THE SCHOOL & FAMILY CATECHIST.
by Rev. William Smith (1834)

Westminster Shorter Catechism, Question 26

Q. 26. How doth Christ execute the office of a king?

A. Christ executeth the office of a king, in subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies.

EXPLICATION.

Subduing us to himself. –Changing our hearts from a love of sin, to a love of holiness, and giving us minds inclined to obey his laws.

Ruling and defending us. –Directing us by his laws, and guiding us by his Spirit, in the ways of holiness ;  and preventing us, by his power, from being again brought under the bondage of sin and Satan, as in former times.

Restraining all his and our enemies. –overruling them in all their plans, disappointing their wicked designs, and confining their malice and ill-will within due bonds.

Conquering all his and our enemies. –Depriving them entirely of all their power, and punishing them, when he thinks fit, according to their deservings.

ANALYSIS.

Here we have five points of information :

1. That Christ, in executing the office of a king, subdues his people to himself. –Psal. x\cx. 3. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power.
2. That he rules over them. –Isa. xxxiii. 22. The Lord is our judge, the Lord is our law-giver, the Lord is our king; he will save us.
3. That as a king, he also defends them. –Isa xlix. 25, 26. Thus said the Lord –I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children: –And all flesh shall know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and they Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. Zech. ii. 5 I, saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire.
4. That Christ likewise restrains all his and our enemies. Psal. lxxvi. 10. Surely, the wrath of man shall praise thee, the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.
5. That in executing his kingly office, he also conquers or overcomes all his and our enemies –1 Cor. xv. 25. He must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.