The Sum of Christian Religion, Catechism · Part 2 · creed · Question 32 – Question 33
Queſt. 32. But why art thou called a Chriſtian?
Anſ. Becauſe through faith I am a member of Jeſus Chriſt,aActs 11.26. and partaker his annointing;b1 Cor. 6.5. that both I may confeſſe his name,cAct. 2.17. 1 John 2.27. and preſent my ſelf unto him a lively ſacrifice of thankfulneſſe,dMat. 10.32. Rom. 10.10. and alſo may in this life fight againſt ſin and Sathan with a free and good conſcience,eRom. 12.10. 2 Pet. 2.5, 9. Rev. 1.6. and 4 8, 10. Rom. 6.12, 13. Gal. 5.16, 17. Epheſ. 6.11. 1 Tim. 1.18, 19. 1 Pet. 2.11. and afterward enjoy an everlaſting kingdom with Chriſt over all creatures.fMat. 25.34. 2 Tim. 2.12.
The Explication.
IN this thirty ſecond Queſtion we are inſtructed concerning the inunction, or annointing of the faithfull, namely,Of the communion of the faithfull or Chriſtians, with Chriſt. whence they are called Chriſtians or Annointed; and, what is the duty of Chriſtians, and what their comfort; whereof this name doth advertiſe them. Here then is diſcourſed the common place, concerning the communion of Chriſt the head of the faithfull, his members, and of the functions of theſe his members. Hereof foure things come to be conſidered:
1. What is the annointing of Chriſtians, or whence Beleevers have the name of Chriſtians, or Annointed.
2. What is the Propheticall function of Chriſtians.
3. What their Priesthood.
4. What their Kingdome.
1. What is the Annointing of Chriſtians.
LUke teſtifieth,Acts 11.26. Who is called a Chriſtian. that the name of Chriſtians firſt began to be uſed in Antioch, in the Apoſtles time, when as before time they had bin termed by the names of Brethren and Diſciples. The name Chriſtian is derived from Chriſt: and in generall he is called a Christian, who is a diſciple of Chriſt, and followeth his doctrine of life: and who, being inſerted into Chriſt, hath communion and fellowſhip with him. There are two ſorts of Chriſtians: ſome ſeeming or counterfeit, and outward, but not true, that is, hypocrites: others ſeeming and true. For not every ſeeming Chriſtian, that is, who is in outward corverſation a Chriſtian, is an hypocrite: ſeeing it is required of us;Mat. 5.16. Jame. 2.18. Mac. 7.23. Let your light ſo ſhine before men, that they may ſee your good workes, and glorifie your Father which is in heaven. Shew me thy faith by thy workes: but every hypocrite is a ſeeming Chriſtian, to whom it ſhall one day be ſaid, I never knew you. Seeming and falſe-hearted Chriſtians.They are called ſeeming, but not true Chriſtians, who being baptiſed, profeſſe in word and life, or ou…ward converſation, the doctrine and faith of Chriſt, and are in the company of noſe which are called, but are not partakers of Chriſts benefits, being deſtitute of true faith and converſion. Therefore they are not the true and lively members of the Church.Mat. 20.16. & 7.22. Seeming and true-hearted Chriſtians. Many are called, but few choſen. Not every one that ſaith unto mee, Lord, Lord, ſhall enter into the Kingdome of heaven. They are both ſeeming and true Chriſtians, who, being received by baptiſme into the Church, acknowledge and profeſſe Chriſts doctrine: and, being engrafted into Chriſt by a true faith, are made partakers of all his benefits; and being regenerated by the holy Ghoſt, leade a life worthy of true Chriſtians. Furthermore, of Hypocrites we are not her to ſpeake: but of thoſe, who are both without and within, that is, are truly Chriſtians, and annointed of Chriſt by the holy Ghoſt. The queſtion then is, Why we are called Chriſtians? The cauſes hereof are two. 1. Becauſe by faith wee are made the members of Chriſt. 2. Becauſe by it we are made partakers of his annointing: that is, wee are called Chriſtians for the communication made unto us of Chriſts perſon,What it is to be Chriſts members. office and dignity. To be the members of Chriſt, is nothing elſe, than to be conjoyned and united to Chriſt, by the ſame ſpirit dwelling both in him and us and by this ſpirit to be enriched with ſuch righteouſneſſe and life, as is in Chriſt; to be conformed unto Chriſt: and ſeeing this righteouſneſſe, ſo long as wee remaine in this mortall body, is imperfect, to be acceptable unto God for the righteouſneſſe of Chriſt, which is imputed unto us. Of this our communion with Chriſt theſe ſayings make mention; Wee being many, are one body in Chriſt. Rom. 12.5. 1 Cor. 6.15, 17. Epheſ. 