believe him conceived and born of a virgin, that in the great similitude of his being made like unto us, there should be a dissimilitude, in his being "without sin," (Heb. iv. 15.); without the corruption and contamination of seminal traduction from the first Adam. 4. That we might be assured that he was of the family of David, (Luke i. 32. Matt. xxii. 42. ii. 4, 5. Luke ii. 4. i. 69.

Matt. xv.
22.
xx. 30. ix. 27.
Acts ii. 30. Rom. i. 3.)

Q. What is the fourth article?

A. 66

xxi. 15. vii. 23.

Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was

crucified, dead, and buried."

Q. Who was it who suffered ?

A. Jesus Christ.

Q. As suffering, how do you consider him? A. Both in respect to his office and person. Q. As to his office, prove that the promised Messias was to suffer.

A. Our Saviour constantly instructed the apostles in this truth, both before his death, (Mark ix. 12.); and after, (Luke xxiv. 26, 46.) And St. Paul says, "Christ must needs have suffered." The same is testified in the law and the prophets, when it is written of the Son of Man, that he must suffer many things," (Mark ix. 12.) The fiftythird chapter of Isaiah describes a suffering person, and that this chapter treats of the Messiah has been already proved. And no man's soul can be "made an offering for our sins," but our Sa

viour's; nor has God" laid on any man the iniquity of us all," but on our Redeemer. Upon no person but the Messias could the chastisement of our peace be; nor "with any stripes could we be healed" but his.

Q. Prove that Jesus, whom we believe to be Christ, did suffer.

A. This is acknowledged by Gentiles and by Jews.

Q. Were the sufferings of the Messias predetermined and decreed?

A. Yes. Acts iv. 27, 28, and Acts ii. 23.

Q. Was there any covenant between the Father and the Son, as to what he should suffer, and what he should receive?

A. There was a covenant to this effect from eternity; partly expressed by the prophet, if he shall make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days,” (Isa. liii. 10.); partly by the apostle," then said I, lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me) to do thy will, O God,” (Heb. x. 7.)

Q. Were the sufferings of the Messias revealed to the prophets, and written by them?

66

A. St. Paul says, none other things but those which the prophets and Moses did say should come; that Christ should suffer," (Acts xxvi. 22.) The prophets said in express terms, that the Messias, whom they foretold, should suffer: Moses said so in those ceremonies which were instituted

by his ministry: the passover slain; the brazen serpent lifted up; sacrifices appointed; and the entrance of Aaron into the holy of holies, on the day of atonement.

Q. Were these sufferings undergone by that Jesus of Nazareth, whom we believe to be the true Christ?

A. When the time of his death approached, he said to his apostles, "behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man shall be accomplished,” (Luke xviii. 31.) In delivering the sacrament, he said, " truly the Son of Man goeth as it was determined," (Luke xxii. 22.) After his resurrection he said, "O fools, and slow of heart, to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?" (Luke xxiv. 25, 26.) After his ascension, St. Peter declared to the Jews, "those things which God before had showed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled," (Acts iii. 18.)

Q. As to his person, prove that it was Jesus who suffered.

A. Though the name of Jesus is not mentioned in this article, yet by the immediate coherence of the articles, and necessary consequence of the Creed, it appears that the eternal Son of God suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. That Word which was in the begin

ning, which was with God, and was God, in the fulness of time, being made flesh, did suffer, (1 Cor. ii. 8. Acts xx. 28.)

Q. Having stated who it was who suffered, show how, or in what he suffered.

A. The humanity of Christ, consisting of a soul and body, these were the proper subject of his passion. St. Peter says, "Christ suffered for us in the flesh," (1 Pet. iv. 1.) So that God the Son did suffer, not in that nature in which he was begotten of the Father before all worlds, but in that flesh, which, by his incarnation, he became. For he was "put to death in the flesh, but quickened in the Spirit," (1 Pet. iii. 18.); suffered in the weakness of his humanity, but rose by the power of his divinity. Thus the subject and recipient of our Saviour's passion, was that nature which he took from us.

Q. How do you reconcile the person suffering with the subject of his passion; how can you say that God did suffer, when you profess that the Godhead suffered not?

A. God the Son, being not only God, but truly man, and as man, passible and mortal, did suffer and die; yet not in his deity, by which he is truly God, but in his humanity, by which he who is truly God, is as truly man.

Q. What did God the Son suffer, as comprehended in this article?

A. Since he suffered in his human nature, and

that nature consists of two parts, the body and soul, he suffered in both :

1. As to his sufferings in the body. The body of Christ being really and truly human, was also frail and mortal; and was therefore liable, not only to internal weaknesses and natural infirmities, but to all outward injuries and violent impressions. Thus did the body of the Son of Man truly suffer the bitterness of corporal pains and torments, inflicted by violent external impressions.

2. As to his sufferings in the soul. Evil apprehended tormented his soul with fear. St. Matthew says he began to be sorrowful;" St. Mark, " he began to be sore amazed;" and both say, " and to be very heavy," (Matt. xxvi. 37. Mark xiv. 33.) Again, our blessed Saviour expresses himself to his disciples, "My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death," (Matt. xxvi. 38, 39. Mark xiv. 34, 35.) And while he prayed, "his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground," (Luke xxii. 44.) The occasion of which grief is expressed by Isaiah; " for God had laid on him the iniquities of us all," (Isa. liii. 6.) Thus, our Saviour suffered in his body, by internal infirmities and external injuries; in his soul, by fears and sorrows, by unknown and inexpressible anguishes.

Q. Show the necessity of our belief in the sufferings of our Saviour.

A. 1. That we may be assured of the verity of