this cup of the Lord unworthily, fhall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

Q. 9. What is the reafon they prove not effectual to all?

A. Because their virtue and efficacy is not in themfelves, but in God; for we fee they work as God's Spirit concurs, or not concurs with them, as in the inftance before given.

Q. 1o. But is not that for want of wifdom, holiness, or zeal in the minifter, that they have no more efficacy?

A. No, it is not principally, or only from thence; for it is not in the power of the holieft minifter in the world to make them effectual; 1 Cor. iii. 7. Neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

Q. 11. Whence is it that facraments become effectual?

A. It is only from the Spirit of Christ working in them, and by them on the fouls of men; 1 Cor. xii. 13. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

Q12. What is the firft inftruction hence?

A. That men enjoying all the ordinances of the gofpel, and partaking of the facraments annexed to the covenant of grace, may yet perith for ever; 1 Cor. x. 3, 4, 5. And did all eat the fame fpiritual meat; and did all drink the fame fpiritual drink; (for they drank of that fpiritual rock that followed them: and that rock was Chrift.) But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness; Luke xiii. 26, 27. Then fhall ye begin to fay, we have eaten and drunk in thy prefence, and thou haft taught in our ftreets. But he fhall fay, I tell you, I know you not whence you are; depart from me all ye workers of iniquity. Q13. What is the fecond inference?

A. That men fhould not idolize fome minifters for the excellency of their gifts, and defpife others, feeing it is not in them to make the means effectual.

Q. 14. What is the laft inference?

4. That in all our attendance upon the means of falvation, we fhould be careful to beg the Spirit and bleffing of Chrift, without which they cannot be effectual to our falvation,

Of the Nature of Sacraments.

HAT is a facrament?

Queft. 92. WHA

A. A. facrament is an laly ordinance inflituted. by Chrift; wherein by fenfible figns, Chrift and the benefits of the new covenant are reprefented, fealed, and applied to believers.

Q. 1. How many forts of facraments are found in fcripture?

A. Offacraments there are two forts, Yome extraordinary and tranfient, as the fiery pillar, manna, and water out of the rock; 1 Cor. x. 1, 2, 3, 4. Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye fhould be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all paff

ed through the fea; and were all baptized unto Mofes in the cloud, and in the fea; and did all eat the fame spiritual meat; and did all drink the fame fpiritual drink; (for they drank of that spiritual rock that followed them: and that rock was Chrift.) And fome ordinary and standing, as circumcifion and the paffover, before Chrift; and baptifm and the Lord's fupper, fince Chrift's death.

Q. 2. How many things are to be considered in every facrament? 4. In every facrament five things must be confidered; (1.) The author. (2.) The parts. (3.) The union of thofe parts. (4.) The fubjects. (5.) The ends and uses of it.

Q. 3. Who is the author of the facraments?

A. The Lord Jefus Chrift as King of the Church, by whofe fole authority baptifm was inftituted; Matth. xxviii. 19, 20. Go ye therefore and teach all nation, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoft: Teaching them to obferve all things, whatsoever I have commanded you, &c. And the Lord's fupper; 1 Cor. xi. 23, 24. For I have received of the Lord that which alfo I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jefus, the fame night in which he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, take, eat, this is my body, which is broken for you: This do in remembrance of me.

Q4. Are the old facraments yet in being and in ufe in the church?

A. No, they are paffed away, and the new come in their room. Baptifm takes place of circumcifion; Col. ii, 11, 12. In whom allo ye are circumcifed with the circumcifion made without hands, in putting off the body of the fins of the flesh by the circumcifion of Chrift; buried with him in baptifm, &c. And the Lord's fupper of the paffover; 1 Cor. v. 7. Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened, for even Chrift our paffover is facrificed for us,

Q. 5. Of what parts doth every facrament confist?

A. Every facrament confifts of two parts, one external and earthly; another internal and heavenly, or spiritual. Bread, wine, and water, are the external, Chrift's blood and Spirit the internal parts; Rom. vi. 3. 3. Know ye not, that fo many of us as were baptized into Jefus Chrift, were baptized into his death? 1 Cor. xi. 25. This cup is the New Teftament in my blood, &c.

6. Wherein confifts the facramental union of thofe parts? A. It confifts, by virtue of Chrift's inftitution, in three things; (1.) In apt fignification. (2.) Firm obfignation. And, (3.) Real exhibition of the bleffings fignified and fealed.

Q.7 What are the bleffings fignificd by water in baptifm?

A. Itfignifies our implantation into Chrift, and communion with him in his death and refurrection; Rom. vi. 4. Therefore we are buried with him by baptifm into death, that like as Chrift was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father; even fo we alfo should

walk in newness of life. And our folemn admiffion into the visible church; Gal. iii. 26, 27, 28, 29. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Chrift Jefus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Chrift, have put on Chrift. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: For ye are all one in Chrift Jefus. And if ye be Chrift's, then are ye Abraham's feed, and heirs according to the promise.

Q.8. What are the bleffings fignified by bread and wine?

A. They fignify Chrift's body and blood, broken and poured out for us, with all the bleffings of remiffion, peace, and falvation purchafed by his blood, 1 Cor. x. 16, 17. The cup of bleffing which we blefs, is it not the communion of the blood of Chrift? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Chrift ? For we being many, are one bread, and one body; for we are all partakers of that one bread.

Q. 9. Do the facraments feal, as well as fignify these things?

A. Yes, they do; Rom. iv. 11. And he received the fign of circumcifion, a feal of the righteoufnefs of the faith, &c. Their use is to confirm God's covenant with believers.

