Q. 203. For whom has this great sacrifice and atonement been made?

A. For all mankind: (a) for when "Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered death upon the cross for our redemption, he made there, (by his one oblation of himself once offered,) a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world." (Com. Service, Ch. Engl. See also Art. XXXI.)

(a) 1 John ii. 2. And he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (John i. 29; xii. 47; Is. liii. 6; Rom. v. 18; Heb. ü. Col. i. 20.)

9;

Q. 204. Will all mankind then actually receive the benefit of this atoning sacrifice ?

A. No; the benefits of this atoning sacrifice are freely offered to all mankind; but many will not believe and accept them. (a)

(a) John iii. 18, 19. He that believeth on him is not con

demned; but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.-And ver. 36. He that believeth on the Son, hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son, shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. v. 40. Ye will not come unto me, that ye might have life.

Q. 205. Why will not many believe and accept the benefit of Christ's atonement ?

A. Because of the blindness and depravity of their

nearts, which lead them to prefer darkness to light, and sin to holiness. (a)

(a) John xii. 40. He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart, that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. Is. vi. 9, 10; Acts xxviii. 27.

§ 3. OF THE NAME CHRIST.

Q. 206. What is the import of the name Christ, which is also given to our Lord?

A. Christ is a Greek word, and is of the same import as Messiah in Hebrew, and signifies Anointed, or sent on a divine commission: and, as applied to our Lord, it denotes his being sent of God, to fulfil those offices for which, under the law, holy men were sent, and anointed with holy oil, in token of their divine commission.

Q. 207. Is then our Lord the same person as is called the Messiah in the Old Testament; and he whom the Jews expected as their deliverer ?

A. Yes. (John iv. 25, 26.)

Q. 208. What evidence then have we that Christ is the true and only Messiah spoken of in the Old Testament?

A. The proofs of Christ's being the true and only Messiah spoken of in the O. T.* are very numerous and satisfactory-they are those which arise from comparing the testimonies of the O. T. with those of the N. T.

* O. T. signifies Old Testament; and N. T. New Testament.

Q. 209. What are the testimonies of the O. T. respecting the Messiah?

A. These testimonies are contained in the prophecies respecting him: and these prophecies relate to his conception, birth, life, death and burial, resurrection and ascension; as also to his doctrines, miracles, and his sending down of the Holy Ghost.

Q. 210. Are these all the testimonies respecting the Messiah that are contained in the prophecies of the O. T.?

A. No; there are other prophecies respecting the Messiah in the O. T. of which some relate to his lineage, or his descent from the tribe of Judah, and the house, or family of David: some also relate to the time, and others to the place of his birth. All these, as well as those before mentioned, were exactly fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth, and cannot possibly apply other person.

to any

Q. 211. Can you mention any prophecies in the O. T. respecting the Conception of Christ, and point out the passages in the N. T. which mark their fulfilment?

A. Yes; the prophet Isaiah speaks of Christ's miraculous conception, (a) which is confirmed in his history by St. Matthew, (b) and St. Luke. (c)

(a) Is. vii. 14. Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

(b) and (c) See the references to Q. 174. (a)

Q. 212. What passages in the O. T. relate to the

4

Birth of Christ; and what are those in the N. T. that mark their fulfilment ?

A. We may compare, in the O. T.-Is. vii. 14, (as above,) and ix. 6, (a) with Luke ii. 11; Matt. i. 24, 25: (b)

(a) Is. ix. 6. For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given.

(b) Luke ii. 11. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.*

Q. 213. Are there any prophecies which speak of the Life of Christ, the fulfilment of which is marked in the N. T.?

A. Yes, there are many of this kind; and particularly such as relate to the purity and holiness of his character, (a) and to his patientsufferings. (b)

(a) Compare Is. liii. 9; Ps. xvi. 8—11; Dan. ix. 24; with
Luke i. 35; Heb. vii. 26; iv. 15; 2 Cor. v. 21; 1 Pet.
ii. 22; 1 John iii. 5.

(b) Compare Is. lii. 14; liii. 3-12; with Luke xxii. 44;
xxiii. 33, 34; Matt. xxvi. 37, 38; Heb. ii. 18; v. 7,
1 Pet. ii. 22, 23.

8;

Q. 214. How long before Christ did Isaiah prophesy?

A. Upwards of seven hundred years.

Q. 215. Are the Death and Burial of Christ spoken of in the O. T.; and what passages accord with such in the N. T. ?

A. The death and burial of Christ are distinctly

• The histories of this event must be enlarged on by the Catechist; they are too long to be inserted here; and all the passages that follow should be read.

spoken of in the O. T. wherein also his being crucified between two thieves, and his burial in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, "a rich man," as also his intercession for those who crucified him, are particularly mentioned, and correspond exactly with the account given us by the evangelists.(a)

(a) Compare Is. liii. 8, 9, 12, with Mark xv. 27, 28, 43—46; Luke xxiii. 34, 50-53; and Matt. xxvii. 57.

Q. 216. Where do we find the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ spoken of in the O. T.; and what are the passages which relate these events in the N. T.?

A. Of the resurrection (a) and ascension (b) of Christ the Psalmist speaks:

(a) Compare Ps. xvi. 10,* with Acts ii. 25—32 ; xiii. 32–37. (b) Compare Ps. lxviii. 18, with Acts i. 9-11.

Q. 217. With respect to the Doctrines which our Lord taught, whatwa s foretold of his preaching; and how does it appear to have been fulfilled?

A. It was foretold by Isaiah, that he should preach liberty and peace to his people, (a) which also our Lord did; and that he should resemble Moses. (b)

(a) Compare Is. lxi. 1—3, with Luke iv. 17-21.

(b) Compare Deut. xviii. 15-19, with Acts iii. 22, 23; vii. 37.

* Let the Catechist explain that the word Hell in this place, signifies the grave. He need not enter further here into the various interpretations of this term. But the private student will do well to consider and examine it further.