Exposition Upon the Church Catechism, Exposition · Lords Day 1 – Lords Day 14
Lord's Day 1.
Quest. VVHat is your Name?
Answ. N. or M.
Q. You have two Names: a Christian Name, and that of your Parents Family whence you are descended, which of these Names is this?
A. My Christian Name, at the giving whereof to me, I was received into Christ's Service. And this Name is therefore used to be set before the other; as being the more Honourable Name of the two.
Q. What, doth, or may, the mention of this Name, bring to your mind?
A. I have thereby an Occasion offered me, to remember, that I am a Person devoted to Christ, called, A Christian, aAct. 11. 26. 1 Pet. 4. 16.and distinguished thereby from Jews, Turks, and Heathens.
Q. Who gave you this Name?
A. My Godfathers and Godmothers in my Baptism; wherein I was made a Member of Christ, a Child of God, and an Inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Q. When, said you, was this Name given you?
A. In my Baptism.
Q. What Reasons are there for the giving Names in Baptism?
A. The Church in all Ages hath thought that a fit time for it. 1. In imitation of the Antient Practice of Princes, giving Names to their Servants at their first admission.bGen. 41. 45 Dan. 1. 7.
2. And also, because Names were usually in the Jewish Church, given at Circumcision; cLuk. 2. 21.to which our Baptism, in the main scope of it, succeeds.dCol. 2. 11. 12.
Q. In whose Power lies it, to Assign Names to Children?
A. It doth most properly belong to Parents, eGen. 21 3. 29 32.and chiefly to Fathers; fLuk. 1. 60, 61, 62, 63.though others also have sometimes done it, with the Parents consent. gRuth 4. 17.And in that Right, Godfathers and Godmothers now do it.
Q. Why do you call those, who, with your Parents consent, by that Name presented you to Baptism, Godfathers and Godmothers?
A. Because they were, by that Act, in a sort, my Spiritual Parents, by means of whose offering me to it, I was therein Dedicated to God: whereby also they gave implicite security with my Parents, (whose Natural Duty obliged them as Principals in that bond, Eph. 6. 4.) to the Church, that I should be bred a Christian.
Lord's Day 2.
Q. What, said you, you were made by Baptism?
A. I was endowed with three great Privileges therein.
Q. Name the first of them.
A. I was then made a Member of Christ.
Q. What mean you by that Privilege of being Christ's Member?
A. I mean, that I was then United to that mystical Body, of which Christ is the Head, hEph. 1. 22, 23. 5. 30. Gal. 3. 27.that is, the Church.
Q. What mean you by the second Privilege, A Child of God?
A. That, whereas I was by Nature (what all others are) a Child of Wrath: iEphes. 2. 3.God, of his meer Grace, hath Adopted me, through Christ his Son by Nature, to be his Child.k1 Joh. 31. Gal. 4. 5.
Q. What means the third of these Priviledges, An Inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven?
A. That being thus related to God by adoption, I was thereby Entituled to be a co-Heir with Christ, of everlasting Glory and Happiness in Heaven.lRom. 8. 16, 17. Luk. 12. 32.
Q. Have all Persons that are Baptized all these Privileges?
A. All these Privileges are Sealed on God's Part, to all that are duly Baptized: mGal. 3. 26, 27. 1 Pet. 3. 21. Rom. 2. 25. compared.but may be, and by many are, forfeited afterwards; upon their Renunciation of the Baptismal Covenant, or living contrary to it. (m)
Q. What did your Godfathers and Godmothers then for you?
A. They did Promise and Vow three things in my Name. First, That I should Renounce the Devil and all his Works; the Pomps and Vanities of this wicked World; and all the sinful Lusts of the Flesh.
Secondly, That I should believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith.
And Thirdly, That I should keep Gods Holy Will and Commandments, and walk in the same all the days of my Life.
Q. Ʋpon what Grounds doth the Church require that Promise and Vow which you speak of, to be made by others, in the Name of Infants at their Baptism?
