And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you....And he led them out as far as to Bethany; and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. Luke 24: 36, 50, 51, 52.---So then, after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. Mark 16: 19.---And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. Acts 1: 9-11.

ARTICLE SEVENTEENTH.

OF THE OFFICES OF CHRIST; AND OF THE PROPER CAUSE, AND MOTIVE, OF HIS COMING INTO THE WORLD.

Or Christ and his offices, we believe and acknowledge, That he is the true Prophet, Priest and King, who was predicted by Moses, and by all the holy prophets; and to whom the former

priests and kings, as figures and types of him, pointed. And that his proper cause and motive of coming into the world was, to destroy the works of the devil; to seek and to save that which was lost, and to deliver the whole race of man from the bondage of sin, and the power of the devil; to redeem them, and reconcile them with God his Father: and thus to save lost sinners from eternal ruin.

And, as respecting his prophetical office, he came forth from the Father, and came into the world, to deliver unto all men, by the Gospel, the counsel and will of God; the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ. Eph. 3: 9.---And thus did he come to heal the broken hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind; to set at liberty them that are bruised; to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. Luke 4: 18, 19.--And according to this counsel, this Gospel which is delivered as the last voice and will of God, which he has spoken in these last days, by his Son, must all the children of the new covenant walk, as the perfect rule of their faith and practice, in their whole life and conversation. And this covenant will stand to the

end of the world.

Moreover, as it respects his priestly office, he has fulfilled and changed the Levitical priesthood; and by one offering, the offering of himself on the cross, he hath perfected for ever them

that are sanctified; and thus he opened the way to the most holy in the heavens. And by this, his own offering, which is of infinite worth, he hath fulfilled and accomplished the law, and hath obtained eternal redemption for us. Heb. 9: 12.---And when he had made reconciliation for us with the Father, he sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high, there to be an Advocate, Mediator and High Priest, with God his Father, for all his faithful 'followers, who look unto him; where he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

And in relation to his kingly office, he came down from heaven with the power of his almighty Father, and as a powerful King of kings, and a commander to the people, he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land. And he is the end and accomplishment of all the kings in Israel. And as his kingdom was not of this world, but consisted in a spiritual, heavenly kingdom, he rejected all the offers of an earthly kingdom, and eluded all attempts to make him a king. Meanwhile, he was labouring to erect and establish, with those of his followers, that spiritual, heavenly kingdom, which he came to establish. And by reforming, changing and fulfilling the law and custom of Moses, he, as a commanding King among his people, taught them against taking revenge, either by word or deed; but commanded them to beat their swords into plow-shares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; and not to learn war any

more. But that they should, on the contrary, love their enemies, bless those who curse them, and pray for those who despitefully use, and persecute them. And that they should not think of destroying their enemies, in shedding their blood by fleshly weapons of war: for Christ their King equipt his people, against their enemies, alone with the armour of God, the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; therewith to war, in this their spiritual warfare, against their own flesh, the world, and the wiles of the devil. And with this sword will the good soldier of Jesus Christ fight the good fight, conquer his spiritual enemies, finish his course, and through grace will obtain a crown of life and righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, the King of kings, shall give him. and all those who love his appearance. 2 Tim. 4: 7, 8.

That Christ, as the promised Prophet and accomplished Teacher of the will of God, must be heard and obeyed, read: --The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken. Deut. 18: 15.---A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up into you of your brethren, like unto ine; him shall ye hear. Acts 7: 37.---For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you, of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things, whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come

to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that Prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. 3: 22, 23.---We have also a more sure word of prophecy: Whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts. 2 Pet. 1: 19.--God, who at sundry times, and in divers manners, spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son. Heb. 1: 1, 2.

Of the prophecies of Christ, read:---And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? Verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. Matth. 24: 2, and throughout the chapter. Luke 17: 20-37.

Of Christ's priestly office, read :---And having a High Priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith. Heb. 10: 21, 22.---For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. 7: 12.---For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. 8: 7.--Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified, through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 10: 9, 10.---But Christ being come a High Priest of good things to come.9: 11.