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52Q What are fome of the more remarkable Virtues, Graces or Duties, wherein Chrift appears to be our Example?

A. 1. He fought the public Glory of God with the warmest Zeal, and vindicated the Honour of his Father's Appointment against the Corruptions of Men, John viii. 50. chap. xvii. 4. and ii. 16, 17. Matt. xxiii.

2. He was ftrictly obfervant of all the Commands of God, even the Ceremonial as well as the Moral: He obferved the Sabbath, he came up to the Feaft at Jerufalem, he defired to be baptized; he came to fulfil the Law of God, and made it his Meat and his Drink, Matt. iii. 15. and v. 17. John xiv. 31. chap. iv. 34. and vii. 10.

3. He was frequent and fervent in religious Exercifes, Prayer and Praise, Luke vi. 12. and xi. 1, 2. Matt. xiv. 23. and xi. 25.

4. He was eminent for Heavenly-mindedness, Self-denial as to the Comforts of this Life, and Truft in God for his daily Bread: He was fo poor that the good Women miniftered to him out of their Subftance, and he bad not where to lay his Head, Luke ix. 58. and viii. 3.

5. He bore the Sorrows from the Hand of God with the highest Submiffion, and the vileft Injuries from Men with perfect Patience and Meeknefs: not returning Railing for Railing, but bleffing those that perfecuted him, 1 Pet. ii. 21-23. Matt. xi. 29. Luke xxii. 42. and xxiii. 34.

6. He gave the moft glorious Inftances of Goodwill to Men, Compaffion to the Miferable, and Love to Friends, to Strangers, and to Enemies. He often had Pity on the Multitudes that followed him; he travelled about, and took all Occafions to do Good to the Bodies and the Souls of Men; to their

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their Bodies, by his healing and feeding them; and to their Souls, by his Preaching and Converfation; and at laft he laid down his Life for Sinners, Acts x. 38. Matt. ix. 36. and xiv. 14. John xv. 13. Rom. v. 6, 8, 10.

7. He was obedient to his Parents, paying them Honour; and obedient to Magistrates, paying Tax and Tribute, Luke ii. 51. Matt. xvii. 24.

8. He was humble and familiar with the Poor, and even with Publicans and Sinners for their Good, Matt. xi. 29. and ix. 11. He washed the Feet of his own Difciples, John xiii. 14.

9. He was ftedfaft in refilting the Temptations of the Devil, and oppofing the Iniquities of Men, Matt. xiv. 1—11. Heb. ii. 18. and chap. xii. 1, 2. Matt. xxiii. John ii. 13, &c.

10. He was prudent and watchful against the Snares of his Enemies, and careful to give them no juft Occafions against him: This appears in the Wisdom of his Difcourfes, and his daily Conduct, John vii. 1. and xi. 54. Matt. xvii. 27.

SECT. V. His calling the APOSTLES, and inAructing them.

53QWHAT was the fifth Part of the Bufinefs and Defign of his public Mi

nistry?

A. To call his Apostles, and inftruct them in their great Commiffion of preaching the Gospel. 54 Q. How many Preachers did our Saviour fend forth?

A. He firft fent twelve, who were called Apofiles, whom he defigned to make his chief Minifters ; and he afterwards fent feventy (Disciples) through the Land of Ifrael on the fame Errand of preaching the Gofpel, Matt. x. 1. Luke vi. 13. and chap. x. 1.

55. Q What was the Commiffion that Chrift gave them all?

A. To preach the Gospel, to heal the Sick, and to caft out Devils, Matt. x. 1-8. Luke x. 9,17%

56 Q. What were the Names of the twelve Apostles?

A. Simon Peter, and Andrew his Brother, who were Fishermen, James and John, the Sons of Zebedee, who were alfo Fishers; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the Publican, who is alfo called Levi; James the Son of Alpheus, who is called the Lord's Brother; and Jude, the Brother of James, who is also called Lebbeus and Thaddeus; Simon the Canaanite, who is called Zelatest; and Judas Iscariot, who afterward be trayed his Mafter, Matt. x. 24. Luke vi. 14-16. Gal. i. 19.

* Some fuppofe Bartholomew to be the fame with Nathanael.

+ Simon was not a Canaanite by Nation, for the Apofles were all Jews: Some therefore think it is only the Hebrew or Syriac. Word Cana, which fignifies a Zealot, with a Greek Termination added.

57Q Had thefe Meffengers of Chrift Success in their Work?

A. Yes, they had fome Success; for the Seventy returned with Joy, faying, Lord, even the Devils are fubject unto us through thy Name, Luke

X. 17%

58 Q. How did he train up his twelve Apostles for their future Service?

A. They were very frequently attending upon him, and dwelt much with him, before and after their firft Miffion abroad; so that they enjoyed his

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private Inftructions, his Prayers, and his Example, continually, Matt. x. 27. Luke xi. 1. Mark iv. 34. 59 Q. What peculiar Inftructions did he give his Apostles?

A. 1. He explained the Parables to them at home, which he fpake to the People, and acquainted them in private what they should preach in public, Matt. x. 27. Markiv. 34.

2. He foretold they must expect Difficulties and Perfecutions, but he promifed the Aids of his Spirit and his own Prefence with them, and a large Reward in Heaven, Matt. x. 16—33. and xxviii. 20.

3. He charged them to love all Men, and particularly to love one another; and not to affect Dominion and Authority over one another, fo particularly, as if he defigned to preclude the Popish Error of St Peter being made the Prince of the Apoftles, John xiii. 34, 35. Mark xx. 25.

4. If any Houfe welcomed and received them, they were ordered to pronounce the Bleffing of Peace upon that Houfe; but when any Town refufed to receive their Meffage, they were commanded to shake off the Duft of their Feet as a Teftimony against them, Matt. x. 11, 15. Luke ix. 54, 55

5. He told them that he was the Meffiah, and that he came to give his Life a Ransom for Men ; that he should be crucified and put to Death at Jerufalem; and that he should rise again the third Day, Matt. xvi. 16—22. and xx. 28.

6. He prayed with them often, and taught them how to pray both in their younger and their more advanced State of Knowledge, Luke xi. 1, &c. John xvi. 23, 24.

7. He gave them many admirable Difcourfes

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before his Death; he foretold the Deftruction of Jerufalem; and indulged their Prefence with him in his most excellent Prayer to God juft before his Sufferings. See Matt. xxiv. John xiv, xv, xvi, and xvii.

8. He ordered them after his Death to tarry at Jerufalem, till they should receive the promised Spirit to fit them for their further Service, Luke xxiv. 49.

60 Q. Were there any of thefe Apostles that feemed to be his Favourites?

A. If there were any, they were Peter, James, and John; for they were admitted to be present in the Room when he raised the Ruler's Daughter; and in the holy Mount, when he was transfigured; and in the Garden, when he sustained his Agony: befide, that John was called the beloved Difciple, and leaned on Jesus's Bofom at the holy Supper, Mark v. 37, 38. Matt. xvii. 1. and xxvi. 37. John xiii. 33.

SECT. VI. His Appointment or Inflitution of the Two SACRAMENTS.

61 Q. W

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THAT is the laft Part of the public
Ministry of Christ ? :

A. His Appointment of the two fenfible Ordinances, which are called Sacraments, namely, BAPTISM and the LORD'S SUPPER..

62 Q. When did he appoint Baptifm?

A. It is fuppofed that he confirmed and practised the Baptifm of John in his Life-time, that is, the Baptifm of Repentance for the Remiffion of Sins; but doubtless with this conftant Requirement, that he y should believe on him as a Prophet fent from

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God,

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