Queft. 60. How are their prayers acceptable to God, when there are so many blemishes attending them?

Anfw. 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.

Queft. 61. What is the laft fruit of Christ's interceffion, on behalf of his elect, brought into a state of grace on this earth?

Enfw. The obtaining their admittance into heaven, in the due time; and continuing their ftate of perfect happiness there, for ever and ever, John xvii. 24.

Queft. 62. Is not Chrift a Prieft for ever, according to Pfalm cx. 4?

Anfw. He is not a facrificing Priest for ever, having, by one offering, perfected for ever them that are fanctified, Heb. x. 14.; but he is an interceeding Priest for ever, Heb. vii. 27.-----He ever liveth to make interceffion.

Queft. 63. What will be the fubject of his interceffion for ever, in behalf of the faints in heaven ? Anfw. The everlasting continuation of their happy ftate, John xvii. 24.

Queft. 64. What is the ground of his eternally willing the everlasting continuation of their happy State?

Anfw. He doth it on the ground of the eternal redemption obtained for them, by the facrificing of himself on this earth, Heb. ix. 12.

Queft. 65. What then is the everlafting fecurity that the faints in heaven have, for the uninterrupted continuation of their happiness?

Anfw. That the infinite merit of Chrift's facrifice will be eternally presented before God in heaven itself, where, in their nature, he continually ap

pears

pears in the prefence of God for them, Heb. ix. 24. Queft. 66. How will the happiness, iffuing from the merit of Chrift's facrifice, be communicated by him, unto the faints in heaven?

Anfw. It will be communicated unto them by him, as their Prophet and their King.

Quest. 67. Will not these offices be laid afide in heaven?

Anfw. No: for, as he is a Prieft for ever, fo of his kingdom there shall be no end; and the Lamb will be the light of the heavenly city, Pfal. cx. 4. Luke i. 33. Rev. xxi. 23.

Quelt. 68. How will the faints communion with God in heaven be for ever maintained?

Afw. It will be still in and through the Mediator, in a manner agreeable to their state of perfection, Rev. vii. 17. The Lamb, which is in the midft of the throne, shall feed them, and shall lead them to living fountains of waters.

Queft. 69. What is the difference betwixt the interceffion of Chrift, and the interceffion of the Spirit, mentioned Rom. viii. 26,?

Anfw. CHRIST interceeds without us, by prefenting the merit of his oblation for us; but the SPIRIT interceeds within us, by bringing the promise to our remembrance, and enabling us to importune a faithful God, to do as he has said, and not to let him go except he bless us, Heb. xii. 24 Zech. xii. 10. Gen. xxxii. 26.

Queft. 70. Are there any other interceffors for us in heaven, befides Chrift?

He

Anfw. None at all: for there is but one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Fefus. who is the only Advocate with the Father, is Jefus Christ the righteous, 1 Tim. ii. 5, 1 John ii. 1. Queft. 71. May we not apply to faints or angels to interceed for us, as the Papifts do?

Anfw. By no means

this would be grofs idola Q 3

try

try; befides, they have no merit to plead upon, nor do they know our cafes and wants, Ifa. lxiii. 16. Quest. 72. What may we learn from Chrift's interceffion?

Anfw. That though the believer has nothing to pay for managing his caule at the court of heaven, yet it is impoffible it can mifcarry, feeing the Advocate is faithfulness itfelf, and pleads for nothing but what he has merited by his blood, John xvii. 4. Rev. i. 18.

26. QUEST. How doth Chrift execute the office of a King?

ANSW. Chrift executeth the office of a King, in fubduing us to himself, in ruling, and defending us, and in reftraining and conquering all his and our

enemies.

Queft. 1. How doth it appear that Chrift is a KING?

Anw. From his own and his Father's teftimony concerning this matter, John xviii. 36. Pfal. ii. 6. Queft. 2. By whom was he anointed King? Anfu. By his own Father, Pfal. lxxxix. 20. Queft. 3. With what oil did he anoint him? Anfw. With the oil of gladness above his fellows ; or, with the Spirit without measure, Pfal. xlv. 7. John iii. 34.