A. Because Baptism, in the very Nature of it implies a mutual solemn Covenant betwixt God and Man; wherein God promiseth the Grace, and Man the Duty belonging thereunto: therefore the Church never admitted any to Baptism, but upon the Expression of this Promise on their Part. Whence, because Infants are not able to utter this Promise themselves, (that so necessary a Part of the Administration might not be omitted, and it thereby rendred Defective,) they always admitted others to do it for them, by Representation, and in their Names.
Lord's Day 3.
Q. They promised, you say for you, That you should Renounce the Devil and all his Works: Whom understand you by the Devil?
A. All the fallen Angels, who though they be very many, yet are frequently expressed by this Name of the Singular Number, as one; because they are all of them United in one Devilish Nature, and Act as one Devil, for the promoting of Wicked Designs.nMatt. 8. 28. Mark 5. 29. compared.
Q. What is it to Renounce the Devil?
A. It is, not to yield to his Wicked Suggestions and Tentations; but with all abhorrency and defiance, to resist them.oJam. 4. 7. 1 Pet. 5. 9.
Q. What mean you by the Works of the Devil?
A. All sorts of Sins whatsoever, p1 Joh. 3. 8.are called his Works.
Q. For what Reasons, are Sins called the Devil's Works.
A. For these three, Principally.
1. Because he was the first Sinner in the World.q1 Joh. 3. 8.
2. Because he tempted our first Parents to Sin, r2 Cor. 11. 3.and continually tempts us to it also.s1 Cor. 7. 5.
3. Because divers sorts of Sins are committed by Men after his Example.t1 Tim. 3. 6. Joh. 8. 44. Act. 13. 10. Rev. 12. 10.
Q. What is the second thing to be Renounced by you?
A. The Pomps and Vanities of this Wicked World.
Q. What mean you by this Wicked World?
A. Not, 1. The Visible Frame of Heaven and Earth, or the Creatures that furnish it, (though these are so called,) uAct. 17. 24.because all these are of God's making, and so good, as all Gods Works are.wGen. 1. 31. 1 Tim. 4. 4.
2. Nor, the reasonable Part of it, (that is, Mankind) called so likewise: xJoh. 12. 19.for many of these are also good, and may be great Examples of goodness, yPhil. 2. 15.to the rest.
Q. What mean you then?
A. 1. The Wicked Men of the World, who lie in Wickedness: z1 Joh. 5. 19.and therefore, with them we are to have no voluntary fellowship,aEph. 5. 11.
2. As also, all other things in the World, which are occasional Baits and Snairs to seduce us to Sin, so far as they are such.b1 Joh. 2. 15, 16.
Q. What are the Pomps and Vanities which you are to Renounce?
A. The Honours, Riches, and Pleasures of this World, so far as we are unduly affected to them; or inclinable to use them, against the Interests of true Vertue, and Godliness.c1 Joh. 2. 15, 16. Jam. 4. 4.
Lord's Day 4.
Q. Which is the third thing to be Renounced by you?
A. All the sinful Lusts of the Flesh.
Q. What understand you to be meant by the Flesh?
A. Not, (1stly,) The several sorts of fleshly Creatures so called: d1 Cor. 15. 39.Nor, (2ly) Humane Nature, which (in reference to the Bodily Part) is also expressed by that Name.eIsa. 58. 7.
Q. What then?
A. The unmortifyed Corruption of the Soul of Man, (called Flesh, because of the near alliance which it hath to our Fleshly Part, by the means of our Senses;) which is, 1. An Enemy to God.fRom. 8. 7, 8.
2. Hindreth us from doing good.gGal. 5. 17.
3. And inclineth us to all Evil.hRom. 7. 23.
Q. What are the sinful Lusts of this Flesh?
A. The manifold disorderly Affections, and Evil Concupiscences of the Soul sore Corrupted, iGal. 5. 19, 20, 21.by which we are seduced to actual Sins.kJam. 1. 14.
