SECTION V.

His calling the Apostles, and instructing them. 53 Q. What was the fifth part of the business and design of his public ministry?

A. To call his apostles, and instruct them in their great commission of preaching the Gospel.

54 Q. How many preachers did our Saviour send forth?

A. He first sent twelve, who were called apostles, whom he designed to make his chief ministers; and he afterwards sent seventy through the land of of Israel on the same errand of preaching the Gospel, Matt. x. 1. Luke vi. 13. and x. 1.

55 Q. What was the commission that Christ gave

them all?

A. To preach the Gospel, to heal the sick, and to cast 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 son of Zebedee, who were also fishers; Philip and Bartholomew*; Thomas, and Matthew the Publican, who is also 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 Zelotest; and Judas Iscariot, who afterwards betrayed his Master, Matt. x. 2.-4. Luke xi. 14-16. Gal. i.1 9.

57 Q. Had these messengers of Christ success in their work?

A. Yes, they had some success; for the seventy

* Some suppose Bartholomew to be the same, with Nathanael.

† Simon was not a Canaanite by nation, for the Aposstles were all Jews: some therefore think it is only the Hebrew or Syriac word Cana, which signifies a Zealot, with a Greek termination added.

returned with joy saying, "Lord, even the devils are subject 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 first mission abroad; so that they enjoyed his private instructions, his prayers, and his example continually, Matt. x. 27. Luke xi. 1. Mark iv. 34.

59 Q. What peculiar instructions did he give his apostles?

A. 1. He explained the parables to them at home, which he spake to the people, and acquainted them in private what they should preach in public, Matt. x. 27. Mark iv. 34.

2. He foretold they must expect difficulties and persecutions, but he promised the aids of his Spirit and his own presence with them, and a large reward in heaven, Matt. x. 16-33. and xxvi. 20.

3. He charged them to love all men, and particularly to love one another; aud not to affect dominion and authority over one another, so particularly, as if he designed to preclude the popish error of St Peter being made the prince of the Apostles, John xiii. 34, 35. Mark xi. 25.

:

4. If any house welcomed and received them, they were ordered to pronounce the blessing of peace upon that house but when any town refused to receive their message, they were commanded to shake off the dust of their feet as a testimony against them, Matt. x. 11. Luke x. 4, 5, &c.

5. He told them that he was the Messiah, and that he came to give his life a ransom for men, that he should be crucified and put to death at Jerusalem, and that he should rise again on 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 discourses before his death; he foretold the destruction of Jerusalem; and indulged their presence with him in his most excellent prayer to God just before his sufferings. See Matt. xxiv. John xiv. xv. xvi. and xvii.

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

60 Q. Were there any of these apostles that seemed 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; besides that John was called the beloved disciple, and leaned on Jesus's bosom at the holy supper, Mark v. 37, 38. Matt. xvii. 1. and xxvi. 37. John xiii. 23.

SECTION VI.

His appointment or institution of the two Sacraments. 61 Q. What is the last part of the public ministry of Christ?

A. His appointment of the two sensible ordinances, which are called sacraments, namely, Baptism and the Lord's Supper.

62 Q. When did he appoint baptism?

A. It is supposed that he confirmed and practised the baptism of John in his life-time, that is, the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; but doubtless with this constant requirement, that they should believe on him as a prophet sent from God. See Matt. iii. 11. Acts xix. 4 Matt. iv. 17. John iv. 1.

It

may be justly doubted, whether our Saviour always from the beginging required the belief and profession of him to be the Messiah, as a necessary thing in order to become one of his disciples, and to receive his baptism, in those early days; since he studiously avoided the

preaching up his own character as the Messiah, and concealed it from the public notice, Matt. xvi. 20. But after his resurrection, and new-instituted form of baptism, none were to be baptized but those who professed Jesus to be the Christ, or the Messiah.

63 Q. Did he make any alteration in the form of baptism afterwards?

A. After his resurrection, just before his ascension to heaven, he bade his disciples, "Go, teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost," Matt xxviii. 19.

64 Q. When did he appoint the Lord's Supper? A. The same night in which he was betrayed, which was just after the feast of the passover, and a few hours befor his death, 1 Cor. xi. 23.

65 Q. How did Christ appoint this ordinance to be performed?

A. Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave to his disciples, and said, "Take, eat, this is my body, which is broken for you :" and he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink ye all of it, for this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins:" then he said "This do in remembrance of me:" and afterwards he sung an hymn, Matt. xxvi. 26. 1 Cor. xi. 24.

66 Q. Do these ordinances of the Gospel come in the room of any of the ceremonies of the Jewish law?

A. It has been generally supposed that baptism comes in the room of circumcision, and the Lord's supper in the room of the passover; but the proof of this does not belong to this place.

67 Q. How long is this ordinance of baptism to continue ?

A. Till the end of the world; for our Saviour upon giving his apostles and ministers commission to teach and baptize, promises to be with them "to the end of the world," Matt. xxviii. 20.

68 Q. How long is the ordinance of the supper to continue?

A. He not only bade them do this in remembrance of him, but St. Paul saith, "Hereby ye show forth the Lord's death till he come;" that is, till Christ come to judge the world, 1 Cor. xi. 24, 25, 26.

SECTION VII.

Remarkable occurrences in the life of Christ.

69 Q. What other remarkable occurrences are recorded in the life of Christ, besides those that have been mentioned ?

A. These that follow, namely,

1. When Jesus Christ healed the servant of the centurion at Capernaum, he only sent a message of healing by his master, without going near him himself, to show that he had power over diseases at a distance, and could command them to depart, Matt. viii. 5-13.

2. When he cast many devils out of the man of Gadara, who lived among the tombs, the devils asked leave to enter into a herd of swine; and, when Jesus permitted them, they drove the herd of swine down a steep place into the sea, and drowned them: upon which the people desired Christ to depart out of their coasts, Mark v. 1—17.

3. When Jesus healed the man sick of the palsy at Nazareth, his own city, he forgave his sins, and then cured his distemper, as a proof of his power to forgive sin, Matt. ix. 1-8.

4. When the woman came to be cured of her bleeding, with a strong belief of his power and mercy, she only touched the hem of his garment, and Jesus pronounced that "her faith had made her whole," Matt. ix. 20-22.

5. He went through a corn-field with his disciples on the sabbath, and defended them in their plucking off ears of corn, and rubbing, and eating, from the accusation of the Pharisees, who pretended this was a breach of the sabbath, Matt. xii. 1-8.