Quest. 4. When was he folemnly inaugurated into his kingly office?

Afw. When he afcended, and fat down on the right-hand of the majesty on high, Heb. i. 3.

Quest. 5. Did not Chrift exercife his kingly power before his afcenfion?

Anjw. His defignation to the kingdom was from eternity; he actually exercised his kingly power

ever

ever after the first promise, of his bruifing the head of the ferpent; he was proclaimed King at his birth, and at his death; declared to be fo at his refurrection; but the folemnity of his inftalment was not till he afcended on high, and fat down at the right-hand of the throne of God, Prov. viii. 23. Pfal. lxxxix. 18. Matth. ii. 2. John xix. 19. Rom. i. 4. Heb. xii. 2.

Queft. 6. Where ftands the throne of this great potentate ?

Anfw. His throne of glory is in heaven; his throne of grace in the church; and his throne of judgment is to be erected in the aerial heavens, at his fecond coming, Rev. vii. 17. Heb. iv. 16. Dan. vii. 9, 10. 1 Theff. iv. 17.

Queft. 7. What fceptre doth he fway?

Anfw. He hath a twofold fceptre: one whereby he gathers and governs his fubjects, Pfal. cx. 2.; another whereby he dathes his enemies in pieces like a potter's veffel, Pfal. ii. 9.

Quelt. 8. What is that fceptre whereby Christ gathers and governs his subjects ?

Anfw. It is the gospel of the grace of God, ac companied with the grace of his Spirit, called therefore the rod of his firength, Pfal. cx. 2.

Queft. 9. What is that rod of iron whereby he dafhes his enemies in pieces?

Anfw. It is the power of his anger, which no finite creature can know the uttermost of, Pfal. xc. 11. Queft. 10. What armies dath this King command and lead?

Anfw. His name is the Lord of hosts, and all the armies in heaven, whether faints or angels, follow him as upon white horses, Rev. xix. 14.

Queft. 11. What other armies doth he command? Anfw. The devils in hell are the executioners of his wrath against the wicked of the world, who will not have him to rule over them: yea, he

can

can levy armies of lice, frogs, caterpillars, locufts, to avenge his quarrel, as in the plagues of Egypt. Quest. 12. What tribute is paid to this mighty King?

Anfw. He has the continual tribute of praise, honour, and glory paid him, by faints and angels, in the church militant and triumphant, Pfal lxv. I. Rev. v. 9,-----12.

Queft. 13. Dath he levy a tribute also from among his enemies?

Anfw. Yes for the wrath of man fhall praise him; and he will erect monuments of praise to his justice, in their eternal destruction, Pfal. lxxvi. 10. Rom. ix. 17, 22.

Queft. 14. Who are the embaffadors of this King?

Anfw. He has fometimes employed angels upon fome particular embaffies; but because these are ready to terrify finners of mankind, therefore, far ordinary, he employs men of the fame mould with themselves, even minifters of the gospel, whom he commiffionates and calls, Luke ii. 10. 2 Cor. iv. 7. and v. 19, 20.

Queft. 15. May any man intrude himself into the office of an embajador of Chrift?

Anfu. No man may lawfully take this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God as was Aaron, Heb. v. 4.

Queft. 16. What shall we think then of those who intrude themselves, or are intruded into the miniftry without a fcripture-call?

Anfw. Chrift declares them to be thieves and robbers, or, at best, but hirelings; that they fhall not profit the people at all, because he never fent them; and that the leaders, and they that are led by them, fhall both fall into the ditch, John x. 8, 12. Jer. xxiii. 32. Matth. xv. 14.

Queft. 17. How manifold is Chrift's kingdom? Anfw. It is twofold; his effential and his mediatorial kingdom.

Quet. 1 S