Quest. 88. W HAT are the outward means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption.^
A. The outzvard and ordinary means whereby Christ communis cateth to us the benefits of redemption^ are his ordinances ; especi- ally the word, sacraments, and prayer ; all which are made effec- tual to the elect for salvation.
Q. 1. What makes any thing become a divine ordinance .^^
A. The institution or appointment of God, is that alone which makes a divine ordinance ; Matth. xxviii. 20. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you, &c.
Q. 2. Are the institutions of all ordinances alike clear in scrip- ture ?
A. No ; Some are more explicitly and clearly revealed in scripture than others; as the Lord's supper is more clear than baptism : But whatever hath scripture-warrant, in the words or consequence, is of divine appointment.
Q. 3. May not men institute ordinances of divine worship ?
A. No ; this in scripture is condemned as will-worship ; Col. ii. 20, 22, 23. Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world ; why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances ? &c. W^hich things indeed have a shew of wisdom in will- worship, &c.
Q. 4. Why cannot man institute a divine ordinance ?
A. He cannot do it, because it is the prerogative belonging to Christ's kingly ofiice ; Mat. xxviii. 20. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.
Q. 5. For what other reason cannot man do it ?
A. Because he cannot bless them, and make them effectual to their ends: but they will be in vain ; Matth. xv. 9. But in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Q. 6. Why are the ordinances called means of salvation ?
A. Because by and through them the Spirit of the Lord conveys spiritual graces into men's souls; 1 Cor. i. 21. It pleased God, by the foolishness of preaching, to save them that believe. 1 Cor. iii. 5. Who then is Paul, and who is ApoUos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man ?
Q. T. Whence is the virtue of ordinances ?
A. It is not in and from themselves, or the gifts and abilities of him that administers them, but from the blessing and Spirit of the Lord ; 1 Cor. iii. 7. Neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth, but God that giveth the increase.
Q. 8. Do all God's ordinances attain their end ?
A. Yes ; there is none of them in vain, but do attain their end, in
the salvation or damnation of all that come under tliem ; Isa. Iv. 10, 11. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not tliither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be, that goeth forth out of my mouth : It shall not return unto me void ; but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I send it. 2 Cor. ii. 15, 16. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish : To the one we are the savour of death unto death, and to the other the savour of hfe unto life, &c.
Q. 9. Are instituted ordinances the only means of salvation ?
J. They are not the only means ; for God can convert men to Christ Avithout them ; Acts ix. 4, 5. And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutes! thou me ? And he said. Who art thou Lord ? And the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest : It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. But they are the ordinary standing means ; Rom. x. 14, 15. How then shall they call on him, in whom they have not believed ? And how shall they believe in him, of whom they have not heard ? And how shall they hear without a preacher ? And how shall they preach, except they be sent ? &c.
Q. 10. To whom are the ordinances made effectual to salvation ?
A. To all God's elect they are effectual to salvation, and to them only ; Acts xiii. 48. As many as were ordained to eternal life, be- lieved. John X. 26. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, &c.
Q. 11. What is the first instruction from hence ?
A. That great preparation is due to all the ordinances, before we engage in them ; Job xi. 13, 14. If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands towards him. If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles. 1 Chron xxix. 18. And prepare their heart unto thee.
Q. 12. What is the second inference from hence .'^
A. That great reverence is due to God's ordinances, when we are actually engaged in the use of them ; Psalm Ixxxix. 7. God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints ; and to be had \\\ reverence of all them that are about him.
Q. 13. What is the third inference from hence.?
A. That those people that want ordinances, are in a sad and de- plorable condition; Eph. ii. 11, 12. Wherefore remember that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called uncircum- cision by that which is called the circumcision in the flesh made by hands; that at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.
Q. 14. What is the last instruction hence ?
A. That those that perish in the midst of ordinances, and means of
270 AN EXPOSITION OF THE ASSEMBLY'S CATECHISIC.
salvation, will perish with aggravated perdition ; Mat. xi. 23. And thou Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell : for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
Of the Word read and heard.
Quest. 89- JHOW is the word made effectual to salvation ?
A. The Spirit of God maketh the readings but especially the preaching of' the rc'ord, an effectual means of' convincing and con- verting sinners ; and building tJiem up i7i holiness and comfort^ through Jaith^ unto salvation.
Q. 1. What mean you by the word ?
A. By the word is meant the word of God, consigned to writing in the books of the Old and New Testament ; which though it be ministered by men, yet is no other than the very word of God, and as such to be received ; 1 Thess. ii. 13. For this cause also thank we God ^vithout ceasing, because 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, &c.
Q. 2. Whence is the efficacy of this word ?
A. It is wholly from the Spirit of God that it becomes effectual to any man's salvation ; 1 Cor. iii. 6, 7. I have planted, and Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then, neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth ; but God that giveth the increase.
Q. 3. Is the reading of the scripture an ordinance of God for men's salvation ?