late, and tormented by his perfecutors d; having alfo conflicted with the terrors of death, and the powers of darkness, felt and borne the weight of God's wrath e, he laid down his life an offering for fin f. enduring the painful, fhameful, and curfed death of the cross g. Q. 50. Wherein confifted Christ's humiliation after his death? A Chrift's humiliation after his death confifted in his being buried h, and continuing in the ftate of the dead, and under the power of death till the third day i; which quainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was defpifed, and we efteemed him not. d Matth. xxvii. 26. to verfe 50. Then releafed he Barrabbas unto them: and when he had fcourged Jefus, he delivered him to be crucified, &c. John xix. 34. But one of the foldiers with a fpear pierced his fide, and forthwith came there out blood and water. e Luke xxii. 24. And being in an agony, he prayed more earneftly; and his fweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. Matth. xxvii. 46. And about the ninth hour Jefus eried with a loud voice, faying, Eli, Eli, Jama fabackthani? that is to fay, My God, my God, why haft thou forfaken me? f If. li. 10. Yet it pleafed the Lord to bruife him, he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make. his foul an offering for fin, he thall fee his feed, he fhall prolong his days, and the pleafure of the Lord fhall profper in his hand. g Phil. ii. 8. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himfelf, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the crofs. Heb. xii. 2. Looking unto Jefus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was fet before him, endured the crofs, defpifing the fhame, and is fet down at the right hand of the throne of God. Gal. iii. 13. Chrift hath redeemed us from the curfe of the law, being made a curfe for us: for it is written, Curfed is every one that hangeth on a tree. 50. b 1 Cor. xv. 3. For I delivered unto you first of all, that which I alfo received, how that Chrift died for our fins, according to the fcriptures: v. 4. And that he was buried, and that he rofe again the third day according to the fcriptures. i Pfal. xvi. 10. For thou wilt not leave my foul in hell; neither wilt thou fuffer thine holy One to fee corruption. Compared with Acts ii. 24. Whom God hath raised up, having loofed the pains of death: because it was not poffible that he fhould be holden of it. v. 25. For David fpeaketh concerning him, I foretaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I fhall not be moved. v. 26. Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad: moreover alfo, my flefh fhall reft in hope. v. 27. Because thou wilt not leave my foul in hell, neither wilt thou fuffer thine holy One to fee corruption. v. 31. He feeing this before, fpake of the refurrection of Chrift, that his foul was not left in hell, neither his fle did fee corruption. Rom. vi. 9. Knowing which hath been otherwife expreffed in thefe words, He defcended into hell. Q. 51. What was the estate of Christ's exaltation? A. The eftate of Chrift's exaltation comprehendeth his refurrection k, afcenfion /, fitting at the right hand of the Father m, and his coming again to judge the world n. Q. 52. How was Chrift exalted in his refurrection? A. Chrift was exalted in his refurrection, in that, not having feen corruption in death, (of which it was not poffible for him to be held o), and having the very same body in which he fuffered, with the effential properties thereof p, (but without mortality, and other common infirmities belonging to this life) really united to his foul 9 he rofe again from the dead the third day by his own power r; whereby he declared himfelf to be the Son of unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. God, Knowing that Chrift being raifed ed; whereof he hath given affurance from the dead, dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. Matth. xii. 40. For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; fo fhall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 51. k I Cor. xv. 4. And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the fcrip tures. / Mark xvi. 19. So then after the Lord had fpoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and fat on the right hand of God. m Eph. i. 20. Which he wrought in Chrift, when he raised him from the dead, and fet him at his own right hand in the heavenly places. n Asi. 11. Which also faid, Ye men of Galilee, why ftand ye gazing up into heaven? this fame Jefus which is taken up from you into heaven, fhall fo come in like manner as ye have feen him go into heaven. Acts xvii. 31. Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness, by that man whom he hath ordain 52. Acts ii. 24. Whom God hath raised up, having loofed the pains of death: because it was not poffible that he should be holden of it. v. 27. Becaufe thou wilt not leave my foul in hell, neither wilt thou fuffer thine holy One to fee corruption. p Luke xxiv. 39. Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myfelf: handle me, and fee, for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye fee me have. Rom. vi. 9. Knowing that Chrift being raifed from the dead, dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. Rev. i. 18. I am he that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore, men; and have the keys of hell and of death. r John x. 18. