A. Because not fucceeding unto, or being fucceeded. by any other in his office, but continuing ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood; being made a Prieft, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endlefs life, Heb. vii. 24, 26.

214. What are the parts of Chrift's prieftly office? A. His fatisfaction on earth, Heb. xiii. 12, and his-inter, ceffion in heaven, 1 John ii, 1.

15. Why behoved his fatisfaction to be made upon earth?

4. Because this earth being the theatre of rebellior, where God's law was violated, and his authority trampled upon, it was meet that fatisfaction fhould be made, where the offence was committed: hence, fays Chrift, John xvii. 4. I have glorified thee on the earth.

Q: 16. How did Christ make satisfaction on the earth? A. By facrifice, 1 Cor. v. 7.-Even Chrift our paffover is facrificed for us.

217. What was the [facrifice] which he offered? A. It was [Himfelf] Heb. ix. 26.-He appeared to put away fin by the facrifice of himself.

Q 18. What was effentially neceffary to every facrifice?

4. The fhedding of blood unto death, Heb. ix. 22. Without fhedding of blood is no remiffion.

219. Which of the two natures was the facrifice?

A. The human nature, foul and body, Ifa. liii. ro. Heb. x. 1c. which were actually feparated by death, John

xix. 30.

2 20. What was neceffary to the acceptance fiain facrifice?

A. That it be offered on fuch an altar as fhould fancti. fy the gift to its neceffary value, and defigned effect, Mat. xxii. 19. Whether is greater the gift, or the altar that fanctifie h the gift?

Q. 21. What was the altar on which the facrifice of the human nature was offered?

A. It was the divine nature

222. How did this altar fanctify the gift?

4. It gave an infinite value and efficacy thereunto, betaufe of the perfonal union, Heb. ix. 14.

223. Was Chrift a facrifice only while on the cross?
4. The facrifice was laid on the altar, in the firkt mo-

ment of his incarnation, Heb. x. 5.; continued thereon. through the whole of his life, Ifa. liii 3.; and completed on the cross, and in the grave, John xix. 30. Ifa. liii. 9

2. 24. Was there a neceffity for a prieft to offer this facrifice?

A. Yes, furely because a prieft and facrifice being infeparable without a priest there could be no facrifice at all to be accepted, and confequently no removal of fin, Heb. vii. 3

225. Who was the priest?

A. As Chrift himself was both the facrifice and the altar, none else but himself could be the priest. Heb v. 5.

2 26. Did Chrift truly and properly offer himself a sacrifice, not for our good only, but in our room and stead ?

A Yes; as is evident from all thefe fcriptures where Christ is faid to have borne our fins, 1 Pet. ii. 24 to have died for us, Rom, v. 6, and to have redeemed us by his blood, Rev v. 19

Q27. How often did Chrift offer up himself a facrifice?

A. [ONCE] only, Heb. ix. 28 Chrift was ONCE offered to bear the fins of many.

2 28. Why could not this facrifice be repeated?

A. Because as once dying was the penalty of the law, fo once fuffering unto death was the complete payment of it, in regard of the infinite dignity of the fufferer, Heb. ix.

27, 28.

2. 29. For what end did Chrift once offer up himself a

facrifice?

A. [To fatisfy divine juftice], 1 Pet. iii. 18.

2. 30. Was fatisfaction to juftice abfolutely neceffary? A. Yes: fince God freely purpofed to fave fome of manking, it was abfolutely neceffary that it fhould be done, in a confiftency with the honour of juftice, Exod.xxxiv. 7. 1. What did the honour of justice require as a fa

tisfaction?

A. That the curfe of the broken law be fully executed, either upon the finners themfelves Ezek. xviii. 4. or upon a fufficient fubftitute, Pfal. lxxxix. 19.

23. What would have been the effect of executing the curfe upon the finners themselves?

A. The fire of divine wrath would have burned continu.

ally upon them, and yet no fatisfaction to revenging jus tice, Ifa. xxxiii. 14.

233. Why would not revenging juftice be ever fatiffied?

A. Because they were not only finite creatures, whofe moft exquifite fuffering could never be a fufficient compenfation for the injured honour of an infinite God; but they were finful creatures likewife, who would ftill have remained finful, even under their eternal fufferings, Rev. ziv. II.

2.34. How could fatisfaction be demanded from Christ, who was perfectly holy and innocent?

A. He voluntarily fubftituted himself in the room of finners, Pfal. xl. 7.; their fins were imputed unto him, Ifa. liii. 5, 6.; he had full power to difpofe of his own life, John x. 18.; and therefore it was most just to exact the full payment off him.

2 35. Has Chrift fully and perfectly fatisfied divine. juftice?