Q. What, say you, is the second Vow, or solemn Promise, which your Godfathers and Godmothers made in your Name?
A. That I should believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith.
Q. What mean you by these Articles of the Christian Faith?
A. Those Doctrines which all Christians are bound to believe, if they will be saved; as being the Foundation-Principles of Christian Religion: lHeb. 6. 1. 2. Joh. 17. 3.all which are so tyed together as a Body is by several Joynts, (for so the Word, Article, signifies,) that the denyal of any one of them, endangers the overthrowing of the Faith.m2 Tim. 2. 18.
Q. What is it to believe these Doctrines?
A. To be firmly perswaded of the Truth of them, as being delivered to us from God by Christ, nJoh. 17. 8. 1 Joh. 5. 10, 11.and to rely, and adventure our Salvation upon them accordingly.oJoh. 3. 33. Eph. 1. 13. Joh. 20. 31.
Q. How comes this Faith in Christ, or Christian Belief, to be thus necessary to Salvation?
A. Because it is not only in it self a proper and sutable means thereto, but such as God hath made a necessary Duty by his Command also; p1 Joh. 3. 23.threatning Damnation to those that do not perform it, & promising Salvation to those that do.qMark. 16. 16.
Lord's Day 5.
Q. What, said you, is the third Promise or Vow, which your Godfathers and Godmothers made in your Name?
A. That I should keep Gods Holy Will and Commandments, and walk in the same all the Days of my Life.
Q. What is the meaning of these Phrases of Keeping and Walking in God's Commandments?
A. The living in a constant Course of universal Obedience to them.rJer. 7. 23. Ps. 119 6. 111. Luk. 1. 74, 75.
Q. You told me lately that Salvation is promised to Believing: what necessity is there then of Obedience?
A. Because Faith will not save a Man, if it be not accompanyed with good Works.sJam. 2. 14.
Q. Explain therefore to me, how Faith and Obedience do concurr and joyn together, in order to Man's Salvation?
A. Though Man be not Saved by the Tenor of the Covenant of Works, the condition whereof is perfect Obedience; tGal. 2. 16. Rom. 10. 5.but by the Covenant of Grace, the condition whereof is true Faith: uRom. 10. 9.yet is sincere Obedience in doing good Works, necessarily required of all Believers for divers Reasons, besides that before-mentioned.
Q. Name me some of them: can you?
A. 1. Because God by them is glorified.wMat. 5. 16.
2. Our Neighbour is gained to Christ, and Edifyed.x1 Pet. 3. 1, 2.
3. Our own Faith is justifyed, and shewed not to be a Dead Faith.yJam. 2. 17, 18, 26.
4. And we are qualified, and made meet thereby, to partake of that Salvation which is Promised to Believers.zCol. 1. 12.
Lord's Day 6.
Q. Thou dost, therefore, think that thou art bound to believe and do, as they (thy Godfathers and Godmothers,) Promised for thee: dost thou not?
A. Yes verily, and by God's help so I will. And I heartily thank our Heavenly Father, that he hath called me to this State of Salvation through Jesus Christ our Saviour. And I Pray unto God to give me his Grace, that I may continue in the same unto my Lives End.
Q. You say, you are bound to these things by their Promise for you. But why should this Promise made by others, before you could consent, oblige you?
A. Because I am instated in so many great Benefits and Priviledges by Vertue of that Promise, upon this Condition, that I stand to it. And therefore, that I may not forfeit them, I take it upon my self, and say, So I will.
Q. Why do you add hereto, by God's help?
A. Because, though so to will, be mine own free Act, and so falls under a Promise from me, yet I can neither thus will, nor do, without Gods help.aPhil. 2. 12, 13.
Q. But what assurance have you from God, that that help of his shall not fail you?
A. That, of his infinite goodness he hath made many gracious Promises of this his Assistance, to be applyed by Faith to all such occasions.bPhi. 2. 12, 13. 2 Cor. 12. 9. Prov. 1. 23. Luke 11. 13. 1 Thess. 5. 24.
Q. By what means are you to obtain and secure to your self, that Help of God?
A. By hearty thankfulness to God for the Grace already received, in my effectual calling to this State of Grace and Salvation, cCol. 1. 3. 1 Thes. 2. 13.and complyance with it.