4.15.Know yee not that your bodies are the members of Chriſt? Hee that is joyned unto the Lord, is one ſpirit. In all things grow up into him which is the head, that is, The ſimilitude of man a body to declare our union with Chriſt.Chriſt. Now the ſimilitude of the head and members of the ſame body, is moſt fit and appliable to declare that moſt ſtraight and indiſſoluble conjunction of us with Chriſt. For, 1. As all the members of the body are knit to one and the ſame head, and conſequently to one another, by ſinews and fleſhly ligaments: And as in the head are engendred all vitall ſpirits, who are the next or ready inſtruments of ſenſe and motion; as alſo all the outward and inward ſenſes are feated in the head, and thence onelyonly from them the whole body, and each member thereof doth draw life; not from one another, I ſay, but from the head onelyonly, ſo long as they remain united to their head, and among themſelves: ſo Chriſt is that one & quickning head, from whom his ſpirit is diſperſed into all the members, and not from one member into another; and by whom all the elect, who are the living members of the Church, being united by the holy Ghoſt received through faith, are quickned, and are knit alſo among themſelves, by the meanes of mutuall charity. Which charity and dilection muſt needs be there, if we be joyned unto the head. For the connexion of the members with the head, is the originall and cauſe of the conjunction of the members among themſelves. For the quickning ſpirit of Chriſt doth not flow out of one member into another, but out of one Chriſt, as the head, into all the members of the Church. I will ſend unto you from the Father, John 15.26.the Comforter, the Spirit of truth. 2. As in mans body are divers gifts and functions of the members, and yet but one life and ſoule quickning and moving all the members: ſo in the body of the Church are divers gifts and functions, and yet but one ſpirit; by the benefit whereof each member may doe his function. 3. As the head is placed in the higheſt place, and therefore is of more worthineſſe, and the foun…aine of all life: So Chriſt hath the higheſt room and degree in the Church, as in whom the ſpirit is without meaſure, and of whoſe fulneſſe all receive: but in the members, that is, in Chriſtians, are certain meaſures of gifts which are derived into them from the only head and fountaine Chriſt. Wherefore the Pope of Rome lyeth, when he avoucheth himſelf to be the head of the Church.
Chriſt is our Head in three reſpects.Chriſt is our head in three reſpects: 1. In reſpect of his perfection: becauſe he is both God and man: and in gifts, as touching his humane nature excelleth all creatures. In him dwelleth all the fulneſſe of the God head bodily, &c. Hee alone giveth the holy Ghoſt. This is hee, who baptizeth with the holy Ghoſt. 2. In dignity, or order: glory,Col. 1.9, 10 Mat. 3.11. majeſty, power, authority, which in his humane nature glorified, hee now openly ſheweth forth and declareth. For as God created all things by him:Heb. 1.2. & 3.6. ſo he hath made him heire of all things, and the ruler of his houſe. 3. In reſpect of his office: For hee is the redeemer and ſanctifier of his Church, hee is over every member of the Church, he …leth, governeth, quickneth, nouriſheth, and confirmeth them, ſo as they continue joyned in him, with the reſt of the members. We are alſo in three reſpects the members of Christ: 1. Becauſe by faith and the holy Ghost wee are joyned unto him, We are in three reſpects Chriſts members.and alſo are knit together amongst our ſelves, as the members to the head, and one with another. And this conjunction of the members of this body amongſt themſelves, is no leſſe requiſite and behoovefull, for the ſafety of the Church, than the conjunction of the whole body with Chriſt the head. For if thou ſeparate the arme from the hand, thou ſhalt ſeparate it alſo from the head, and ſo it ſhall no more have life.Epheſ. 3.17. That Chriſt may dwell in your hearts by faith. 2. Becauſe we are quickned and guided of him; and from him as the fountaine, we draw all good things: ſo that except we continue in him, wee have not eternall life in us: as neither the members ſundred from the body, retain life any longer. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and withereth. John 5.6.3. Becauſe as in mans body are divers faculties and functions of the members: ſo are the gifts and functions divers of the members of Chriſt in the Church: And as all the actions of the parts of the body are imployed and referred to the preſervation thereof, ſo all the members of Chriſt whatſoever they purpoſe or doe, that ought they to imploy and referre to the profit and utility of the Church. As we have many members in one body, and all members have not one office: ſo we being many, are one body in Chriſt. Rom. 11.4. 1 Cor. 12.7.The manifeſtation of the Spirit is given to profit withall.