A. Yes; his offering and facrifice to God was for a fweet-fmelling favour, Eph. v. 2.; or a favour of reft,as it is faid of Noah's typical facrifice, Gen. viii. 21. marg.

2. 36. Why is his facrifice faid to be for a fweet smelling favour, or a savour of reft?

A. Because it quite overcame the abominable favour ariling from fin, and gave the avenging juftice and wrath of God the calmeft and profoundest rest.

2. 37. How do you prove, that Christ has perfectly fatisfied the juftice of God?

A. He faid, It is finished, John xix. 3c.; and evidenced that it really was fo, by his refurrection from the dead, Rom. i. 4.

2. 38. For whom did Chrift fatisfy juftice?

A. For the elect only, John x. 15. ; and not for all mankind, Eph. v. 25.

2. 39. How is it evident that Chrift fatisfied for the elect only, and not for all mankind?

A. From the fatisfaction and interceffion of Chrift being of equal extent, fo that the one reaches no farther than the other; and he exprefsly affirms, that he intercedes for the elect only, and not for the whole world of mankind, John xvii. 9. I pray not for the world, but for them which thou haft given me,

240 What is the bleffed effect and consequent of Christ's perfectly fatisfying the juftice of God?

A. It is the reconciling us unto God, Rom. v. 1c.

Q41. How doth the fatisfaction of Chrift [reconcile us to God]?

A. it difcovers the love of God, in providing fuch a rafom for us; and this love, apprehended by faith, flays the natural enmity against God, 1 John iv. 10, 19.

Q42.When is it that the elect are actually reconciled to

God?

A. When, in a day of power, they are determined to come to Jefus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the bloed of fprinkling. Heb. xii. 24.

43. Why is the blood of Jefus called the blood of

Sprinkling?

4. To diftinguish between the Shedding of his blood, and the application thereof, Exod. xxiv. 8; and to point out the neceffity of the one, as well as the others for reconcili ation and pardon, Ezek xxxvi. 25.

Q. 44. How may we know if we are reconciled to God?

A. If we are dead to the law as a covenant, Rom. vii. 4.; and are content to be everlasting debtors to rich and fovereign grace, Pfal. cxv. 1.

45. What may we learn from the first part of Chrift's prieftly office, his fatisfaction for fin?

A. The exceeding finfulness of fin, Rom. vii. 13.; the infinite love of God, John iii 16.; and the neceffity of an intereft in this fatisfaction, Heb. x. 29.

Q46. What is the SECOND PART of Christ's priestly office?

A. It is his [making continual interceffion for us,] Heb.

vii. 25.

Q47. Had Chrift's interceffion any place in the mak· ing of the new covenant?

A. No: the love and grace of God made the motion for a new covenant freely, Pfalm lxxxix. 3, 20.

9. 48. Could the breach between God and finners be made up by a fimple interceffion?

A. No: juftice could not be fatisfied with pleading, nut by paying a ransom, Heb. ix 22.

Q49. To what part of the covenant then doth Chrift's interceffion belong?

A. As his facrificing natively took its place in the making of the covenant, and fulfilling the condition thereof: fo his interceffion in the adminiftration of the covenant, and fulfilling the promifes of i, Rom viii 34

250. What occafion was there for an interceffor, or advocate with the Father, when the Father himself loveth us, John xvi 27 ?

A. That through Chrift's obedience unto death, as the honourable channel thereof, his fpiritual feed might have the bleffed fruits and effects of the Father's everlasting love, flowing to their fouls, in every time of need, Heb. iv 14, 16.

25. What is the nature of Chrift's interceffion?

A. It is his wILLING, that the merit of his facrifice be applied to all these in whofe room and ftead he died, according to the method laid down in the covenant in their favours John xvii 24 Father, I WILL, that they whom theu haft given me, be with me where I am, &c.

2.52. Who then are the objects of his interceffion? A. Thefe only whom he, as fecond Adam, reprefented in the eternal tranfaction. John xvii. 9.

Q 53. Is his interceffion always prevalent in their behalf?

A. Yes, furely; for fo he himself teftifies, faying unto his Father, John xi. 42. I know that thou heareft me always. 254. What is the firft fruit of Christ's interceffion, with refpect to the elect?

A. His effectually procuring the actual inbringing of them, in a covenant fate of peace and favour with God, at the time appointed, John xvii. 2c, 21.

255. Whence is it that the interceffion of Chrift obtains peace between heaven and earth?

A. Because he purchased it for them by the blood of his facrifice, Col. i. 2c.; and it was promised to him on that fcore, Ifa. liv. 13.

Q6. What does he by his interceffion, in confequence of their being brought into a covenant ftate?

A. He appears for them; and, in their name, takes poffetlion of heaven, and all the other bleffings they have a right unto, in virtue of that covenant ftate, Eph. ii. 6. Heb. vi. 20.