Christian Religion, Catechism · Part 19
IOH. chap. 14. verſ. 6.
6 Ieſus ſaid vntounto him, I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No man commeth vntounto the Father, but by me.
Hitherto of the perſon of our Sauiour Chriſt. VVhat is his office?
He is the onelyonly mediator betweene God and vsus, for our reconciliation vntounto him.
What is his office of mediation?
It is his calling to the workes of reconciling men vntounto God.
What conſider you in this office?
Firſt, his calling, then his faithfull diſcharge of it.Eſa. 42.1.2. &c.
Who called him?
God.
What learne you from thence?
There ariſeth thereby great comfort vntounto vsus, in that he thruſt not himſelfe in, but came by the will of God and his appointment; thereby we are more aſſured of the good will of God to ſaue vsus, ſeeing he hath called his ſonne vntounto it; and that he will accept of all that he ſhall doe for vsus, as that which himſelfe hath ordained.
What learne you from his faithfulnes?
That he hath left nothing vndone,Heb. 3. of things that belong to our reconciliation: in which reſpect hee is compared to Moſes, faithfull in all the houſe of God.
What names are giuen him in regard of this office of mediation?
The name of Chriſt; which was common to all thoſe that repreſented any part of the office of a Mediatorſhip.
What doth the name of Chriſt ſignifie?
Anointed.
What was the ointment wherewith he was anointed?
The ſpirit of God.Eſa. 61.1.
How many mediators are there?
One onelyonly.
How is that ſhewed?
By diuers reaſons. Firſt, becauſe there is but one God; and therefore but one Mediator, 1. Tim. 2. one God and one Mediator betweene God and man.
Secondly, becauſe he onelyonly is fit, as he onelyonly that partaketh both the natures of God and man, which is neceſſarie for him that ſhould come betweene both.
Thirdly, that is declared by the types of Moſes, who alone was in the mountaine: of Aaron, or the high Prieſt, who onelyonly might enter into the holy place of holy places.
Fourthly, by the ſimilitudes wherewith he is ſet forth in this text, I am the Way, I am the Doore.
Fifthly, becauſe hee alone hath found ſufficient ſaluation, for all thoſe that come vntounto him. Heb. 7. and .9. Ioh. 10.
Can no man be mediator betweene God and man?
1. Sam. 2.25.No verily: for Ely ſaith, that a man offending, a man may be accorded by the Iudges; but if he offend againſt God, there is no man can make his peace.
How many parts are there of this his mediation?
Heb. 3.1. & 4.14. Heb. 5.1. &c. Heb. 13.11.12. Heb. 7.1.Two: his prieſthood, and his kingdome.
What is his Prieſthood?
It is the firſt part of his Mediation, whereby he opening the will of God, did alſo yeeld that obedience, whereof dependeth the whole merit of our ſaluation: Firſt in teaching, then in doing the reſt of the offices of the Prieſthood.
How is he our Prophet, Doctor, or Apoſtle?
In that hee hath opened the whole will of his father.
How doth that appeare?
By his owne teſtimony, Ioh. 15.15. I call you no more ſeruants, becauſe the ſeruant knoweth not what his maſter doth. But I call you friends, becauſe all which I hauehave heard of my father, I hauehave made knowne vntounto you.
Whath learne you from thence?
That it is a foule errour in them, that thinke that our Sauiour Chriſt deliuered not all things pertaining to the neceſſary inſtruction and gouernment of the Church, but left them to the traditions and other meere inuentions of men.
What further?
That the Miniſters of the word ſhould not ſuppreſſe in ſilence the things that are neceſſarily to bee deliuered. And that the people ſhould content themſelues with that Chriſt hath taught, reiecting whatſoeuer elſe the boldneſſe of men would put vponupon them.
Did his office of Doctorſhip, then firſt begin when he came into the world?
No: but when he opened firſt his fathers will vntounto vsus, by the miniſtery of his ſeruants the Prophets: which the holy Ghoſt calleth the doctrine of the beginning of Chriſt; Heb. 6.1.although it were diuers hundred yeers before his conception: and after his owne time, hee opened the ſame doctrine more plainely and fully by the Apoſtles and Euangeliſts.
VVhat difference is there betweene the teaching of Chriſt and of the Prophets and Miniſters ſent of him?
Firſt,Mat. 7.28.29. Mark. 1.22. Mat. 5.22.28.32.34.44. that Chriſt taught with another authority then euer did any other Miniſter before or after him.
Secondly, that by vertue of his propheticall office, hee did not onelyonly bring an outward ſound vntounto the eare; but wrought (as hee did before his comming, and as he doth now by the Miniſtery of his word,) an alteration in the mind, ſo far as to the clearing of the vnderſtanding.
What hauehave we to gather that Chriſt taught and teacheth by the Prophets, Apoſtles, and Euangeliſts?
Firſt, in what eſtimation wee ought to hauehave the bookes of the old teſtament, ſith the ſame ſpirit ſpake then, that ſpeaketh now, and the ſame Chriſt. Secondly, wee muſt carrie our ſelues in the hearing of the word of God, not to harden our hearts.
What effect hath the careleſſe and fruitleſſe hearing of Gods word?
It hardneth mē to further iudgemēt; for it is a two edged ſword to ſtrike to life, or to death: it is either the ſauor of life to life, of the ſauor of death to death.
How doth hee aggrauate the refuſall of this office of our Sauiour againſt the Iſraelites?
Firſt, by the time, of 40. yeeres: ſecondly, by the place, the wilderneſſe; and by the multitude of his benefits.
What force hath the office of his prophecie in vsus?
Wee are in ſome ſort partakers of it by the knowledge of his will, whereby to be able to exhort one another priuatly to good things, and to withdraw one another from euill, as occaſion ſerueth.