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Nevertheless, still, as God-man, he will continue to reign with, and over his saints, to all eternity in heaven: and so make good what Daniel foretold concerning him. Dan. vii. 14. That his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away; and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

SECT. X.

Of his Conception, and Birth of the Virgin Mary.

1. Q. What does your Creed teach you farther to believe concerning our Lord Jesus Christ; in the following articles, which relate to him?

A. All such matters as are necessary to be known and believed by us, with relation to the great work of our redemption, which was accomplished by him. 2. Q. By what means did Christ accomplish the redemption of mankind?

A. By giving up himself to the death upon the cross for us. 1 Pet. i. 18, 19. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation, received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish, and without spot.

3. Q. How could Christ, whom you believe to be God, die?

A. He took upon him our nature, he became man, like one of us; and, being found in fashion as a man, he yielded up himself to death, even the death of the cross, Phil. ii. 7, 8. Acts, xx. 28. Take heed, therefore, unto yourselves, and to all the flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the

church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

4. Q. After what manner was Christ made man?

A. Not by the conversion of his Divine Nature into the humane; nor by any confusion of the two natures together; but by uniting our humane nature to his Divine, after a singular manner, and such as cannot be perfectly expressed by us.

PROOFS SUBJOINED.-John, i. 14. The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. Heb. ii. 14. Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, even the devil.

5. Q. Were then two distinct natures, the Divine and humane, united together in Christ?

A. Yes, there were: and that in such wise as to make the same Jesus Christ, by the distinction of the two natures, in the unity of the same person, become truly and really, at once, both God and man.

6. Q. How was Christ made man?

A. He was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary.

7. Q. How could Christ be conceived by the Holy Ghost?

A. Not by the communication of any part of his own substance to him; but as that blessed Spirit set nature on work, and took away the need of any human concurrence to his production: and, as having thus prepared a body for him, of the substance of the Virgin; he breathed into it a most perfect, reasonable soul.

PROOFS SUBJOINED.-Matt. i. 18, 20. Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: when as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary, thy wife: for that which is conceived in her, is of the Holy Ghost. Luke, i. 35. And the angel answered and said unto her, the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee, shall be called the Son of God.

8. Q. Wherefore was it needful for the Holy Ghost to do this?

a

A. Both for the honour and purity of our Blessed Saviour: That so he might come into the world free from all tincture of sin: and also, that by the extraordinariness of his birth, he might fulfil the prophecies which God had before delivered concerning it.

PROOFS SUBJOINED.--2 Cor. v. 21. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Heb. iv. 15. For we have not an high priest, which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities: but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. vii. 26. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens. 1 Pet. i. 19. With the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish, and without spot.

b

Matt. i.23. Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Isaiah, vii. 14. Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Luke, i. 32. Comp. Isaiah, ix. 6, 54-5. Luke. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his fa ther David. Isaiah. For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.-For thy Maker is thine husband: the Lord of Hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; the God of the whole earth shall he be called.

9. Q. How was Christ born of the Virgin Mary? A. The substance of his body was derived from that of the blessed virgin: he grew in her womb; and at the full time of her delivery, she brought him into the world: and upon all these accounts she was as much his mother, as any other woman is mother of the child that is born by her.

PROOFS SUBJOINED.-Gal. iv. 4. But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law. Luke, ii. 5, 6. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, to be taxed with Mary, his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him

in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. xi. 27. It came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked.

10. Q. Had our Saviour a real body, like unto one of us?

A. He had both a real humane body, Luke, xxiv. 39. Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. John, xx. 20, 27. And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believe. 1 John, iv. 2, 3. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is of God: and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is not of God.

And a rational soul; Matt. xxvi. 37, 38, 39. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. xxvii. 50. Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the Ghost. Luke, xxiii. 46. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said this, he gave up the ghost. John, xix. 30. When Jesus, therefore, had received the vine

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