The Sum of Christian Religion, Catechism · Part 2 · Christ's two natures · Question 47
aMat. 23.20.Queſt. 47. Is not Chriſt with us then untill the end of the world, as he hath promiſed?
Anſ. Chriſt is true God, and true man: and ſo according to his man-hood, he is not now on earth:bHebr. 8.4. Matth. 26.11. John 16.28. John 17.11. Acts 3.21. but, according to his God-head, his majeſty, his grace, and Spirit, he is at no time from us.cJohn 14.18. Matth. 28.20.
The Explication.
THis Queſtion is a prevention of an objection of the Ubiquitaries, who argue thus: Object. But Christ promiſed, that hee would be with us untill the end of the world: Therefore hee did not ſo aſcend into heaven, but that hee is now alſo on earth, and that every-where in his humane nature. Anſw. They inferre more in their concluſion then the premiſſes inforce. Chriſt is with us in that ſpirituall union, whereby wee his members are joyned to him our head. And further, he ſpeaketh of the preſence of his whole perſon, to which he attributeth that which is proper unto the God-head. In like manner he ſaith before his paſſion, when as yet he converſed on earth with his Diſciples; I and my Father will come unto him, and will dwell with him: this he ſpeaketh,John 14.23 as touching his God head, which was, and is in heaven, and by which, as the Father is with us, ſo he is: otherwiſe we might reaſon alſo thus, I go away, ſaith Chriſt: Therefore he is not at all with us. But it is attributed improperly to his other nature, namely, to his humanity, What the perſonall union of two natures in Chriſt is.that he abideth with us in reſpect of that perſonall union, which is the ſecret and wonderfull indiſſoluble uniting and knitting of the two most diverſe natures of Chriſt, divine and humane, into one perſon, ſo that theſe two natures, being in ſuch wiſe linked and conjoyned, abſolve the eſſence of Christs perſon, and one nature ſhould be destroyed, if it were ſundered from the other; both notwithſtanding retaining their peculiar and ſeverall properties, whereby one is diſtinguiſhed from another. Saint Augustines Explication is on this manner: That which Chriſt ſaith Loe,Tract. 50. in Johan. I am with you alwayes unto the end of the world, is fulfilled according to his Majesty, Providence, and unſpeakable Goodneſſe: But as concerning that fleſh which the Word tooke, and after which he was borne of the Virgin, taken by the Jewes, crucified on the Croſſe, taken downe from the Croſſe, wrapped in linnen clothes, laid in the Sepulchre, manifeſted in the reſurrection; as concerning it, yee ſhall not have him alwayes with you. Why ſo? Becauſe, as concerning the preſence of his body, he converſed forty dayes with his Diſciples; and they accompanying him to ſee him, not to follow him, he aſcended into heaven, and is no longer here. For, He is there; ſitting at the right hand of God: and, He is here; for the preſence of his Majesty hath not left us. Againe, according to the preſence of Christs majesty, we have Chriſt alwayes: according to the preſence of his fleſh, it was truly ſaid unto the Diſciples; Yee ſhall not have me alwayes. For the Church injoyed him a few dayes, as concerning the preſence of his fleſh; now it layeth hold on him by faith, but ſeeth him not with corporall eyes. Chriſt therefore is preſent with us, 1. By his ſpirit and God-head. Five manners of Chriſts preſence.2. As touching our faith and confidence, wherewith we behold him. 3. In mutuall dilection and love, becauſe he loveth us, and we him, ſo that he doth not forget us. 4. In respect of his union with humane nature; that is, in the conjunction of the ſoule with the body: For the ſame ſpirit is in us, and in him, who joyneth and knitteth us unto him. 5. In reſpect of that hope, which we have of our conſummation; that is, that certaine hope which we have of coming unto him.