the peace between heaven and them? -"He ever liveth to make intercession." A. Upon the ground of his Q. 63. What will be the subsatisfaction for them, he an-ject of his intercession for ever, swers all accusations against in behalf of the saints in heathem, and takes up all emerging differences between them and their covenanted God, 1 John ii. 12. A. Their prayers made in faith, though smelling rank of the remains of corruption, yet being perfumed with the incense of his merit, are accepted in heaven, and have gracious returns made them, Rev. viii. 3. Q. 61. What is the last fruit of Christ's intercession, on behalf of his elect, brought into a state of grace on this earth? A. The obtaining their admittance into heaven, in the due time; and continuing their state of perfect happiness there, for ever and ever, John xvii. 24. Q. 62. Is not Christ a Priest for ever, according to Psalm cx. 4? A. He is not a sacrificing priest for ever, "having by one offering, perfected for ever them that are sanctified," Heb. x. 14; but he is an interceding priest for ever, Heb. vii. 27. ven? A. The everlasting continuation of their happy state, John xvii. 21, 22. Q. 64. What is the ground of his eternally willing the everlasting continuation of their hapPy state? A. He doth it on the ground of the eternal redemption obtained for them, by the sacrificing of himself on this earth, Heb. ix. 12. Q. 65. What then is the everlasting security that the saints in heaven have, for the uninterrupted continuation of their happiness? A. That the infinite merit of Christ's sacrifice will be eternally presented before God in heaven itself, where, in their nature, he continually appears in the presence of God for them, Heb. ix. 24. Q. 66. How will the happiness, issuing from the merit of Christ's sacrifice, be communicated by him, unto the saints in heaven? A. It will be communicated unto them, by him, as their Prophet and their King. Q. 67. Will not these offices be laid aside in heaven? A. No: for as he is a Priest for ever, Psalm cx. 4. so of his kingdom there shall be no end, Luke i. 33; and the Lamb will be the light of the heavenly city, Rev. xxi. 23. Q. 68. How will the saints' communion with God in heaven be for ever maintained? A. It will be still in and but "one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus," 1 Tim. ii. 5. He who is the only "Advocate with the Father, is Jesus Christ, the righteous," 1 John ii. 1. Q. 71. May we not apply to saints or angels to intercede for us, as the Papists do? A. By no means: this would be gross idolatry; besides, they have no merit to plead upon, Rev. xxii. 9; nor do they know our cases and wants, Isa. lxiii. 16. Q. 72. What may we learn from Christ's intercession? A. That though the believer has nothing to pay for managing his cause at the court of heaven, yet it is impossible it can miscarry, seeing the Advocate is faithfulness itself, Rev. iii. 14; and pleads for nothing but what he has merited by his blood, A. None at all: for there is John xvii. 4. QUEST. 26. How doth Christ execute the office of a King? ANSW. Christ executeth the office of a King, in subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies. Q. 1. How doth it appear that | CHRIST is a KING? A. From his Father's testimony, Psalm ii. 6. and his own, John xviii. 36. concerning this matter. Q. 2. When was he ordained or appointed to his kingdom? A. He 66 was set up from everlasting," Prov. viii. 23. Q. 3. When was he publicly proclaimed? A. At his birth, Matt. ii. and at his death, John xix. 19. 2. Q. 4. Did he not actually exercise his kingly power before that time? A. Yes: he commenced the exercise of his kingly power ever after the first promise, of his bruising the head of the serpent, Gen. iii. 15. Q. 5. When was he solemnly inaugurated into his kingly office? A. When he ascended, and "sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high," | locusts, to avenge his quarrel, Heb. i. 3. Q. 6. Where stands the throne of this great Potentate? A. His throne of glory is in heaven, Rev. vii. 17; his throne of grace in the church, Heb. iv. 16; and his throne of judgment is to be erected in the aerial heavens at his second coming, 1 Thess. iv. 17. Q. 7. What sceptre doth he sway? as in the plagues of Egypt. Q. 12. What tribute is paid to this mighty King? A. He has the continual tribute of praise, honour, and glory paid him, by saints in the church militant, Psalm lxv. 1; and by both saints and angels in the church triumphant, Rev. v. 9. 13. Q. 13. Doth he levy a tribute also from among his enemies? A. Yes: for the wrath of man A. He hath a twofold sceptre: shall praise him on this earth, one whereby he gathers and Psalm 1xxvi. 10; and he will governs his subjects, Psalm cx. erect monuments of praise to 2; another whereby he dashes his justice, in their eternal dehis enemies in pieces like a pot-struction hereafter, Rom. ix. 22. ter's vessel, Psal. ii. 9. Q. 8. What is that sceptre whereby Christ gathers and governs his subjects? A. It is the gospel of the grace of God, accompanied with the power of his Spirit, called therefore the rod of his strength, Psal. cx. 2. Q. 9. What is that rod of iron whereby he dashes his enemies in pieces? A. It is the power of his anger, which no finite creature can know the uttermost of, Psalm xc. 11. Q. 10. What armies doth this King command and lead? A. His name is the Lord of hosts, and all the armies in heaven, whether saints or angels, follow him as upon white horses, Rev. xix. 14. Q. 11. What other armies doth he command? Q. 14. Who are the ambassadors of this king? A. He has sometimes employed angels upon some particular embassies, Luke ii. 10. but because these are ready to terrify sinners of mankind, therefore, for ordinary, he employs men of the same mould with themselves, even ministers of the gospel, whom he commissionates and calls to that office, 2 Cor. xv. 18, 19. Q. 15. May any man intrude himself into the office of an ambassador of Christ? A. No man may lawfully take "this honour to himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron," Heb. v. 4. Q. 16. What shall we think then of those who intrude themselves, or are intruded into the ministry without a scriptural call? A. The devils in hell are the A. Christ declares them to be executioners of his wrath thieves and robbers, or at best against the wicked of the world; but hirelings, John x. 8. 