The Handmaid to Private Devotion, Part 2
PARS II.
SECT. 12. DOMIN. 12. Of Christ his Person.
Q. WHat are we to know and acknowledge concerning Christ the Mediator?
A. His
Person.
State.
Office.
Q. What ought wee to belieue touching his Person?
A. That he is God, and man, in one person, conceiued by the Holy-Ghost, incarnate of the Virgin Marie.
SECT. 13. DOMIN. 13. Of Christ's estate of humiliation.
Q. In what state, or states doth the Scripture describe him to vsus?
A. In two states,
1. Of humiliation.
2. Of exaltation.
Q. What suffered he in the state of humiliation?
A. He bare all our infirmities; became subiect to the Law, and was obedient to death, euen the death of the Crosse, was buried, and descended into hell.
SECT. 14. DOMIN. 14. Of Christ his estate of exaltation.
Q. What did Christ in the state of exaltation?
A. He laid downe all our infirmities, arose from the dead, ascended into heauen, sitteth at the right hand of God, and shall come in the clowdes with great glory to iudge the quicke and the dead.
SECT. 15. DOMIN. 15. Of Christ his Propheticall function.
Q. What office did the Sonne of God take vponupon him for the saluation of man?
A. The Office of a Mediator, betwixt God, and man.
Q. How performeth hee this office?
A. By executing the functions of a
Prophet.
Priest.
King.
Q. What appertaineth to Christ's Propheticall function?
A. To reueale the hidden wisedome of his Father.
Q. How hath he heretofore executed this function?
A. Before his Incarnation, by the Priests and Prophets of the old Law. In the dayes of his flesh he executed it in his owne person, preaching the Gospell, which is the couenant of grace, and instituting Sacraments, as seales theroof viz.
Baptisme; which is the seale of regeneration, and our entrance into the Church.
The Lords Supper, which is the seale of our spirituall growth, and nourishment in the Church.
Q. How doth he yet execute this function?
A. By the Ministers of the Word, whom he furnisheth with gifts answerable; and assisteth them in the holy workes of their sacred calling with his spirit, enlightening the vnderstanding, and opening the hearts of all belieuers, to make their Ministerie effectuall.
Q. What benefits reape wee by Christ's Propheticall function?
A. Vocation, and the Effects thereof; incorporation into Christ's mysticall body; faith, spirituall wisedome and vnderstanding, with other sanctifying graces of the holy. Ghost.
SECT. 16. DOMIN. 16. Of Christ his Priestly function.
Q. What appertaineth to Christ's Priestly function?
A. To cleanse vsus from our sins, and reconcile vsus to God his Father.
Q. How did hee execute this function?
A. By fulfilling the Law, and offering vp himselfe vponupon the Altar of the Crosse, for a propitiatory sacrifice for our sinnes.
Q. How doth he yet execute this office?
A. By appearing at the right hand of God, to make intercession for vsus.
Q. What benefits reape wee by his Priest-hood?
A. Iustification, with the fruits thereof; frée accesse vntounto God, with confidence; setled peace of conscience, and vnspeakeable ioy in the holy-Ghost.
SECT. 17. DOMIN. 17. Of Christ his Kingly function.
Q. What appertaineth to Christ's Kingly function?
A. To rule and gouerne his Church.
Q. How hath hee executed this function?
A. By making laws for the whole companie of the faithfull, and establishing a perpetuall gouernment in his Church.
Q. How doth he yet execute this royall function?
A. First, by his spirit ruling in our hearts, and subduing the flesh to the Spirit.
2. By protecting vsus against all our ghostly and bodily enemies.
3. By inflicting iudgements vponupon the enemies of his Church.
4. By aduancing his Elect to a Kingdome in heauen.
Q. What benefits reape wee by his Kingdome?
A. Glorification, with the parts thereof; victory, safetie, eternall glory.
SECT. 18. DOMIN. 18. Of the Church, and the parts thereof.
Q. For whom did Christ take our nature vponupon him, and discharge his threefold office?
A. For his Mysticall body, the Catholike Church.
Q. What meane you by the Catholike Church?
A, The whole company of the Elect, called already, or to be called, by the Word, & Spirit out of the estate of corruption, and seruitude of sinne, into the glorious liberty of the Sonnes of God, to bée co-heires with Christ in his Kingdome.
Q. Where is this company to be found?
A. It is partly triumphant in heauen with Christ their Head; partly militant vnderunder the crosse, dispersed ouer the face of the whole earth, where Christian Religion is professed, and belieued.
SECT. 19. DOMIN. 19. Of the notes of the true Church.
Q. Is the Catholike Church a visible company, that we may know whither to repaire for the meanes of saluation; or is it altogether inuisible?
A. It is visible in respect of the outward badge of profession; and it may be discerned by two notes especially, viz. the sincere preaching of the Word, and right & due administration of the Sacraments, agrèeable to the holy Scriptures. But it is inuisible in respect of the inward seale of Gods Election, who alone knoweth who are his.
Q. How then may a man know that he belongeth to the number of the Elect, and is a liuing member of Christ?
A. 1. By the testimonie of the spirit which witnesseth to our spirits that we are the Sonnes of God.
2. By conformitie of our beliefe to the holy Scriptures in all points necessarie to saluation.
3. By a particular assurance of our owne saluation, grounded vponupon the promises of God in Christ and applyed to vsus by faith.
4. By the diuerse remarkable effects of a iustifying faith, and sanctifying grace, which are especially these,
1. True humility.
2. Unfeigned repentance.
3. Sonne-like feare.
4. Uniuersall and absolute submission to Gods will.
5. Comfortable patience in all afflictions.
6. Proficiencie and perseuerance in godlinesse.
7. Setled peace of conscience.
8. Unspeakable ioy in the holy-Ghost.