2. And by hearty and fervent Prayer, for the future supply of the same Grace, to enable me finally to continue therein.d1 Thes. 5. 23, 24. Colos. 1. 9.
3. And Lastly, by well Husbanding, and diligent Improving that stock of Grace which I am possessed of; that I deny not my self by my negligence the Help which I beg of God, for the increase thereof.e2 Pet. 1. 4, 5, 9. Mat 25. 28, 29.
Lord's Day 7.
Q. What mean you by that Phrase, of Effectual Calling, to this State of Grace and Salvation?
A. I mean, that powerful perswasion of Gods Holy Spirit, accompanying the outward Invitation and call of the Gospel; by which we are inclined, disposed, and prevailed withal, to accept and embrace the gracious offers thereof.f1 Thes. 2. 13. Act. 16. 14. Joh. 6. 37, 44.
Q. Is there then a Calling that is not Effectual?
A. Yes. For, whereas (as our Saviour saith) many are called, and few chosen; gMat. 22. 14.it must needs follow, that Gods calling, to those that were not chosen, was ineffectual: as on the other side, all that are effectually called, are also chosen to Holiness and Salvation.hRom. 8. 30. 1 Pet. 2. 8, 9. 2 Thes. 2. 13, 14.
Q. You say, You Pray to God to give you his Grace. How many sorts of Divine Grace are necessary to make us good and obedient Christians?
A. 1. Gods Grace preventing; by putting good motions into us, iHeb. 8. 9. 2 Cor. 3. 5.removing obstructions that resist them, and inclining our Wills to entertain and pursue them kPhil. 2 13..
2. Gods Grace assisting; by furnishing us with power to perform the good, willed by us.lPhil. 2. 13.
3. Lastly, Gods Grace compleating or perfecting; whereby this power is reduced to act, and supplied to us continually, according to all our needs, till we arrive at the perfection attainable in this life.mPhil. 1. 6. 4. 13. 19. 1 Pet. 5. 10.
Q. Rehearse the Articles of thy Belief?
A. I Believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost; born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried: He descended into Hell; the third day He arose again from the Dead; He ascended into Heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty: From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholick Church, the Communion of Saints; the forgiveness of Sins; the resurrection of the Body, and the Life everlasting. Amen
Lord's Day 8.
Q. What Belief or Creed call you this?
A. The Apostles Creed.
Q. Why call you it the Apostles Creed?
A. Because it hath been antiently so called; and that, 1. Either because it was penned by the Apostles themselves, after that they had received the Holy Ghost, and before they departed from Jerusalem to Preach the Gospel to all Nations; that by the Test of this form of sound words, n2 Tim. 1. 13.they might all, not only oblige themselves to Preach the same Doctrine; but the Churches, also which they planted, and their Teachers, to receive no other, than what was according to the Analogy of that Faith oRom. 12. 6.(which some of the Fathers assert.)
2. Or, because it is so antient an abridgment of the Apostles Doctrine, and so universally received in the Church all the world over; that (whoever penned it,) it can hardly be supposed, how it could be so spread, but by the Apostles themselves, whose Authority was universal, pMat. 28. 19, 20. Mar. 16. 15.(which others more incline to.)
Q. Are the Nicene Creed, and that of St. Athanasius, different Creeds (for substance) from this?
A. No. They add only some enlargements by way of explication to some Articles of this Creed; levelled, (in the times wherein they were written) against the false Senses imposed on them by Hereticks.
Q. How many Articles are there in this Creed?
A. They are usually reckoned to be twelve: and some assign to each Apostle one of them, as the Author thereof: tho' of this there be no certain evidence.
Q. What dost thou chiefly learn in these Articles of thy Belief?
A. First, I learn to believe in God the Father, who hath made me, and all the World.
Secondly, In God the Son, who hath Redeemed me and all mankind.
Thirdly, In God the Holy Ghost, who Sanctifieth me and all the elect People of God.
