he did as a public perfon x, the head of his church y, for their juftification z, quickning in grace a, fupport against enemies b, and to affure them of their refurrection from the dead at the last day c.

Q. 53. How was Chrift exalted in his afcenfion?

A. Chrift was exalted in his afcenfion, in that having after his refurrecton often appeared unto and converfed with his apostles, fpeaking to them of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God d, and giving them commiffion to preach the gospel to all nations e; forty days after his refur rection, he in our nature, and as our head f, triumphing over enemies g, visibly went up into the highest heavens, there

vived, that he might be Lordboth of the dead and living.

XI Cor.15.21.For fince by man came death, by man came alfo the refurrection of the dead. v. 22.For as in Adam all die,even foinChrift fhall all be made alive.

y Eph. 1.20. Whichhe wrought in Chrift when he raised him from the dead,and fet him at his own right hand in the heavenly places. v, 22. And hath put all things under his feet,and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, v. 23. Which is his body, the fulnefs of himthat filleth allinall. Col. 1. 18. And he is the head of the body, the church who is the begin ning, the first born from the dead; that in all things he might have the pre-eminence.

z Rom.4.5.Who was delivered for our offences, and was raifed again for our juftification.

aEph.2.1.Andyouhathhequick ned,who were dead intrefpaffes & Lins, v. 5. Even when we weredead in fins, bath quickned us together with Chrift,(bygraceye are faved) .6. And hath raifed us up together, and made us fit together in heavenly placesinChrift Jefus.Col. 2, 12.Buried with him in baptifm, wherein allo ye are rifen with him thro' the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

biCor.15.25.For he muftreign,

to

till he hath put all enemies under
his feet. v.26. The last enemy that
fhall be destroyed, is death.
v. 27. For he hath put all things
under his feet. But when he faith,
all things are put under him, it is
manifeft that he is accepted which
did put all things under him.

CI Cor.15.20, Butnow isChrift rifen from the dead, and become the firft fruits of them that flept.

53. d A&ts 1. 4.Until the dayin which he was taken up, after that he through the holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apoftles whom he hath chofen.v. 3,To whom alfo he fhewed himself alive after his paffion, by many infallible proofs, being feen of them forty days, and fpeaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

e Mat. 28. 19. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Ghoft:v, 20. Teaching them to ob ferve all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo,I amwith you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

f Heb. 6. 20. Whither the forerunner is for us entred, even Jefus made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchifedec.

g Eph. 4.8.Wherefore he faith, When he afcended up on high, he

led

to receive gifts for men h, to raise up our affections thither i, and to prepare a place for us k, where himself is, and fhall continue till his fecond coming at the end of the world1.

Q. 54. How is Chrift exalted in his fitting at the right hand of God?

A. Chrift is exalted in his fitting at the right hand of God, in that as God-man he is advanced to the highest favour with God the Father m, with all fulness of joy n, glory o, and power over all things in heaven and earth p3 and doth gather and defend his church, and fubdue their enemies; fürnifheth his minifters and people with gifts and graces q, and

maketh interceffion for them r.

Q. 5. How doth Chrift make interceffion?

A. Chrift maketh interceffion, by his appearing in our nature continually before the Father in heaven, in the merit of his obedience and facrifice on earth t declaring his will to have it applied to all believers v, answering all accufa tions against them w, and procuring for them quiet of con fcience notwithstanding daily failings x,accefs with boldness to the throne of grace y, and acceptance of their perfons z, and fervices a. Q. 56.

Lord, Sit thon at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

r Rom.8.34.Who is he that condemneth? it is Chrift that died, yea rather that is rifen again, who is even at the right hand of God, whoalfomakethinterceflion for us. 55.f Heb.9.12. Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entred in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption forus.v.24.For Chrift is not entred into the holy places made with hands,which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itfelf, now to appear in the prefence of God for ns.

t Heb.1.3. Who beingthebright nefs of his glory, and the exprefs image of his perfon,and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he by himfelf purged our fins, fate down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.

▾ John 3. 16. For God lo loved the world, that he gave his only be gotten Son, that whofoever believeth in him, fhould not perish,but have everlasting life. John 17.9. I pray for them: I pray not for the world,butfor them which thou haft given me,for they are thine. v.20. Neither pray I for thefe alone,but for them alfo which fhall believeon me through their word. v.24. Father, I will that they alfo whom shou haft given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold

my glory which thou haft given me; for thou lovedft me before the foundation of the world,

w Rom, 8. 33. Who fhall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? it is God that justifieth: v. 34. Who is he that condemneth? it is Chrift that died, yea,rather that is rifen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who alfo maketh interceffion for us.

x Rom.5.1.Therefore being juftified by faith, we have peace with God,through our Lord Jefus Chrift. v. 2. By whom also we have accefs by faith into this grace wherein we ftand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. I John, 2. 1, My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye fin not. And if any man fin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jefus Chrift the righteons; v.2, And he is the propitiation for our fins; and not for ours only, but also for the fins of the whole world.

y. Heb. 4. 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.

z Eph. 1. 6. To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

a 1 Pet. 2. 5: Ye alfo as lively ftones arebuilt up a fpiritual house, an holy priesthood,to offer up fpiritual facrifices, acceptable to God by Jefus Chrift.

