xv. 21. For fince by man came death, by man

came alfo the refurrection of the dead.' It was necessary he should be God, that his Sufferings might be of infinite Value: 1 John i. 7. The 'blood of Jefus Chrift his Son cleanseth us from all fin.' It was neceffary he should be God and Man in one Perfon, that what of the Work was done by either of the Natures, might be reckoned the Deed of the Perfon of our Redeemer : Acts xx. 28. Feed the church of God, which he hath 'purchased with his own blood.' John ii. ult. 'Jefus needed not that any should testify of man : ' for he knew what was in man.'

Queft. 22. How did Chrift, being the Son of God, become Man?

Anf. Chrift the Son of God became Man, by taking to himself a true Body and a reasonable Soul, being conceived by the Power of the Holy Ghoft, in the Womb of the Virgin Mary, and born of her, yet without Sin.

EXPLICATION.

Christ had a Being before he was Man : He was the Son of God by eternal Generation: Heb. i. 5. For unto which of the angels faid he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he fhall be to me a Son? Prov. viii. 22. 23. The Lord poffeffed me in the beginning of his " way,

way, before his works of old. I was fet up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the 'earth was.' His becoming Man, was a volun tary Action in him, wherein himself was willingactive: Pfal. xl. 6. 7. Sacrifice and offering thou didst not defire, mine ears haft thou opened: burnt-offering and fin-offering haft thou not required. Then faid I, Lo, I come: in the vo'lume of the book it is written of me.' Heb. ii. 16. "He took on him the feed of Abraham.' He became Man, by taking to himself a true Body and a reasonable Soul. But he did not thereby take to himself a human Perfon; for then should he have been two Perfons: But he did thereby take to him. felf an entire human Nature; for a Soul and a Body are the two Parts whereof it confifts.

Chrift's Body was not the Appearance only of a Body, but a real human Body, of Flesh, Blood, and Bones, as our Bodies are: Heb. ii. 14. For⚫ afmuch then as the children are partakers of ' flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part ' of the fame.' Luke xxiv. 39. Behold my hands ' and my feet, that it is I myfelf: handle me, and

fee, for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye 'fee me have.' His divine Nature was not inftead of a Soul to him; but he had also a human reasonable Soul; which was a created Spirit: Matth. xxvi. 38. My foul is exceeding forrowful, even unto death." In Chrift then, there were two Understandings, and two Wills; namely, an infinite Understanding and Will as he was God, and a finite Underftanding and Will as he was Man: John xxi. 17. Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee.' Chap.

x. 28. 29. 30. And I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand. My Father which gave them me, is greater than all: and none is able to pluck them out of my Fa'ther's hand. I and my Father are one.' Mark xiii. 32. But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no not-the Son, but the Father.' Luke xxii. 42. Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done.'

which was fon of Juda,

He was without Father, as he was Man: He was without Mother, as he was God: Heb. vii. 3. Without father, without mother, without defcent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God, abideth a priest continually.' But the Mother of Chrift as Man, was the Virgin Mary, Matth. i. 18. 22. 23. She was a Woman of the Seed of Abraham, the Tribe of Judah, and Family of David: Luke iii. 23. 31. 33. 34. And Jefus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was fuppofed) the fon of Jofeph, the son of David,-which was the -which was the fon of Abraham.' He was conceived in her Womb: Luke i. 31. And behold, thou fhalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a fon, and fhalt call his name Jefus.' But his Conception was altogether miraculous; and was effected by the Power of the Holy Ghost : And the Work of the Holy Ghoft in that Matter, was, that he formed the Body of Chrift, in the Womb of his Mother: Luke i. 35. ' And the angel answered and faid unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of

• the

'the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore alfo that holy thing which shall be born of thee, 'fhall be called the Son of God.' The Holy Ghost formed the Body of Chrift not of any Substance fent down from Heaven; but of her Subftance: Gal. iv. 4. 'God fent forth his Son made ' of a woman.' Gen. iii. 15. And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy feed and her feed.' Which was necessary, that he might be of the fame human Nature with us who had finned: Heb. ii. 11. For both he that fanctifieth, and they who are fanctified, are • all of one : for which cause he is not ashamed to 6 call them brethren.' Now, the forming of the Body of Christ of the Substance of a Virgin was an Act of creating Power: Jer. xxxi. 22. The

Lord hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman fhall compafs a man. Compared with Gen. ii. 7. And the Lord God formed man of the duft of the ground, and breathed into his noftrils the breath of life; and man became a living foul.' verf. 22. And the rib, which the Lord God ' had taken from man, made he a woman.' Chap. i. 27: So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him: male and ❝ female created he them.' Chrift was born and brought forth of the Virgin, at the ufual Time after Conception: Luke ii. 6. 7. And fo it was, that the days were accomplished that the fhould be ' delivered. And the brought forth her firft-born fon, and wrapped him in fwaddling cloaths,' &c. But yet he was conceived and born without Sin: 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 fin.' Chap. vii. 26. For fuch an high priest became us, who is holy, ' harmless, undefiled, feparate from finners.' For though he was a Son of Adam, by his Conception and Birth, yet he came not of him in the Way' of natural Generation.

Queft. 23. What Offices deth Chrift execute as our Redeemer?

Anf. Chrift, as our Redeemer, executeth the Offices of a Prophet, of a Prieft, and of a King, both in his Estate of Humiliation and Exaltation.

EXPLICATIO N.

Christ redeems his People, by Price and by Power: Hof. xiii. 14. I will ransom them from the power of the grave: I will redeem them 'from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy deftruction; repentance fhall be hid from mine eyes. He hath redeemed them by Price, giving himself a Ransom for them, in his holy Birth, righteous Life, and bloody Death and other Sufferings: 1 Tim. ii. 6. Jefus gave himfelf a ranfom for all.' Gal. iv. 4. 5. God fent forth his Son made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law. Phil. ii. 7. 8. [Chrift Jefus] made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the 'form of a fervant, and was made in the likeness of men and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto

death,