Whereas then now we underſtand what it is to be member of Christ, and how we are his members; it will the more cleerely appeare,What anointing & participation of annointing is. What it is to be partaker of Chriſts anointing. what it is to be partaker of Chriſts annointing. Annointing ſignifieth a beſtowing of gifts: and participation of annointing importeth a communion of Chriſts gifts and office: or, annointing is a participation of all Chriſts benefits, and conſiſteth in the participation of Chriſts Kingdome, Prieſt-hood, and Propheticall office. To be partaker then of Chriſts annointing, is,
1. to be partaker of the holy Ghoſt and his gifts: For the holy Ghoſt is not idle in us, but worketh the ſame in us which he doth in Chriſt; albeit Chriſt alone hath more gifts than wee all: and thoſe graces and gifts in Chriſt are far more excellent in degree.
2. That Christ ſhould communicate unto us his Propheticall, Prieſtly, and Royall function.
2. What is the Propheticall function of Christians, that is, in what ſenſe they are, and are called Prophets.
CHriſt maketh us partakers of his Propheticall honour or office, not only in this, that himſelfe prophecieth unto us,Chriſtians are Prophets in knowledge and confeſsion. Acts. 2.17. Mat. 10.32. that is, effectually inſtructeth us by his Word and Spirit, but alſo becauſe he willeth and bringeth to paſſe, that we may alſo prophecie, by profeſſing and celebrating God: According as it is ſaid, I will powre out of my Spirit upon all fleſh, and your ſonnes and your daughters ſhall prophecy. Whoſoever ſhall confeſſe mee before men, him will I confeſſe alſo before my Father, which is in heaven. Our propheticall office therefore is, 1. Rightly to underſtand and imbrace the doctrine, perfect and neceſſary to ſalvation, concerning God and his will. 2. That every one in his place and degree profeſſe the ſame, being underſtood, faithfully, boldly, conſtantly, in word and life, thereby both to celebrate God, and to bring many ſchollars and diſciples unto Christ. The difference between Chriſts Propheticall function and ours, is,2 Differences of Chriſts Prophetical function with ours. 1. That Chriſt hath the ſpirit without meaſure, wee by meaſure: For it is the proper ſpirit of Chriſt which floweth from him, and is poured into the hearts of men: we have him by gift; He, being but one, hath all the gifts of the holy Ghoſt, and thoſe in the moſt excellent degree: all we have but only ſome, and thoſe farre inferiour. 2. That Chriſt effectually teacheth, by moving the hearts of men to accord and aſſent. The ſound and voice of others, without the inward ſound and voice of the holy Ghost, doth onelyonly ſtrike the cares, neither pierceth it unto the heart.
