How Doth Christ Execute the Office of a Prophet?

Answ. Christ executeth the office of a prophet, in revealing to us by his word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation.

Q. Why is Christ called a Prophet? A. Because he

reveals and teacheth men the will of God, Deut. xviii. 18.

Q. Hath Christ any other names relating to this work and office?

A. Yes; he is also called an apostle, interpreter, witness, and the word of God, Heb. iii. &c.

O. Why is Christ called an Apostle? A, Because he is sent of God to make a perfect revelation of his will. and to erect his church on earth, Heb. i. 1. and iii. 1.

Q^Why is Christ called an Interpreter?

A. Because he explains the mysteries, or hidden things of God, Job xxxiii. 23.

Q. Why is Christ called a Witness $

A. Because he attests the truths of God, John xviii. 37.

Q. By what doth he attest them?

A. In his person, and by his declarations, miracles, death and sacraments.

Qj How doth Christ attest divine truths in his person?

A. The great truths of God are clearly represented, and have their certainty evidenced in the constitution of his person as God-man. 1 Tim. iii. 16. John i. 14.

Qj How doth Christ attest divine truth by his declarations? A. He affirms them by his word, and confirms them by his oath, 2 Cor. i. 22, Heb. vi. 17.

Q. How doth Christ attest divine truths by his death?

A. He suffered it from men for his adherence to truth and the leading truths of God are clearly exemplified and displayed in his death, Rom. viii. 32, 33. and iii. 24, 25, 26.

Q. How doth Christ attest them by his sacraments?

A. The sacraments represent the doctrines, seal the promises, and bind us to obey the commands of God.

Q. Why doth Christ attest divine truths?

A. They are wonderful; and sinners are slow of heart to believe them, 1 Tim. iii. 16. Luke xxiv. 25.

Q. Why is Christ called the word of Gud?

A. Because by him the mind of God is made known y and he is the matter of his word, 2 Cor. i. 20. Heb. i. 1.

Q. Why was Christ made a prophet?

A. Because none else could teach sinners to profit, John i. 18. Isa. xlviii. 17.

Q. What doth Christ teach us? A. The will of God.

Q. What of God’s will doth Christ teach us ?.’

A. Whatever is needful for our salvation, Is. xlviii. 17.

Qi In what- periods doth Christ teach men the v ill of God? A. Both under the Old and the New Testaments

Q. How prove you that he taught it under the Old Testament?

A. The scrip- ure affirms he preached to the old world, and spake to Moses in Mount Sinai, 1 Pet. irr. J 9.

Q. How prove you thai Christ continued to teach it under the New Testa rent?

A. The scriptures represent him as yet speaking from heaven, Heb. xii. 25. ad i. 1.

Q^. By whom hath Christ revealed te will of God to men? A. By himself, and by others, Luke xx. 9”. 13.

Q. How hath he revealed it in himself? A; lii voices, visions, dreams, and his personal ministry on earth.

Q. How hath he revealed the will of God by others?

A. By qualifying and sending angels, prophets, apostles, and ordinary pastors and teachers, to declare it.

Q. In what doth Christ as a prophet excel all these?

A. Christ is their Lord, hath all furniture in himself, and teacheth effectually: others are servants, receive their furniture from him, and cannot teach to profit, John vi. 63.

Q. By what means doth Christ reveal the will of God to men? A. By his word and Spirit, Luke v. IT.

O. Is the word alone sufficient to teach us the will of God? A. No y for it cannot give the blind their sight to discern the glory of divine truths, Isa. vi. 9, 10.

Q^ May men have the gospel faithfully preached to thea:, and yet not profit thereby? A. Yes, nothing

is more common: Many are called, but few chosen.

Q. Whence doth this proceed? A. From men’s not mixing faith with the word when they hear it, Heb. iv. 2.

Q. When God’s word doth not profit hearers, what effect hath it on them? A. It hardens their hearts, and becomes the savour of death to them, Isa. vi. 10.

Q. What then can make the teaching of the word effectual to salvation?

A. Only the teaching of the Spirit.

Q. How doth Christ teach us by his Spirit?

A. He opens our understanding by the word/and makes us see the beauty of- divine things, and fall in love with them.

Q. Doth ever the Spirit teach men without the word?

A. No j in such as are capable to hear it, Rom. x. 14.

Q. Can then such as want the word of God be saved by the light of nature? A. No Where no vision is, the people perish, Prov. xxix, IS. Acts iv. 12. Rom. x. 14.

O. Why will not Christ’s Spirit teach men without the word?

A. To put honour upon the word, Psalm cxxxviii. 2.

Q. At what schools doth Christ teach men?

A. At the schools of the law, of the gospel, and of affliction.

Q. What doth Christ teach us at the school of the law

A. The great evil and danger of sin, Rom. iii. 20.

Q. What doth he teach us at the school of the gospel?’

A. That our salvation is wholly in Christ, and freely offered to us, Hos. i. 7. Rom. v. 21.

Qj. What doth he teach us at the school of affliction?

A. The bitterness of sin, the vanity of this world, and the exercise of justifying God, resignation to his will, and desire to be with him, Hos. ii, 6, — 16.

Q. In what doth Christ’s saving teaching, and all other teaching differ? A. Christ’s saving teaching discovers

to us our viiencss and ignorance, humbles us in the dust.

and makes us desire to be like Christ in holiness, and with him in glory, Job xl. 4. and xlii. 5, 6. Isa. vi. 5.

Q. Doth Christ make all men welcome to him for m-Btruction? A. Yes; Prov. viii. 4. and ix. 4*

Q. For what end doth Christ teach sinful men?

A. For their salvation, Isliv. 13, 14. and xlv. 17, 22.

Q. Are then all those saved who are taught by Christ’s *Word and Spirit?

A. Yes j John xvii. 3. 1 John v. 20.

Q. What shall become of such as refuse to hear Christ’s word and Spirit? A* They shall be destroyed.

Q. How should we improve Christ as a prophet?

A. By believing our own ignorance, and applying to him for instruction, Psalm cxix. 18.