The Christians Alphabet, Part 2 · Section 13
N Of man his deliuerance by Christonely.
Q. Rehearse the letter N?
A. NO meanes can free vsus from that damnable estate, but onelyonly Iesus Christ, the eternall sonne of God.
For hee being both God and man, hath perfectly saued vsus: in that hee tooke our nature vponupon him, being conceiued by the holy Ghost, borne of the Virgin Mary: liued in perfect obedience, to God: suffered the cursed death of the Crosse: rose againe the third day: ascended into heauen: sitteth at the right hand of God: and all for vsus.
Q. Proue that we are saued only by I…sus Christ?
A. So we read, Man saued only by Christ.Acts 4.12. Neither is there saluation i… any other: for among men there is giuen none other name vnderunder heauen, whereby we must be saued. And Ma…th. 1.21. the Angell saith, Thou shalt call his name Iesus for he shall saue his people from their sinnes.
Q. Proue that Iesus Christ is the eternall son…e of G…d?
A. It is written, He is the Sonne of God.Ioh. 3.16. G…d so loued the world, that he gaue his only b…gotten son…e, that who…euer beleeueth on h…m, …ould not perish, but hauehave e…erlasting life. A… 1 Ioh. 5.20. We know that the Sonne of God is come, &c. that is the true God and eternall life. And Rom. 1.4. That he was declared mightily to be the Sonne of God.
Q. Proue that Iesus Christ is both God and man?
He is both God and man.A. That he is God is manifest Isa. 9.6. where hee is called The mighty God. And Rom. 9.5. God ouer all, blessed for euer. And it is said, Ioh 1.1. In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God.
That he is also mvn, is proued, 1 Tim. 2.5. where hee is called, The man Christ Iesus. And 3.16. God manifested in the flesh. And Ioh. 1.14. The word was made flesh, and dwelt among vsus, and wee saw the glory thereof, as the glory of the only begotten sonne of the father full of grace and truth.
Q. Proue that Christ hath perfectly saued vsus?
A. So it is expresly written, He hath perfectly saued vsus.Heb. 7.25. That he is able perfectly to saue them that come vntounto God by him. And Heb. 10.14. That by one offering he hath perfected for euer them that are sanctified: And thereupon is inferred verse, 18. That where remission of sinnes is, there is no more sacrifice for sinne.
Q. Proue that Iesus Christ therefore tooke our nature vponupon him.
A. That he did assume or take vntounto his Godhead the nature of man, By taking our natureis euident, Heb. 2.16.17. For verily, saith the Apostle, he tooke not on him the nature of Angels, but he tooke on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behooued him to bee made like vntounto his brethren, that hee might bee a mercifull and faithfull high Priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sinnes of the people.
Q. Was it of necessity that Christ should become man?
Which was of necessity.A. It was by Gods decree necessary that Christ should take vntounto his deity the nature of man, that without it mans redemption could not be procured, for these reasons. 1. Hee must bee man, that hee might be fit to suffer death for vsus, in regard that his Godhead being immutable, could not suffer, and being immortall could not die. 2.Heb. 2.14. It was requisite that the same nature that had offended should satisfie the iustice of God. 3. Hee must also be God, that hee might be able to ouercome. See all this in that one text, Heb. 2.14.
Q. Proue that Iesus Christ was conceiued by the holy Ghost.
He was conceiued by the holy Ghost.A. It is the voice of the Angell to Mary, Luke 1.35. The holy Ghost shall come vponupon thee, and the power of the Highest shall ouershadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be borne of thee, shall bee called the sonne of God. And to Ioseph hee sayd, Matth. 1.20. Feare not to take vntounto thee Mary thy wise, for that which is conceiued in her, is of the holy Ghost.
Q. Proue that he was borne of the virgin Mary?
A. It was so prophesied, Borne of the virgin.Isa. 7.14▪ Behold a virgin shall conceiue and beare a s…nne and shall call his name Emmanuel. It was effected ▪ Math 1.…8. Now the birth of Iesus Christ was on this wise; When as his mother Mary was espoused to Ioseph (before they came together) she was found with child of the holy Ghost. And it was proclaimed by the Angell, Ioh. 2.11. VntoUnto you is borne this day in the city of Dauid a Sauiour, which is Christ the Lord.
Q. Proue that Christ liued in perfect obedience to God.
Liued in perfect obedience.A. It is written, Phil. 2.8. That he humbled himselfe and became obedient vntounto the death, euen vntounto the death of the crosse. Heb. 7.26. For such an high Priest became vsus, who is holy, harmelesse, vndefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher then the heauens. For, saith the Apostle, Rom. 5.19. as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many bee made righteous. Therefore Christ saith, Ioh. 17.19. For their sakes sanctifie I my selfe, that they also might bee sanctified through the truth.
Q. Proue that Christ did suffer for vsus?
He suffred.A. It is written, Isa. 53.5. Hee was wounded for our transgressions, hee was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was vponupon him, and with his stripes wee are healed.
Q. Proue that hee suffered death for vsus?
A. It is written, He died.1 Pet. 3.18. For Christ also hath once suffered for sinnes, the iust for the vniust, that he might bring vsus to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the spirit.
Q. Proue that hee suffered the cursed death of the crosse?
A. So it is in the story of his passion, On the crosse.Matth. 27.38. And it is said, 1 Pet. 2.24. That hee his owne selfe bare our sins in his owne body on the tree, that we being dead to sinnes, should liue vntounto righteousnesse, And Gal. 3.13. Christ hath redeemed vsus from the curse of the Law, being made a curse for vsus: for it is written, Cursed is eueryevery one that hangeth on tree.
Q. Proue that hee did rise againe the third day for vsus?
He rose againe.A. It is written, Rom. 4.25. Who was deliuered for our offences, and was raised againe for our iustification. And 1 Cor. 15.3.4. That Christ died for our sinnes, and that he was buried, and that hee rose againe the third day, according to the Scriptures.
Q. Proue that hee ascended into heauen for vsus?
He ascended into heauen.A. It was so prophesied, Psal. 68.18. Thou hast ascended on high: thou hast led captiuity captiue: thou hast receiued gifts for men. And it was performed, Luke 24.51. And it came to passe while hee blessed them, hee was parted from them, and carried vp into heauen.
Q. Proue that Christ sitteth at the right hand of God for vsus?He sitteth …
A. It is written, Col. 3.1. If ye then bee risen with Christ, seeke those things which are aboue, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God. And Rom. 8.34. it is said, That Christ is at the right hand of God, and maketh intercession for vsus. And Acts 3.21. Whom the heauens must receiue, vntill the time of restitution of all things.