Q. What were thefe Indignities? A. They fuffered their Officers to mock and infult him, to fmite and spit upon him, to blind his Eyes and buffet him; then they bound him and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the Roman Governor, Mark xiv. 65. and xv. I.

20 Q. What became of Judas the Traitor, when he faw the Priests had condemned Chrift? A. He repented of his Treachery, and brought the thirty pieces of Silver to the Priefts; he went away and hanged himfelf, and falling down his Body burft, and his Bowels fell out, Matth. xxvii. 1—5. Acts i. 18.

21 Q. What did Pilate determine concerning Jefus? A. Pilate found him to be an innocent Man, and that the Priefts and Elders had accufed him out of envy, and therefore he would fain have releafed him, Mark xv. 9, 10, and Luke xxiii. 4.

22 Q. How did Pilate propofe to release him when he was charged as fo great a Criminal by their Accufations? A. It was the Cuftom at the Paf