56 b Acts

Q. 56. How is Chrift to be exalted in his coming again to judge the world?

A. Chrift is to be exalted in his coming again to judge the world, in that he, who was unjustly judged and condemned by wicked men b, fhall come again at the laft day in great power c, and in the full manifeftation of his own glory and of his Father's, with all his holy angels d, with a fhout with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God e, to judge the world in righteoufness f.

Q. 57. What benefits hath Chrift procured by his mediation? A. Chrift by his mediation hath procured redemption g, with all other benefits of the covenant of grace h.

Q. 58. How do we come to be made partakers of the benefits which Chrift hath procured?

A. We are made partakers of the benefits which Chrift hath procured, by the application of them unto us i, which' is the work efpecially of God the holy Ghoft k

56.b Acts. 3.14. But ye denied the holy One,and the juft, anddefired a murdererto be granted unto you.v.15. And killed the prince of life, whom God hath railed from the dead,whereof we are witnelles. c Mat.24.30.And then shall ap pear the fign of the fon of man in heaven; and then shallall the tribes, of the earth mourn, and they fhall fee the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.

d Luke9.26.For whofoever shall be afhamed of me & of my words, of him fhall the Son of man be a fhamed, when he fhall come in his own glory,and in his Father's, and of the holy angels. Mat. 25. 31. When the Son of man fhall come in his glory,andall the holy angels with him, then fhall he fit upon the throne of his glory.

e Theff.4.16.For the Lordhim felf fhall defcend from heaven with a fhout,with the voice of the arch angel,and with the trump of God: and the dead in Chrift fhall rife firit.

f Acts 17:31. Because he hath ap

Q.59:

appointeda day in thewhichhe will judge the world in righteoufnefs, by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given affurance unto all men,in that he hath raifed him from the dead.

57: g Heb.9. 12. Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own,bloodhe entred in once into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption for us.

h2 Cor. 1. 20. For all the promiles of God in him are yea,and in him amen, unto the glory of God by us,

58.1 John 1. 11. He came unto his own,and his own received him not.v. 12. But as many as received him,to them gave he power to become the fon's of God, even to then that believe on his name.

k Titus 3.5. Not by works of righteoufnefswhich we have done, butaccordingto his mercy he faved us by the walhing of regeneration, and renewing of the holy Ghost 6 Which is fhed on us abundantly through Jefus Chrift our Saviour. f91 Eph.

N

Q. 59. Who are made partakers of redemption through Chrift? A. Kedemption is certainly applied, and effectually communicated, to all thofe for whom Chrift hath purchased it 1; who are in time by the holy Ghost enabled to believe in Chrift according to the gofpel m.

Q. 60, Can they who have never heard the gospel, and fo know not Jefus Chrift, nor believe in him, be faved by their living according to the light of nature?

A. They who, having never heard the gospel », know not Jefus Chrift o, and believe not on him, cannot be faved P, be they never fo diligent to frame their lives according to the light of nature 9, or the laws of that religion which they profefs;

59.1Eph.1.13.In whom ye alfo trufting after that yeheard theword of truth, the gofpel of your falvation; in whom allo after that ye believed,ye werefealed with thatholy Spirit of promife. v. 14. Which is the ear neft of our inheritance, until the redemption of the purchased poffeffion, unto the praife of his glory. John 6. 37. All that the Father giveth me, fhall come to me; and him that cometh unto me, I will in no wife caft out. v. 39, And this is the Fathers will which hath fent me, that of all which he hath given me, I fhould lofe nothing, But fhould raife it up again at the laft day. John 10.15.As the Father knoweth me, even fo know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the fheep. v. 16. And other fheep I have, which are not of this fold: them alfo I muft bring, and they fhall hear my voice; and there fhall be one fold and one fhepherd.

m Eph. 2. 7. For by grace are ye faved through faith; and that not of yourfelves: it is the gift of God. 2 Cor. 4. 13. We having the fame fpirit of faith, according as it is written, believed, and therefore have I fpoken: we also believe, and therefore fpeak.

60. n Rom. 10. 14. How then fhall they call on him inwhom they

have not believed? and how fhall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how fhall they hear without a preacher?

o 2 Theff. 1.8. In flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gofpel of our Lord Jefus Chrift: v. 9 Who fhall be punifhed with everlaftingdestructionfromtheprefence of the Lord, and from the gloryofhis power.Eph.2.12. That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Ifrael,and ftrangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world, John 1. 10. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knewhim not. v. 11. He came into his own, and his own received him not. v. 12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the fons of God, even to them that believe on his name.

un

p John 8.24. I faid therefore to you, that ye fhall die in your fins: for if ye believe,not that I am he, ye fhall die in your fins. Mark 16. 16. He that believeth, and is baptized, shall be faved; but he that believeth not fhall be damned.

qI Cor.1.20. Where is the wife? where is the fcribe? where is the

difput