Fifty-two Lectures on the Church Catechism

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The pride of Reason must bow, else the salvation of the Gospel cannot

take place

110

Believing in Jesus implies my believing in him as my deliverer from

the curse of the law due to me for my sins

Believing in Jesus implies a renunciation of our own righteousness . 113

That we have no righteousness of our own is evident

113

· 111

SERMON XIII.

Believing in Jesus implies my believing in him as my deliverer from

all my spiritual enemies

117

That Christ only can deliver us from the power and dominion of sin 118

Believing in Jesus also implies a believing in him as my full, final, and

eternal deliverer

121

We ought to look to Jesus for perfection in holiness

. 121

To look to Jesus for perfection of holiness in the soul, and also for a

spiritualized body

124

The believer's comfort under the prospect of a dissolution

124

A recollection of what is the full meaning of believing in Jesus . 125

· 127

SERMON XIV.

The Redeemer in a peculiar manner called Christ

127

He was anointed to be the Prophet, Priest, and King of the Church

He was consecrated and qualified for the work of a Mediator . 128

The full meaning of the word Christ

128

Those that have not found the want of a Saviour have not received

Christ as the Anointed of God

. 132

The marks of those that have received Jesus as the Christ of God 133

Encouragements to come to Christ as a complete Saviour

. 135

SERMON XV.

That branch of the Creed, Jesus his only Son, explained

· 136

It implies that he is the only Son of the Father

. 137

And, being the only Son of God, he has power to save

. 139

The believer, knowing him to be an all-sufficient Saviour, relies on him

for salvation.

140

The divinity of Jesus a necessary article of faith

. 141

The sinfulness and danger of a state of unbelief

. 142

An exhortation to honour the Son as an all-sufficient Saviour

143

SERMON XVI.

These words of the Creed, our Lord, explained

As Jesus, there is a foundation for confidence in him

As Christ, he is amply furnished for the work of salvation

145

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As the only Son, his sufficiency in the work of salvation is incontesta-

ble.

146

And, as our Lord, he acts with sovereign authority

146

Believing in Jesus our Lord, denotes his being Lord of all things by

his nature as the only Son of God

146

He is frequently in the Old Testament called Jehovah

147

Jesus our Lord denotes our believing him qualified for the great work

of redemption

147

Jesus, as the Son of man, exerciseth an absolute dominion over all

things

147

Believers confess the power of Jesus in their redemption from sin and

Satan, and their spiritual enemies

148

They subject themselves to his power in all respects

148

They trust in Jesus as executing his offices towards them

149

They quietly wait on him for the perfecting of their salvation

150

They have taken bim to be their Lord, as the subjects of his kingdom . 151

They are to make a dutiful use of all their spiritual gifts .

152

And are to own Jesus as Lord by a public profession of his name 153

They are to own him by keeping their bodies and spirits for him to

death and judgment

133

SERMON XVII.

That Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost, that article considered 154

That the Son, the undertaker of the work of redemption, should be made

man, was necessary

155

That his human nature should be free from sin was no less necessary 155

The meaning of those words in the Creed, who was conceived by the

Holy Ghost.

156

Christ is God and Man by a personal union of the two natures in one

person

· 157

He is a suitable Mediator for the glory of God, and the wants of fallen

creatures

158

A real belief of Christ's incarnation implies a sense of our misery in

ourselves

. 160

This also calls for great thankfulness for this wonderful work of God 161

The soul rests all its hope concerning pardon, grace, and glory, upon an

union with this God-man Jesus

162

SERMON XVIII.

What is meant by these words, born of the Virgin Mary

164

These and the preceding words in the Creed denote the incarnation of

the only-begotten of the Father

. 165

How great our misery that could need such a Saviour!

. 165

The amazing condescension displayed in the incarnation of the Son of

God

. 167

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What exalted lessons of Christianity may be furnished from Christ's in-

carnation

169

We may see the wonderful readiness of his mind to his whole mediato-

rial work

. 169

As Christ's incarnation teaches us obedience, so also to use whatever we

are or have to God's glory and the good of others

. 171

How Christ hath taken away all reproach from poverty

· 172

SERMON XIX.

The article, suffered under Pontius Pilate, considered

. 174

Christ suffered, and suffered for us

. 175

His sufferings were necessary and effectual to make atonement for sin . 175

His sufferings meritorious because of the dignity of his person . · 176

And because of his perfect obedience to the law of God

. 176

And of his obedience unto death

. 177

Humbling consequences of Christ's sufferings for us

. 178

His sufferings show us to be sinners and rebels

. 178

And show the great sinfulness of sin

. 179

Also the riches of God's love in the method taken for pardoning it . 180

And the value of reconciliation with God

. 181

SERMON XX.

