Chap. XIV. -- Of the Two-fold Estate of Christ.

Q. 1. Wherein doth the prophetical office of Christ consist?

A. In his embassage [60] from God to man, revealing from the bosom of his Father the whole mystery of godliness, the way and truth whereby we must come unto God. Matt. v.; John i. 18, iii. 32, x. 9, 14, xiv. 5, 6, xvii. 8, xviii. 37.

Q. 2. How doth he exercise this office towards us?

A. By making known [61] the whole doctrine of truth unto us in a saving
and spiritual manner.
Deut. xviii. 18; Isa. xlii. 6; Heb. iii. 1.

Q. 3. By what means doth he perform all this?

A. Divers; as, first, ^ainternally and effectually, by his Spirit writing his law in our hearts; secondly, ^boutwardly and instrumentally, by the Word preached. ^aJer. xxxi. 31-34; 2 Cor. iii. 3; 1 Thess. iv. 9; Heb. viii. 10. ^bJohn xx. 31; 1 Cor. xii. 28; Eph. iv. 8-13; 2 Pet. i. 21.

[60] Christ differed from all other prophets; first, in his sending, which was immediately from the bosom of his Father; secondly, his assistance, which was the fulness of the Spirit; thirdly, his manner of teaching, -- with authority.

[61] To accuse his Word of imperfection, in doctrine or discipline, is to deny him a perfect prophet, or to have borne witness unto all truth.

Q. 1. In what estate or condition doth Christ exercise these offices?

A. In a two-fold estate; first, of humiliation [62] [63] [64] or
abasement; secondly, of exaltation or glory.
Phil. ii. 8-10.

Q. 2. Wherein consisteth the state of Christ's humiliation?

A. In three things; first, ^ain his incarnation, or being born of woman; secondly, ^bhis obedience, or fulfilling the whole law, moral and ceremonial; thirdly, in his ^cpassion, or enduring all sorts of miseries, even death itself. ^aLuke i. 35; John i. 14; Rom. i. 3; Gal. iv. 4; Heb. ii. 9, 14. ^bMatt. iii. 15, v. 17; Luke ii. 21; John viii. 46; 2 Cor. v. 21; 1 Pet. i. 19; 1 John iii. 5. ^cIsa. liii. 4-6; Heb. ii. 9; 1 Pet. ii. 21.

Q. 3. Wherein consists his exaltation?

A. In, first, his resurrection; secondly, ascension; thirdly, sitting at the right hand of God; -- by all which he was declared to be the Son of God with power. Matt. xxviii. 18; Rom. i. 4, vi. 4; Eph. iv. 9; Phil. ii. 9, 10; 1 Tim. iii. 16.

[62] The humiliation of Christ shows us what we must here do and suffer, -- his exaltation, what we may hope for.

[63] The first of these holds forth his mighty love to us; the other his mighty power in himself.

[64] The only way to heaven is by the cross.