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Lord fulfilled the office of Prophet, in his state of humiliation can you also tell me how, or by what means, he now continues to fulfil this office, in his state of exaltation ?

A. This he does mediately, by his holy word, by his Holy Spirit, and by his faithful Ministers: his word containing all divine truths necessary to salvation; (a) his Holy Spirit applying those truths with life-giving power to the soul; (b) and his faithful Ministers being ordained, and duly qualified to teach what is necessary to be known and practised.(c)

(a) 2 Tim. iii. 16, 17. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. Rev. xxii. 18, 19. I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book. And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. (John xx. 31.)

(b) John xiv. 26. But the Comforter, which is the Holy

Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (1 Thess. i. 5; 1 Cor. ii. 4; Acts xvi. 14; Is. xlviii. 17.)

(c) 2 Cor. v. 20. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us ;-we pray you, in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

Q. 241. But are there not some events which our Lord foretold after his exaltation to glory, by his Apostles and first Ministers?

A. Yes; in the first ages of Christianity, after our Lord's ascension, he appeared to some of his Apostles, whom he endowed with the spirit of prophecy, by which they were enabled to foretell future events relating to his church.

Q. 242. And what were these events?

A. The Apostle Paul foretells the rise, the anti-christian nature, and the downfal of Popery; (a) the conversion of the Jews to Christianity; (b) and the universal spread of the Gospel: (c) and to the aged Apostle John, when banished by Domitian, about the year 95, to the Isle of Patmos, our Lord appeared, and revealed to him all the principal events of the church to the end of the world; an account of which is contained in the book of the Revelation. (d)

(a) 1 Tim. iv. 1-3; 2 Thess. ii. 3—10.

(b) Rom. xi. 12-29.

(c) Rom. xv. 8-12; Zech. viii. 23; Hos. i. 11; Ezek. xxxiv. 23, 24; xxxvii. 21-24.

(d) Rev. i. 9.

Q. 243. What particular events foretold in the book of the Revelation, yet remain to be accomplished? A. The downfal of Popery, (a) and the destruction of Mahommedan and all other idolatries; (b) the universal spread of the Gospel, (c) and the Millennium. (d) (a) Rev. xiv. 8; xviii. 2, 3.

(b) Rev. xix. 17-21 ; xx. 7—10.

(c) Kev. xi. 15.

(d) Rev. xx. 1—6.

Q. 244, What do you mean by the Millennium?

A. I mean the thousand years (a) spoken of in the Revelation, during which time it is said that Satan is to be bound, and that Christ is to reign on the earth, with all his saints.*

(a) Rev. xx. 1-6.

Q. 245. What are the periods at which it is supposed the Millennium will begin?

A. The ablest Commentators on prophecy calculate that all these events will begin to take place about the year 1866.+

2.-PRIEST.

Q. 246. What are the duties, or functions of the Priestly office?

A. The duties or functions of the Priestly office are three-fold; viz. 1st, to offer sacrifices; (a) 2d to intercede for the people; (b) and 3rd, to pronounce the divine benediction. (c)

(a) Lev. i. 5, 11, 15, &c.; Heb. v. 1; viii. 3.

(b) Lev. xvi. 12, 13; Ex. xxviii. 30, 35; xxix. ; xxx. 8—10. (c) Gen. xiv. 18—20; Lev. ix. 22, 23; Num. vi. 22—26 ; Deut. x.8; xxi. 8.

Q. 247. Under the law, was not the Priesthood confined to one particular family?

* That Christianity is universally to prevail.

Some learned men suppose their fulfilment is still nearer; and although some obscurity necessarily attends all prophecies till they are actually accomplished, yet all learned and pious men are agreed that we are fast approaching to that period.

A. Yes; it was confined to the family of Aaron; and although our Lord was not of the family of Aaron, yet his reconciliation of mankind to God constitutes him not only a Priest, but a High Priest.—(Heb. vii.)

Q. 248. What is the main difference between a Priest and a High Priest?

A. Both performed similar duties in many respects; but the High Priest alone was allowed, once a year, to enter into the Holy of Holies, in the Jewish temple, (a) (which was a figure of heaven,) there to make reconciliation with God, for the sins of the people. And this our Lord did, when he ascended up into heaven itself, to reconcile the world unto God.(b)

(a) Heb. ix. 7. But into the second went the High Priest alone, once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people.-(Lev. xvi. 12.)

(b) Heb. ix. 24. For Christ is not entered into the holy places, made with hands, which are the figures of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us. (v. 6.)

§ Q. 249. Did our Lord perform, in his state of humiliation, that part of the Priestly office which required the offering up of sacrifices?

A. Yes; by offering up himself a sacrifice for sin upon the cross. (a)

(a) Eph. v. 2. And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour.-1 Pet. ii. 24. Who his ownself bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we being dead to sins, should live unto right

eousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.-Gal. iii. 13. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us. (Heb. ix. 13, 14, 28.)

Q. 250. Wherein consist the merit and efficacy of Christ's sacrifice?

A. They consist in his having embraced the condition of men; and uniting in his person the Godhead with the manhood; and in this state having satisfied all the demands of God's law and justice, by the perfection of his active and passive obedience.

Q. 251. Wherein consisted the active obedience of Christ?

A. His active obedience consisted in the perfect innocence of his life, and in his entire conformity to all the requirements of God's laws. It is this obedience which is imputed to his people, as their justifying righteousness.

Q. 252. Wherein consisted his passive obedience ? A. It consisted in his humiliation, sufferings, and death, in which his body endured the severest pains; and his soul the wrath of God: all which he endured as the punishment, or penalty, due to man for sin; and on account of which therefore, by faith, they are freed from condemnation.

Q. 253. How does it appear that the sufferings of Christ are an adequate atonement for the sins of mankind, which in their nature, being infinite, demand an infinite satisfaction?

A. It appears from the union of the two natures of God and Man in one person; so that as Man, he could

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