12; who will not have him to rule that they shall not profit the over them: yea, he can levy ar-people at all, because he never mies of lice, frogs, caterpillars, sent them, Jer. xxxiii. 32; and that the leaders, and they that | 22; and his [defending] them, are led by them, shall both fall Isa. xxxi. 2. into the ditch, Matth. xv. 14. Q. 17. How manifold is Christ's kingdom? A. It is twofold; his essential and his mediatorial kingdom? Q. 18. What is his essential kingdom? A. It is that absolute and supreme power, which he hath over all the creatures in heaven and earth, essentially and naturally, as God equal with the Father, Psal. ciii. 19" His kingdom ruleth over all." Q. 19. What is his mediatorial kingdom? A. It is that sovereign power and authority in and over the church, which is given him as Mediator, Eph. i. 22. Q. 24. How doth Christ SUBDUE his elect people to himself? A. By the power of his Spirit so managing the word that he conquers their natural aversion and obstinacy, Psal. cx. 3; and makes them willing to embrace a Saviour, and a great one, as freely offered in the gospel, Isa. xliv. 5. Q. 25. In what condition doth he find his elect ones, when he comes to subdue them to himself? A. He finds them prisoners, and lawful captives, Isa. lxi. 1. Q. 26. How doth he loose their bonds? A. By his Spirit, applying to Q. 20. What is the nature of them the whole of his satisfachis mediatorial kingdom? A. It is entirely spiritual, and not of this world, John xvii. 36. Q. 21. Doth the civil magistrate, then, hold his office of Christ as a Mediator? A. No: but of him as God Creator, otherwise all civil magistrates, Heathen, as well as Christian, would be church of ficers: which would be grossly Erastian. Q. 22. What are the ACTS of Christ's kingly power? A. They are such as have either a respect to his elect people, John i. 49; or such as have a respect to his and their enemies, Psal. cx. 2. tion, whereby all demands of law and justice are answered to the full, John xvi. 8-12. Q. 27. What is the consequence of answering the demands of law and justice, by the Spirit's applying the satisfaction of Christ? A. The law being satisfied, the strength of sin is broken, and therefore the sting of death is taken away, 1 Cor. xv. 56, 57. Q. 28. What follows upon taking away the sting of death? A. Satan loseth his power over them; and that being lost, the present evil world, which is his kingdom, can hold them no longer, Gal. i. 4. Q. 23. What are the acts of Q. 29. What comes of them, his kingly administration, which when they are separated from have a respect to his elect peo- the world that lies in wickedple? ness? A. They are his [subduing] A. The very moment they them [to himself]; Acts xv. 14; are delivered from the power his [ruling] them, Isa, xxxiii. of darkness, they are translated into the kingdom of God's dear | laws of the Ten Commandments, Son, Col. i. 13. Q. 30. Are they not in the world after this happy change? A. Though they be in the world, yet they are not of it, but true and lively members of Christ's invisible kingdom; and therefore the objects of the world's hatred, John xv. 19. Q. 31. When Christ as a king hath subdued sinners to himself, what other part of his royal office doth he exercise over them? A. HE RULES and governs them: hence called the "Ruler in Israel," Micah v. 2. Q. 32. Doth the rule and government of Christ dissolve the subjection of his people from the powers of the earth? A. By no means: he paid tribute himself, Matth. xvii. 27: and hath strictly commanded that " every soul be subject to the higher powers, because there is no power but of God; and the powers that be, are ordained of God," Rom. xiii. 1. Q. 33. In what things are the subjects of Christ's kingdom to obey the powers of the earth? A. In every thing that is not forbidden by the law of God: but when the commands of men are opposite to the commands of God, in that case, God ought always to be obeyed, rather than men, Acts v. 29. Q. 34. How doth this glorious King rule his subjects? A. By giving them the laws, Psal. cxlvii. 19. and ministering to them the discipline of his kingdom, Heb. xii. 6. Q. 35. What are the laws of Christ's kingdom? originally given to Adam in his creation, and afterwards published from Mount Sinai, Ex. xx. 3-18. Q. 36. How doth Christ sweeten this law to his subjects? A. Having fulfilled it as a covenant, he gives it out to his true and kindly subjects as a rule of life, to be obeyed in the strength of that grace which is secured in the promise, Ezek. xxxvi. 28. Q. 37. Doth he annex any rewards to the obedience of his true subjects? A. Yes: in keeping of his commandments, there is great reward, Psal. xix. 11. Q. 38. What are these rewards? A. His special comforts and love-tokens, which he bestows for exciting to that holy and tender walk, which is the fruit of faith, John xiv. 21. Q. 39. Why are these comforts called rewards? A. Because they are given to a working saint, as a further privilege on the back of duty, Rev. iii. 10. Q. 40. Is it the order of the new covenant, that duty should go before privilege? A. No; the matter stands thus: the leading privilege is the quickening Spirit, then follows duty; and duty, performed in faith, is followed with further privilege, till privilege and duty come both to perfection in heaven, not to be distinguished any more, 1 John iii, 2. Q. 41. What is the discipline of Christ's kingdom? A. Fatherly chastisement; which being necessary for the A. They are no other but the welfare of his true subjects, is |