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myfelf: I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. Rom: God, to have fatisfied divine justice t, to have vanquished death, and him that had the power of it v, and to be Lord of quick and dead w: all which he did as a public perfon x, the head of his church y, for their juftification z, quickening in grace a, fupport against enemies b, and to affure them of their refurrection from the dead at the last day c. Q.53. How was Chrift exalted in his afcenfion? A. Chrift was exalted in his afcenfion, in that having, after his refurrection, often appeared unto and converfed with his apostles, fpeaking to them of the things pertain ing to the kingdom of God d, and giving them commif f Rom. i. 4. And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holinefs, by the refurrection from the dead. Rom. viii. 34. Who is he that condemneth? It is Chrift that died, yea rather, that is rifen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who alfo maketh interceffion for us. Heb. ii. 14. Forafmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he alfo himfelf likewife took part of the fame; that through death he might deftroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil, w Rom. xiv. 9. For to this end Christ both died, and rofe, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. x 1 Cor. xv. 21. For fince by man came death, by man came alfo the refurrection of the dead. v. 22. For as in Adam all die, even fo in Chrift fhall all be made alive. y Eph. i. 20. Which he wrought in Chrift, when he raised him from the dead, and fet him at his own right hand in the heavenly places. v. 22. And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the Head over all things to the church, v. 23. Which is his body, the fulnefs of him that filleth all in all, fion Col. i. 18. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; that in all things he might have the pre-eminence. z Rom. iv. 25. Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our juftification a Eph. ii. 1. And you hath he quickened who were dead in trefpaffes and fins. v. 5. Even when we were dead in fins, hath quickened us together with Chrift, (by grace ye are faved), v. 6. And hath raifed us up together, and made us fit together in heavenly places in Chrift Jefus. Col. ii. 12. Buried with him in baptifm, wherein alfo ye are rifen with him, through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raifed him from the dead. b 1 Cor. xv. 25. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. v. 26. The last enemy that shall be deftroyed, is death. v. 27. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he faith, all things are put under him, it is manifeft that he is excepted which did put all things under him. c 1 Cor. xv. 20. But now is Chrift rifen from the dead, and become the firft-fruits of them that flept. 53. d Acsi. 2. Until the day in OTH BOD which fion to preach the gofpel to all nations e; forty days after his refurrection, he, in our nature, and as our head ƒ, triumphing over enemies g, vifibly went up into the highest heavens, there to receive gifts for men b, to raise up our affections thither, and to prepare a place for usk, where himself is, and fhall continue till his fecond coming, at the end of the world 1. 9.54. How is Chrift exalted in his fitting at the right hand of God? A. Chrift is exalted in his fitting at the right hand of God, in that as God-man he is advanced to the highest favour with God the Father m, with all fulness of which he was taken up, after that e Matth. xxviii. 19. Go ye there- ƒ Heb. vi. 20. Whither the fore runner is for us entered, even Jefus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchifedec. g Eph. iv. 8. Wherefore he faith, When he afcended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. h Acts i. 9. And when he had Spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their fight. v. 10. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven, as he went up, behold, two men ftood by them in white apparel; v. 11. Which alfo joy faid, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this fame Jefus which is taken up from you into heaven, fhall fo come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. Eph. iv. 10. He that defcended, is the fame alfo that afcended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things. Pfal. lxviii. 18. Thou haft afcended on high, thou haft led captivity captive: thou haft received gifts for men ; yea, for the rebellious alfo, that the Lord God might dwell among them. i Col. iii. 1. If ye then be rifen with Chrift, feek those things which are above, where Chrift fitteth on the right hand of God. v. 2. Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth. k John xiv. 3. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be alfo. / Acts iii. 21. Whom the heavens muft receive, until the times of reftitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets, fince the world began. 54. m Phil. ii. 9. Wherefore God alfo hath highly exalted him, and C.c given joy n, glory o, and power over all things in heaven and earth p; and doth gather and defend his church, and fubdue their enemies; furnisheth his minifters and people with gifts and graces q, and maketh interceffion for them. Q. 55. How doth Chrift make interceffion? A. Chrift maketh interceffion, by his appearing in our nature continually before the Father in heaven, in the merit of his obedience and facrifice on earth t, declaring his will to have it applied to all believers v, anfwering given him a name which is above every name. n Acts ii. 28. Thou haft made known to me the ways of life; thou fhalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. Compared with Pfal. xvi. 11. Thou wilt fhew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy, at thy right hand there are pleafures for evermore. • John xvii. 5. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own felf, with the glory which I had with thee before the world was p Eph. i. 22. And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church. 1 Pet. iii. 22. Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God, angels, and authorities, and powers being made fubject unto him. q Eph. iv. 10. He that defcended, is the fame alfo that afcended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things. v. 11. And he gave fome, apoftles: and fome, prophets and fome, evangelifts: and fome, paftors and teachers; v. 12. For the perfecting of the faints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Chrift. Pfal. cx. throughout. The Lord faid unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. all |