3. What is the Prieſt-hood of Chriſtians.
What our Prieſt-hood is, and the parts of it.THe office of a Prieſt is to teach, to pray, and to ſacrifice: Wherefore our Prieſt-hood is, 1. To teach and inſtruct others; that is, to declare and ſhew unto others the true knowledge of God. And thou, when thou art converted, ſtrengthen thy brethren. Luke 22.32.2. To invocate on God being known aright of us. 3. To performe unto God the duties of thankfulneſſe, to render him his due worſhip, even all outward and inward obedience: or, to offer up unto God all our life time ſacrifices of thankſgiving acceptable unto him,What our ſacrifices of thankſgiving are. and ſanctified by the ſacrifice of Chriſt: namely, to offer up unto him, 1. Our ſelves: by mortifying the old man in us, and by giving our members as weapons of righteouſneſſe unto God. Rom. 6.13.2. Our prayers: Let us therefore by him offer the ſacrifice of praiſe alwaies to God, that is, the fruit of the lips, which confeſſe his name. Heb. 13.15.3. Our almeſ-deeds: Thy prayer is heard and thine almes are had in remembrance in the ſight of God. 4. Our confeſsion of the Goſpel: Grace is given mee of God that I ſhould be the Miniſter of Jeſus Chriſt towards the Gentiles, Acts 13.31.miniſtring the Goſpel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable. 5. Our cheerefull under going and ſuffering of the croſſe,Rom. 15.15, 16. that is, all calamities, perſecution, contempt, baniſhments, and even death it ſelfe for the confeſsion of the truth, and the glory of God.Phil. 2.17. 2 Tim. 4.6. Col. 1.24. Though I be offered. up upon the ſacrifice and ſervice of your faith, I am glad. I am now ready to be offered Now rejoyce I in my ſufferings for you, and fulfill the reſt of the afflictions of Chriſt in my fleſh, for his bodies ſake, which is the Church. This Prieſt-hood Chriſt communicateth unto us: 1. When by the efficacy of his ſpirit he works in us theſe forenamed ſacrifices of thankſgiving,How Chriſt maketh us Prieſts. which we offer unto God. 2. When by his merit and interceſsion unto his Father, he cauſeth our ſacrifices, albeit unperfect and ſtained with our ſins, to be notwithſtanding pleaſing and acceptable unto God.
Our ſacrifices different from Chriſts ſacrifice three wates.Now our ſacrifices differ, as well as the ſacrifices of the old Prieſts, from Chriſts ſacrifice. 1. Chriſt offered up together a ſacrifice both of thankeſgiving and propitiatory: We offer up only ſacrifices of thankeſgiving. The old Prieſts alſo offered up ſacrifices of thankſgiving: becauſe theſe belong to the whole Church, even from the beginning, to the end of the world. But thoſe ſacrifices, which they offered beſides, were only typicall. But no ſacrifices of the New Teſtament are typicall, but either euchariſticall and of thankfulneſſe, as are ours: or propitiatory, as is the obedience of Chriſt ot…, performed for us in ſuffering our puniſhment. For he offered not a typicall or figurative, but the reall or figured and ſignified ſacrifice; as being not a typicall, but the ſignified Prieſt. 2. The ſacrifices of Chriſt are both perfect: ours unperfect, and defiled with many ſins. 3. The ſacrifice of Chriſt pleaſeth God for it ſelfe, and for the worthineſſe that is perfect in it ſelfe, and meriteth remiſsion of ſins and eternall life of God for us: becauſe it is the death of the very Son of God. Our ſacrifices merit nothing of God, and pleaſe him, not for themſelves, but for Christs ſacrifice, wherewith they are ſanctified.
4. What is the kingdome of Christians.
Chriſtians are Kings, 1. By partaking of his victory and royalty. 2. By having in themſelves through him, a power to overcome & over rule both their enemies and all creatures. John 16.33. Rev. 3.21. Luke 22.30. Our royall office, 1 John 5.4. 1 Tim. 1.18. 2 Tim. 2.12. Mat. 25.34.WEe are partakers of Chriſts kingdome, Becauſe he is our King, and doth communicate his victory and glory againſt his enemies and ours, with us, and maketh us by faith citizens of his kingdome, the ſons of God, his brethren and co heires. Becauſe, by the vertue and operation of his Spirit, he alſo maketh us Kings: that is, the Lords over all creatures, conquerors of our enemies, and partakers of everlaſting bliſſe and glory. Be of good comfort, I have overcome the world. To him that overcometh will I grant to ſit with mee in my throne; That yee may ſit on ſeates, and judge the twelve tribes of Iſrael. Our royall office therefore is, 1. That by the vertue of Christs ſpirit (who hath reſtored unto us our loſt royall and heavenly dignity, over all our enemies) we fight continually againſt ſin, the world, the divel, and the fleſh, and overcome. Which wee do, when as by a true faith we are reſolved, that we have remiſſion of all our ſins: and when by the ſame faith we receive the holy Ghoſt to repreſſe ſin, even in this life, as touching the beginning of our conqueſt. 2. That at length all our enemies being, by the grace of Chriſt, fully brought under, wee injoy eternall bliſſe and glory, that is, the heavenly kingdome, which by the working of the holy Ghoſt is begun in us in this life, and which we now poſſeſſe in hope, but then ſhall in full poſſeſsion inherit.Our kingdome. 1 Cor. 3.21. Fight a good fight, having faith and a good conſcience. If we ſuffer, we ſhall alſo reigne with him. Inherit yee the kingdome prepared for you from the foundations of the world. Briefly, our kingdome is, 1. That in Chriſt we are Lords over all creatures. All things are yours. 1 John 5.4.2. That we overcome our enemies by faith in Chriſt. Who hath given us victory. This is the victory that overcometh the world even our faith.
