Mat. xxviii. 19, 20. Go ye therefore^ and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father y and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost ; teaching them
WE are still upon that question in the catechism.
What are the outtvard means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption ?
Ans. Tliey are his ordinances, especially the word, sacraments, and prayer.
I have spoken to the first, " The word read and preached." I now proceed to the second,
II. 'Fhe wan whereby Christ communicat-
eth to us the benefits of redemption, is, tn the use of the sacraments.
Quest. 1. fVhat are sacraments in ge- neral ?
Ans. They are visible signs of invisible grace.
Quest. 2. 7s not the word of God suffi- cient to salvation ? What need then is thi re of sacraments ?
Ans, We must not he wise above what 2Z
3U2
OF BAPTISM.
is written : this may satisfy, it is God's will that his church should have sacraments ; and it is God's goodness, thus by sacraments to condescend to weak capacities, John iv. 48., " Except ye see signs, ye will not be- lieve." God to strengthen our faith, con- firms the covenant of grace, not only by promises but by sacramental signs.
Quest. 3. Jfhat are the Sacraments of the New Testament ?
Ans. Two : baptism and the Lord's sup- per.
Quest. 4. But are there no more ? The papists tell of Jive more, viz. confirmation, penance, matrimony, orders, and the extreme miction.
Ans. 1. There were but two sacraments under the law, therefore there are no more now, 1 Cor. X. 2, 3, 4.
A. 2. These two sacraments are suffi- cient : the one signifying our entrance into Christ, and the other our growth and per- severance in him.
I begin with the first sacrament, Bap- tism. " Go ye therefore, and teach all na- tions, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost ; teaching them" — ' Go teach all na- tions :' the Greek word is ' Make disciples of all nations. If it be asked, how should we make them disciples ? It follows, ' Bap- tizing them and teaching them." In a hea- then nation, first teach them, and then bap- tize them ; but in a Christian church, first baptize them, and then teach them.
Quest. 5. What is baptism ?
Ans. In general, it is a matriculation, or visible admission of children into the con- gregation of Christ's flock. More particu- larly, ' Baptism is a sacrament, wherein the washing or sprinkling with water, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, doth signify and seal our ingraftnig into Christ, and partaking of the benefits of the covenant of grace, and our engagement to be the Lord's.
Quest. 6. JVhat is the meaning of the pa- rent, in presenting his child to he baptized ?
Ans. The parent, in presenting his child to be baptized, doth, 1st. Make a public ac- knowledgment of original sin ; that the soul of Ids child is polluted, therefore needs washing away of sin by Christ's blood and
Spirit ; both which washings are signified by the sprinkling of water in baptism. 2d. The parent by bringing his child to be bap- tized, doth solemnly devote his child to the Lord, and enrol him in God's familv ; and truly this may be a great satisfaction to a religious parent, that he hath given up his child to the Lord in baptism. How can a parent look with comfort on that child who was never yet dedicated to God ?
Quest. 7. What then is the benefit of bap- tism ?
Ans. The party baptized hath, \st. An entrance into the visible body of the church. 2d. The j)arty baptized hath a right sealed to the ordinances, which is a privilege full of glory, Rom. ix. 4. 3c?. The child bap- tized is under a more special providential care of Christ, who appoints the tutelage of angels to be the infant's life guard.
Quest. 8. Is this cdl the benefit ?
Ans. No. To such as belong. to the elec- tion, baptism is a " seal of the riglitcous- ness of the faith," Rom. iv. II., — a laver of regeneration, and a badge of adoption.
Quest. 9. How doth it appear that chil- dren have a right of baptism ?