What self, and take up his cross, and follow me." is meant by coming after Christ? Becoming his disciple. What is to be done if any one will be his disciple? "Let him deny himself." Are we required to deny ourselves all the pleasures and comforts of life? No. What must we give up? All sinful pleasures, and every thing that would hinder us in the service of God. What is meant 25. See questions ch. x. 39. 26. What may we call the momentous question here put by our Redeemer? The great question of profit and loss. What is the amount of profit supposed? "What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world?" What should we possess, if we were to gain the whole world? All its riches, honours, and pleasures. How long, at most, could we enjoy these possessions? As long as we live in this world. Is human life very long? No; it is soon cut off, and we fly away.* Can we carry any of this world's good with us? No; for we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. Would the gain of the whole world be of very much worth? No. Why not? Because if we possessed the whole world, it could not make us truly happy. Why so? Because it is imperfect; and because it is transient. Is it worth By no means. Is it worth losing heaven for? losing the favour of God for? Not for a moment. Is it worth losing the soul for? Assuredly not. What do you mean by losing the soul? Losing the present and everlasting happiness of the soul. If the soul be once lost, is there no remedy?—can nothing be given for its ransom? No: "what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" Will not the sufferings of the lost purchase deliverance for them in the end? No; their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.* Is it not, then, the height of folly to risk the loss of the soul? Yes; it is folly and madness. Is it a very common thing for mankind to neglect and lose their souls? Yes. For what do men forego the salvation of their precious souls? For vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.† 27. Will the world always appear attractive, and the immortal soul of little value? No; the day is coming, when we shall fully know the vanity of the world, and the unutterable value of the soul. How will that great day be ushered in? "The Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father, with his angels." What coming of our Lord is here meant? His second coming to judge the world. How will he then come? Behold, he cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see him.‡ Whom will the Lord bring with him at his coming? The souls of them that sleep in Jesus.§ What will then take place? The resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.|| bodies of the saints be raised? How will the Incorruptible.T I Rev. i. 7. 1 Cor. xv. 54. And what will become of the saints who shall be living at the time? We that are alive shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air.* Shall we be caught up to meet the Lord, in our present imperfect and corruptible state? No; we shall not all sleep; but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump.† Should we be looking for the coming of the day of God? Yes.‡ Do we know when he will come? No; Jesus said to his disciples, Therefore be ye also ready; for, in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh.§ If we are not prepared, how will that day overtake us? As a thief in the night.|| What are the effects produced by the coming of a thief in the night? Alarm and consternation. But, if we are prepared for the coming of our Lord, how will it be with us at that day? We shall have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. T How would you wish to meet the Son of man, when you shall see him coming? With joy, saying, Even so; Come, Lord Jesus.** Will the wicked also rise from the dead? Yes. Will they rise at the same time with the righteous ? Yes.tt Is there not a first resurrection mentioned in the Scriptures? Yes; in the book of the Revelation.++ Does that imply, that there will be an interval between the resurrection of the righteous 1 Thess. iv. 17. § Matt. xxiv. 44. ** Rev. xxii. 20. + 1 Cor. xv. 51, 52. 2 Pet. iii. 12. ¶ 1 John ii. 28, Rev. xx. 6, and that of the wicked? No; the resurrection there spoken of is a spiritual resurrection, by means of the gospel. What will take place after the general resurrection of the bodies of men? The judgment. The Son Who will be our Judge? of man. * 28. How did our Lord conclude this discourse with his disciples? Verily, I say unto you, there be some standing here, who shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom." is meant by "verily"? See v. 18. What Who is the Son of man? See xii. 32. What is meant by the "kingdom" of the Son of man? The Gospel dispensation. How soon was that kingdom to begin? So soon, that some then living should witness *Acts xvii. 31. +1 Cor. xv. 41, 42. it. Why did our Lord make this sudden transition, from the solemnities of the day of judgment, to the coming of his kingdom, in this world? Because they, and they only, who are made subjects of the kingdom of grace, will be able to stand in the judgment." CHAPTER XVII. What does the seventeenth Chapter of this Gospel contain? 1. THE TRANSFIGURATION OF CHRIST. 2. THE HEALING OF A LUNATIC. 3. THE TRIBUTE MONEY. 1. What time is here mentioned? "After six days." Six days after what? After those sayings of Jesus at the close of the last chapter. Does not Luke say eight days after? He says, About eight days after.+ How is this difference to be explained? Luke includes the first and last days; Matthew only reckons the time between. What took place at the end of those days? "Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and high mountain apart." iv. 18. bringeth them up into an Who was Peter? See Who was James? Ps. i. 5; Rev. vi. 17. See iv. 21. + Luke ix. 28. Who |