Four Difference between Chriſts kingdom & ours.There is notwithſtanding a difference between the kingdom of Chriſt, and ours, For, 1. The kingdom is hereditary unto Chriſt: For he is the naturall Son, and therefore by nature King: but ours is by right of adoption. Chriſt, as the naturall Son, is ruler over his houſe, heire of all things. We are, by and for him,Heb. 3.6. & 1.2. the adopted ſons of God. 2. He alone by full right is King over all creatures ſimply, but eſpecially over the whole Church of the holy Angels and men. But we neither are, nor ever ſhall be the Kings and head of the Angels, and the Church; but only over other creatures, which are compelled to ſerve us, we are Lords: heaven, earth, and all things ſhall ſerve us; we ſhall be adorned with glory, majeſty, and no common excellency of gifts, but with the higheſt prerogative over all wicked men and divels, whom we ſhall judge, ſubſcribing, and yeelding our conſents to the Soveraigne judgment of Chriſt in condemning and deſtroying them. Ye ſhall ſit upon twelve ſeats, Mat. 19.28.judging the twelve tribes of Iſrael. 3. He conquereth his enemies, by his own power; we, in him, and by him, that is, by his grace and aſſiſtance. Be of good comfort, I have overcome the world. John 16.33.4. He alone ruleth the Church with the ſcepter of his ſpirit and word, moving our hearts, and reſtoring in us the loſt image of God: we are miniſters and adminiſtrators of the outward word and rites; we cannot give the holy Ghoſt: as, I baptiſe you with water, Mat. 3.10. 1 Cor. 3 5.but he that cometh after me, he ſhall baptiſe you with the holy Ghoſt, and with fire. Who is Paul then? and who is Apollos? but the miniſters, &c.
The ſumme of all is: In the old teſtament were Prophets, Prieſts, and Kings▪ typicall: What it is to beleeve in Chriſt.Chriſt is thoſe three in ſignification, and in truth; we by participation from him: Wherefore great is the uſe of this doctrine, 1. Ʋnto conſolation: Fot, to beleeve in Christ, is not only to know, that Jeſus is the anointed, that is, the chief Prophet, Prieſt, and Kings but to be perſwaded, that he is ſuch alſo unto me, and that I, being engraffed into him by faith, as a member into the head, am daily ſuſtained, governed, and quickned by him; and that he maketh me alſo partaker of his unction or annointing, that, by the working of the holy Ghoſt, I may alſo be a Prophet, a Prieſt, and a King. This is the unſpeakable advancement and dignity of Chriſtians. 2. Ʋnto exhortation: For whereas we are all Prophets and Doctors appointed by God, therefore we are to confeſſe and celebrate his name: whereas we are all Prieſts, it is our duty to offer up our ſelves unto him as a lively ſacrifice of praiſe and thankfulneſſe: whereas we are all Kings, it behooveth us to fight and war manfully aginſt ſin, the world and the Divel, that at length we may beare rule over all our enemies, being adorned with everlaſting bliſſe and glory.
ON THE 13. SABBATH.Queſt. 33. For what cauſe is Christ called the only begotten Son of God, when wee alſo are the ſons of God?
Anſ. Becauſe Chriſt alone is the co-eternall and naturall Son of the eternall Father,aIoh. 1.14. H…bt. 1.1, 2. John 3.16. 1 Joh. 4.9. Rom. 8.32. and we are but ſonnes adopted of the Father by grace for his ſake.bRom. 8.16. John 1.12. Gal. 4.6. Epheſ. 1.5, 6.