Q. 10. Who are the proper subjects of the facraments?

A. Believers and their feed are the subjects of baptism, but adult Chriftians only of the Lord's fupper; Acts ii. 38, 39. Repent, and be baptized every one of you; for the promise is unto you, and to your children, even as many as the Lord our God thall call. 1 Cor. xi. 28. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

Q. 11. What is the main ufe and end of facraments?

A. It is to ratify and confirm God's covenant with believers; Rom. iv. 11. And he received the fign of circumcifion, a feal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcifed, &c. 1 Cor. xi. 26. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do fhew the Lord's death till he come.

Q. 12. What is the firft inftruction from hence?

A. That the abuse of fuch holy and folemn myfteries is a fin of dreadful aggravation, and fuch as God will punifh; 1 Cor. xi. 27. Wherefore, whofoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily, fhall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. Q. 13. What is the second inftruction?

A. Hence we learn the tender care and love of Chrift over the church, in inftituting fuch useful and comfortable ordinances for us.

Queft. 93.

Of the Number of Sacraments.

WH

THICH are the facraments of the New Teftament? A. The facraments of the New Teflament are, baptifm, and the Lord's fupper.

Q. How many facraments hath Chrift appointed in the New Teftament?

4. Chrift hath appointed two, and no more; thefe being fufficient for our initiation and confirmation.

Q. 2. How many have the Papifts added to them?

A. They have added five more; viz Confirmation, pennance, ordination, marriage, and extreme unction.

Q. 3. What is their facrament of confirmation?

A. It is the anointing of the baptifed with chrifin in the forehead, with this form of words; I fign thee with the fign of the cross, and confirm thee with the chrifin of falvation, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft.

Q. 4. What is their ground for this practice?

A. The abufe of that Scripture, Heb. vi. 2. Of the doctrine of bap tifms, and laying on of hands, &c. which, by a figurative speech, expreffeth the whole ftanding miniftry in the church, by laying on of

hands.

Q. 5. What is their facrament of pennance?

A. It is repentance manifefted by outward figns to which the word of abfolution coming, makes it a facrament, mifgrounded on John xx. 23. Whofoever fins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whofoever fins ye retain, they are retained.

Q. 6. What is their facrament of orders, or ordination?

A. It is the laying on of hands in ordination of minifters, by which they conceive fpiritual grace is given; by mistake of 2 Tim. i. 6. Wherefore I put thee in remembrance, that thou ftir up the gift of God which is in thee, by the putting on of my hands.

Q. 7. What is their fourth fuperadded facrament?

A. It is marriage, grounded upon thofe words of the apostle, Eph. v. 32. This is a great myftery; but I fpeak concerning Chrift and the church. Which only fhews a fimilitude of our union with Chrift, not an inftituted fign to that end.

Q. 8. What is their fifth fuperadded facrament?

A. Extreme unction, or anointing the fick, near death, with confecrated oil, grounded on Mark vi. 13. And anointed with oil many that were fick, and healed them. And James v. 14. Is any fick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. Which are neither facramental rites, nor of ordinary standing ufe in the church, but extraordinary and temporary for that age.

Q. 9. What learn we bence?

A. Hence we learn, how apt men are to corrupt God's ordinances, by their fuperftitious additions; Matth. xv. 9. Teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Q. 10. What is the fecond inftruction hence?

A. How juft and neceffary our feparation from Rome is, who have grofsly corrupted God's ordinances, and left men no other remedy Rey. xii. 6. And he opened his mouth in blafphemy against God, to

blafpheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in hea

ven.

Q. What is the third instruction?

A. That the reformation of religion is an invaluable mercy, a great deliverance from spiritual bondage; Rev. xi. 19. And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his teftament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

Q.12. What is the fourth inftruction?

A. That Rome fhall certainly fall, and all her adherents, for the horrid injury done by them to Chrift, and the fouls of men; Rev. xviii. 20, 21. Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apoftles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her. And a mighty an gel took up a stone like a great milftone, and caft it into the fea, faying, Thus with violence fhall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and fhall be found no more at all.

Of Baptifm.

Queft. 94. THAT is baptifm?
WHAT

A. Baptifm is a facrament, wherein the washing with water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoft, doth fignify and feal our ingrafting into Chrift, and partaking of the benefits of the covenant of grace, and our engagement to be the Lord's.

Q. What is the external part of baptifm?

A. It is pure unmixed water; Heb. x. 22. And our bodies washed with pure water. And therefore it is a vile practice of Papifts, to add oil, falt, and fpittle, to water in baptifm.

2. What doth water in baptifm fignify?

A. It fignifies the blood of Chrift; Rev. i. 5. Unto him that lov ed us, and washed us from our fins in his own blood.

Q.3 What is the first resemblance it hath to Christ's blood?

A. In the freenefs of it to all, it represents the unpurchased blood of Chrift; Ifa. lv. 1. Ho, every one that thirfteth, come ye to the waters; and he that hath no money, come ye, buy and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk, without money, and without price.

Q. 4. What is the fecond resemblance to Christ's blood?

A. It refembles it in its refreshing quality; water refresheth the thirsty, fo doth Chrift's blood; John vi. 35. He that believeth on me hall never thirst.

Q. 5. What is the third refemblance it hath to Chrift's blood?

A. The cleaning property of water fhews the purifying virtue of Chrift's blood; Heb. ix. 14 How much more fhall the blood of Chrift, who through the eternal Spirit, offered himself without spot to God, purge your confcience from dead works, to ferve the living God? VOL. VI.

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