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with faith', love*, meekness', and readiness of mind", as the word of God"; meditate" and confer of it"; hide it in their hearts, and bring forth the fruit of it in their lives".

Q. 161. How do the facraments become effectual means of falvation?

A. The facraments become effectual means of falvation, not by any power in themselves, or any virtue derived from the piety or intention of him by whom they are administered; but only by the working of the Holy Ghost, and the bleffing of Chrift by whom they are instituted.

i Heb. 4. 2. For unto us was the Gospel preached, as well as unto them; but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

k 2 Theff. 2. 10. They received not the love of the truth, that they might be faved.

1 James 1. 21. Receive with meeknefs the ingrafted word, Pfal. 25. 9.

m Acts 17. 11 These were more noble than thofe in Theffalonica, in that they received the word with all readinefs of mind. Acts 2. 41.

n I Theff. 2, 13. For this caufe alfo thank we God without ceafing, becaufe when ye received the word of God, which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word

of God.

Therefore we

o Heb. 2. 1. ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, left at any time we fhould let them flip.

p Deut. 6. 6, 7. And these words which I command thee this day fhall be in thine heart, and thou fhalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and fhalt talk of them when thou fitteft in thine house, and when thou walkeft by the way, and when thou lieft down, and when thou rifest up.

q Pfal. 119. 11. Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not fin against thee. Prov. 2. I.

r Luke 8. 15. But that on the good ground, are they, which in an honeft and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. Janies 1. 25.

f 1 Pet. 3. 21. The like fi

Q. 162. What is a facrament?

A. A facrament is an holy ordinance instituted by Christ in his church', to fignify, seal, and exhibit unto those that are within the covenant of grace", the benefits of his mediation; to ftrengthen and increase their faith, and all other

gure whereunto, even baptifm, doth alfo now fave us, (not the putting away of the filth of the flefh, but the anfwer of a good confcience towards God) by the refurrection of Jefus Chrift. Acts 8. 13. Then Simon himfelf believed alfo; and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and figns which were done. (His baptifm, notwithstanding, was ineffectual to any faving purpofe for Peter faid to him) v. 23. I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity. 1 Cor. 3 7. So then, neither is he that planteth any thing; neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 1 Cor. 6. II. But ye are washed, but ye are fanctified, but ye are juftified in the name of the Lord Jefus, and by the Spirit of our God. t Matt. 28. 19. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Matth. 26. 26, 27. And as they were eating, Jefus took bread, and bleffed it, and brake it, and

gave it to his difciples, and faid, Take, eat; this is my body.

v Rom. 4. 11. And he (Abraham), received the fign of circumcifion, a feal of the righteoufnefs of the faith, which he had, being yet uncircumcifed; that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circum. cifed; that righteousness might be imputed to them alfo. Cor. 11. 24, 25.

1

w Rom. 9. 8. The children of the promise are counted for the feed. Gal. 4 28. Now we, brethren, as Ifaac was, are the children of promise. Rom. 15.8, 9

x Acts 2. 38. Then Peter faid unto them, Repent and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Jefus Chrift, for the remiffion of fins, and ye fhall receive the gift of the Holy Ghoft. 1 Cor. 10. 16. The cup of blefling 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: Christ? Acts 22. 16.

graces, to oblige them to obedience'; to testify and cherish their love and communion one with another, and to distinguish them from those that are without".

Q. 163. What are the parts of a facrament?

A. The parts of a facrament are two: The one, an outward and fenfible fign ufed according to Chrift's own appointment; the other, an inward and fpiritual grace thereby fignified.

Q. 164. How many facraments hath Christ inAtituted under the New Teftament?

A. Under the New Teftament Chrift hath inftituted in his church only two facraments, baptism, and the Lord's fupper".

y Rom. 15 .8, 9. Now I fay that Jefus Chrift was a minifter of the circumcifion for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers; and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. Gal. 3. 27.

z Rom. 6. 4. Therefore we are buried with him by baptifm into death, that like as Chrift was raifed up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even fo we also fhould walk in newness of life. I Cor. 10. 21. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils; ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. Heb. 10. 29.

a I Cor. 10. 13. For by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be

bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 1 Cor. 10. 17. We being many are one bread, and one body, for we are all partakers of that one bread. Eph. 4. 3, 4, 5

b Eph. 3. 19. Now therefore ye are no more ftrangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the faints, and of the household of God. Gen. 34. 14.

c Matt. 3. II. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but he that cometh after me, is mightier than I, whofe fhoes I am not worthy to bear; he fhall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire. 1 Pet. 3. 21.

di Cor. II. 23. See under the letter t.

Q. 165. What is baptism?

A. Baptifm is a facrament of the New Teftament, wherein Christ hath ordained the washing with water in the name of the Father, and of the

A

Son, and of the Holy Ghoft, to be a fign and feal of ingrafting into himself, of remiflion of fins by his bloods, and regeneration by his Spirit"; of adoption and refurrection unto lafting life: and whereby the parties baptized are folemnly admitted into the visible church', and enter into an open and profeffed engagement to be wholly and only the Lord'sTM.

e Matt. 28. 19. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

f Gal. 3. 27. For as many of you as have been baptized into Chrift, have put on Chrift. Rom. 6. 3.

g Acts 22. 16. Arife, and be baptized, and wash away thy fins. Mark 1. 4. John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptifm of repentance, for the remiflion of fins. Rev. 1. 5.

h John 3. 5. Except a man be born of water, and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Tit. 3. 5. According to his mercy he faved us by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghoft.

i Gal. 3. 26, 27. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Chrift Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Chrift, have put on Chrift

k I Cor. 15. 29. Elfe what fhall they do, which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rife not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?

11 Cor. 12. 13. For by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles; whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

m Rom. 6. 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 fhould walk in newnefs of life.

Q. 166. Unto whom is baptifm to be adminif tered?

A. Baptifm is not to be adminiflered to any that are out of the vifible church, and fo strangers from the covenant of promise, till they profefs their faith in Chrift, and obedience to him"; but infants defcending from parents, either both or but one of them, profeffing faith in Christ, and obedience to him, are, in that respect, within the covenant, and are to be baptized".

Q. 167. How is our baptifm to be improved by us?

A. The needful but much neglected duty of improving our, baptism is to be performed by us all our life long, especially in the time of temptation, and when we are prefent at the adminiftra

n Acts 8. 36, 37. And the eunuch faid, See here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?-And Philip faid, If thou believeft with all thine heart, thou mayeft. And he anfwered and faid, I believe that Jefus Chrift is the Son of God. Acts 2. 41. Then they that gladly received his word, were baptized.

o Acts 2. 38, 39. Then Peter faid unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Jefus Chrift, for the remiffion of fins, and ye fhall receive the Holy Ghoft. For the promise

is unto you, and to your chil dren, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God fhall call. Luke 18. 16

But Jefus called them unto him, and faid, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of fuch is the kingdom of God. 1 Cor. 7. 14. The unbelieving hufband is fanctified by the wife; and the unbelieving wife is fanctified by the hufband; elfe were your children unclean; but now are they holy. Rom, 11. 16. Gen. 17. 7-9. compared with Gal. 3. 9-14, and Col. 2. 11, 12.

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