These words, was crucified and buried, considered

· 183

That Christ should suffer by crucifixion, necessary

• 183

He by his crucifixion and death made full atonement for sin . · 184

Man suffers through the sin of one covenant-head, and is accepted

through the righteousness of another

184

The believer may see Christ on the cross conquering all his enemies,

death, hell, the devil, and sin

. 185

And the richest blessings purchased for him

. 187

All Christ's sufferings are wholly unprofitable, unless they have a suit-

able effect on the heart and life

· 187

It is the believer's duty and choice to live to him who died for him

And his resolution to follow him through the greatest sufferings for so

doing

188

And his desire of conformity to Christ's sufferings in the crucifixion of

corrupt affections

189

The happiness of those who, as condemned criminals, have fled to Christ

as their refuge and atonement

What is meant by Christ's being buried and descending into bell

The believer is steadfastly persuaded that Christ was perfectly dead and

rose again

192

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That he submitted to the state of the dead in the discharge of his office

as Mediator

. 194

That he overcame upon the cross him who had the power of death . 195

The believer acknowledges the vanity of his present estate

. 197

And declares his endeavour to die unto sin

. 198

And that it is his duty to prepare for his approaching state of separation 199

· 201

SERMON XXII.

The resurrection of Christ, considered .

It is a fact proved by incontestable evidence

. 201

The glorious benefits secured to the believer by his resurrection • 203

It declares the justification of sinners by his death

203

And that he is Lord of all things

And it declares the resurrection of all the members of his body • 205

Believers acknowledge their obligation of conformity to his life . 206

And that they have cause to triumph over the fears of death in the

belief of being risen with Christ

. 207

• 204

SERMON XXIII.

Christ's ascension into heaven, considered

210

He ascended into heaven in a public character, as the representative of

believers

211

By his ascension he opened the gate of everlasting life for his people . 211

And also led captivity captive

. 212

By his ascension he received gifts for men

. 213

The full meaning of these words, he ascended into heaven

. 213

It is the believer's desire to have his conversation in heaven, where

Christ is

214

Did Jesus lead captivity captive, it is the believer's duty to rejoice over

all his vanquished spiritual enemies

. 215

Did Jesus receive gifts for men, it should be my endeavour to use them

to the purpose of their vouchsafement

216

We should pray that God may qualify those offering themselves to the

ministry

217

SERMON XXIV.

Christ's sitting at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, consi-

dered

219

It includes his being at the right hand of God in the administration of

his prophetical office

220

And also in the exercise of his priestly office

. 222

Many are the benefits to believers from Christ's intercession .

222

Jesus is on the right hand of God as King and as Lord of all

.224

The believer desires to submit to his divine government and direction 226

And to depend on the protection of his government

. 227

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We ought to examine ourselves whether we have experienced the power

of his offices on our hearts

228

SERMON XXV.

From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead, that article

considered

230

What is meant by the quick and the dead

. 231

The believer declares his steadfast belief that Jesus Christ, who was

once crucified, shall come again to be the Judge

231

And makes this profession with confidence, Christ being the Mediator

between God and Man.

232

What works of love a believer may be said to have

. 232

What may be supposed to be a believer's humble declaration at the day

of judgment.

235

The believer's hope and waiting desire for that day

. 235

He expresses his purpose to be daily preparing for Christ's coming 236

An exhortation to prepare for the day of judgment

. 238

SERMONS ON THE LAST PART OF THE CREED,

BY THE REV. JOHN LAWSON.

SERMON I.

St. Joun xiv, 26.

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in

my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your re-

membrance, whatsoever I have said to you.

Meaning of the words “I believe in the Holy Ghost,"

241

The office of the Holy Ghost is to sanctify: First, by the word, to

awaken us to a sense of our infinite guilt and misery in sin 242

Secondly, he begets in the truly humbled penitent heart, faith in Jesus . 243

Thirdly, he turns it from dead works to God

243

Duties implied by the point under consideration

244

First, the Christian believer acknowledges his own insufficiency and

helplessness.

244

Secondly, he waits for the Holy Ghost in all the appointed ways, and

trusts in his promised aid

244

Thirdly, he improves his gifts and graces

244

Unbelief, contrary to the point under consideration, consists, First, in

self-dependance, or spiritual pride

245

Secondly, in a neglect of ordinances, especially prayer

245

Thirdly, in quenching or resisting the Holy Ghost, by falling into or

lying in sin

246

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Fifty-two Lectures on the Church Catechism: Including the Creed, the Ten ...