Lord's Day 9
Q. You Name God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. What mean you hereby? Are these three, three Gods?
A. No. There is only one God, that is, only one Divine Nature, or Essence: qDeut. 6. 4. Mark 12. 32.though in it, there be these three, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; or Father, Word and Spirit.rMat. 28. 19. 1 Joh. 5. 7.
Q. By what Name then, do you call these three?
A. We call them three Persons in that one God: being moved thereunto, by the Scriptures giving that Name to the Father in distinction from the Son: sHeb. 1. 3.and also because they are distinguished each from other, by their several personal Properties, and Operations.
Q. What is the Distinguishing Personal Property of the Father?
A. To beget the Son from all Eternity.tPsal. 2. 7.
Q. What is the distinguishing Personal Property of the Son?
A. To be so begotten of the Father.uJoh. 1. 14.
Q. What is the distinguishing Personal Property of the Holy Ghost?
A. To proceed from the Father and the Son.wJoh. 15. 26.
Q. What are those Personal Operations, by which they are distinguished each from other?
A. The things which they distinctly do for, and towards us, according to that order of working, which the Scripture assigns to them.
Q. Which is, say you, the distinct Personal Operation of God the Father? Or What did God the Father for you?
A. He made me and all the World.
Q. How is the Creation of the World attributed to God the Father, as his Peculiar Operation; when as the same work in Scripture is attributed to the Son also, and Holy Ghost?
A. Because the Scripture mentions the Father in this Work, as the principal Agent, who Created the World by the Son, xHeb. 1. 2.and the Vertue of the Holy Ghost.yGen. 1. 2. Job. 26. 13.
Lord's Day 10.
Q. What is the distinct Personal Operation of God the Son? Or what did he for you?
A. He Redeemed me and all Mankind.
Q. What mean you by this work of God the Son, which you call Redeeming?
A. That he (in special) was God incarnate; zJoh. 1. 14.and by laying down his life, paid a price and ransome, to purchase man out of the Hands of Gods Justice and Wrath, to which by sin he had forfeited himself: and recover thereby that eternal happiness for him, which he had lost.aGal. 3. 13. 1 Cor. 6. 20. Mat. 20. 28.
Q. Why do you in this Answer, extend this benefit of Redemption to all Mankind, which the Scripture seems (in some places) to restrain to some of them only?
A. because the Scripture speaketh thus largely in other places. b1 Tim. 2. 6. Heb. 2. 9. 1 Joh. 2. 2.Which must be verified in that extent which the words import; so far at least, as to give all Men a sufficient encouragement to repent and believe in Christ, for the benefit of his Redemption; though all do not eventually partake of it: and lay the guilt of their perishing upon themselves, cHos. 13. 9. Joh. 5. 40.if they perish notwithstanding it.
Q. What is the distinct personal operation of God the Holy Ghost? or, what did or doth he for you?
A. He Sanctifieth me, and all the Elect People of God.
Q. What means Sanctification, or to Sanctifie?
A. It imports that gracious operation of the Holy Ghost, in the Soul of man, whereby, of an unholy Creature, he is made Holy; that is, inclined, and enabled to dedicate and devote himself to God: wherein the true Nature of Sanctification consistsd1 Pet. 1. 2. Act 11. 23.
Q. Why do you here restrain Sanctification to some only whom you call the Elect People of God; when as you extend Redemption (before) to all Mankind?
A. Because Sanctification is (in its own Nature) a distinguishing act, and is thus in Scripture restrained to a peculiar People, separated by Gods Election from the rest of Mankind.e1 Pet. 1. 2. 2. 9. 2 Thes. 2. 13.
Lord's Day 11.
Q. These are the things, you say, you chiefly learn from these Articles of your belief: which implies, there are other things to be learned thence, of which these are the chief heads, that you have mentioned. Let us therefore go over it again, word by word; and see whether you understand what you say, when you repeat it. What therefore is the first Article thereof.
A. I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth.
Q. Why do we begin this Creed, with [I believe;] and not, with [we believe?]
A. 1. Because believing is a work to be done by every one for himself; fJoh. 11. 27. Act 8. 37.seeing every one is to live, that is, to be justified and saved, by his own faith, gHab. 2. 4.not by the faith of the Church, as the Papists are taught to perswade themselves.
2. As also, (in this case,) because it is most fit, in such a publick form of sound words universally owned by all Christians; for every one, by his own voice, to testifie his consent.hRom. 10. 10, 11. 15. 6. Phil. 2. 11.
Q. What is it, to believe in God?
A. To be fully perswaded that there is a God; and that God, such an one as the Scripture representeth him iHeb 11. 6. Act 17. 23.and to rely and depend upon him, for all things pertaining to life and godliness.kPsal 62. 5, 6. 2 Pet. 1. 3.
Q. What is God?
A. God is an eternal Spirit, lJoh. 4. 24. Psal. 90. 2.whose Being is from himself, that is, not from any other, mExod. 3. 14.and that, such a Being, as is infinite and incomprehensible in all perfections.nJob. 11. 7.
Q. Why is this Article placed first in the Creed?
A. Because it contains the true natural Principle of all Religon and Foundation of all true Faith.oHeb. 11. 5, 6.
Q. In what respect is God called by the Name Father?
A. 1. Because he is the proper natural Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, by eternal Generation.p2 Cor. 11. 31. Joh. 5. 18.
2. Because in Christ, and for his sake, he is by Adoption and Grace our Father also.qJoh. 20. 17.
Q. What understand you by the Term Almighty, here attributed to him?
A. That he hath both Power and Right to do all that he will.rMar. 1 1. 36. Ps. 115. 3. 135. 6.
Q What mean you when you call God Maker of Heaven and Earth?
A. 1. That he Created out of nothing, the whole World, and all things therein, sAct. 17. 24.in six days, tExo. 20. 11.for his own Glory, uCol. 1. 16.by his only word.wHeb. 11. 3.
2. And that he still preserves, and provides for them all, by the same word of his Power; which is a sort of continued Creation, ordinarily called by the Name of Providence.xNeh. 9. 6. Heb. 1. 3. Ps. 104. 30.
Lord's Day 12.
Q. Which is the second Article?
A. And [I believe] in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
Q. Why is this Person called by the Name Jesus?
A. Because he is the only Jesus (which word signifieth Saviour,) by whom we are saved from our Sins and all other Spiritual evils, yMat. 1. 21. Act. 4. 12.and from the Wrath to come.z1 Thes. 1. 10.
Q. Why is he also called Christ?
A. Christ (in the Greek Tongue) and Messiah (in the Hebrew) signify Anointed; aAct. 10. 38.so that this Name imports his being invested with three great offices, by God, which he undertook for the effecting Mans Salvation: All which Offices were conferred by the Ceremony of Anointing in Ancient Times.
Q. What Offices are those?
A. The office of a Priest, bPs. 110. 4.of a Prophet, cAct. 3. 22.and of a King.dPsal. 2. 6.
Q. What did, and doth he, by vertue of his Priestly Office?
A. 1. By the offering of his blood, shed for us once, upon the Cross, he made full satisfaction for our Sins to Gods Justice, and procured our Reconciliation to him.e1 Tim. 2. 5, 6. Rom. 5. 10
2. He continually applieth to us the Vertue of his Blood so shed, by obtaining for us all good things by his Intercession in Heaven.fHeb. 7. 25.
Q. How executeth he the Office of a Prophet?
A. By revealing Gods will to us, gLuke 4. 18. 24, 25.and instructing us therein, outwardly by his Word, hCol. 3. 16.and inwardly by his Spirit.i1 Pet. 1. 11. Joh. 14. 26.
Q. How Executeth he the Office of a King?
A. By his continual gathering of Subjects into his Spiritual Kingdom, the Church, by conversion; kPs. 110. 3.bountifully bestowing on them all necessary Grace, lAct. 5. 31. Phil. 1. 11.governing them by his Laws, mPs. 3. 22.appointing all Offices, Officers and Ordinances, in that Holy Society, nEph. 4. 11, 12. Mat. 28. 20.protecting them, and subduing all their Enemies; oRom. 7. 25. Psal. 110. 1.rewarding their obedience; pRev. 22. 12.and ordering all the Powers of this World, for the promoting his glory, and their good.qPhil. 2. 9, 10. Rom. 8. 28.
Lord's Day 13.
Q. Your Creed calleth Jesus Christ, the only Son of God; What mean you thereby?
A. That God hath no Son but him by Generation; for so he is the only begotten of the Father rJoh. 1. 18.; partaker of the same Essence or Godhead, with him sJoh. 10. 30.; and in that respect was always equal with him tPhil. 2. 6..
Q. Is he not, as he is often called also, the Son of Man?
A. Yes. He is both God and Man, in one Person: God, as begotten eternally by God the Father; and Man, as he was made of a Woman, that is, as to his humane Nature uMat. 16. 13. Gal. 4. …. Joh. 14. 28., in which respect the Father is greater than He.
Q. Why call you him Our Lord?
A. Because, as he is (as God) the only Soveraign Lord, to whom all Men owe absolute obedience wRev. 19. 16. Act 10. 36.; so is he …n a more special manner entituled to the entire subjection and obedience of all Christians, as their Redeemer.x1 Cor. 6. 20.
Q. Which is the third Article of your Creed?
A. He was Conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary.
Q. What mean you when you say, He was conceived by the Holy Ghost?
A. That he was conceived in the Womb of his Mother, without the knowledge of a Man, by the wonderful operation of the Holy Ghost alone; and therefore (though in all other things like us) in his very Conception Holy yLuke 1. 34, 35. Heb. 2. 17., and without any stain of Original Sin.zHeb. 7. 26.
Q. What is contained in the other Branch of this Article, born of the Virgin Mary?
A. That he was the true Messiah, foretold long before, by that Circumstance of being born of a Virgin aMat. 1. 21, 22, 23., and of the Lineage of David; of which the Holy Virgin was bMat. 1. 1. Rom. 1. 3..
Q. Why was it necessary that our Saviour should be born into the World as we are?
A. That by being born the Son of a Woman, as we are, he might come under the Law, to which we were by Nature subject; and so be capable of Redeeming us, as our Goel or near Kinsman.cRuth 4 4, 9. Gal. 4. 4, 5.
Lord's Day 14.
Q. Which is the fourth Article?
A. He suffered under Pontius Pilate: Was crucified, dead and buried: He descended into hell.
Q. Who was this Pontius Pilate?
A. He was the Roman Governour of Judea, under Tiberius the Emperour of Rome; to whom Christ was delivered, and by him (out of cowardly compliance with the outragious clamours of the Jews dMat. 27. 2. 24. Mark. 15. 15. Luk. 23. 23, 24., and against his own Conscience) unjustly condemned.
Q. How did he suffer under him?
A. He underwent divers sorts of grievous sufferings in his humane Nature, both of Soul and Body: and that, both before, and at, and after his Condemnation.eMat. 26 38. 27. 29. Joh. 19. 1. 2, 3. 1 Pet. 4. 1.
Q. You add, he was crucified. What kind of suffering was that?
A. The nailing of his naked body through the hands and feet, to a Cross of Wood, on which he continued hanging till he died with the extremity of the torture. Which suffering of his, in that very manner, was punctually so foretold as it fell out.fPsal. 22. 16.
Q. What special Reasons were there to induce him to submit to this kind of Death, so shameful, painful, and (by Gods Law) accursed?
A. Because, first he was to undergo the shame, and pain, gHeb. 12. 2.and curse, hGal. 3. 13.brought into the world by sin, and due to all Men for sin. i1 Pet. 20. 24.2ly. and (according to his own prediction) kJoh. 3. 14, 15.he was to fulfil the Type of the lifting up the Brazen Serpent by Moses, on a Pole, lNum. 21. 9. Is. 45. 22.for sinners to look upon, and be healed.