Q. 2. How many things are to be considered in every sacrament ?
A. In every sacrament five things must be considered ; (1.) The author. (2.) The parts. (3.) The union of those parts. (4.) The subjects. (5.) The ends and uses of it.
Q. 3. Who is the author of the sacraments ?
A. The Lord Jesus Christ as King of the church, by whose sole authority baptism was instituted ; Mat. xxviii. 19, 20. Go ye there- fore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost : Teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I have commanded you, &c. And the Lord's supper ; 1 Cor. xi. 23, 24. For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus, the same 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.
Q. 4. Are the old sacraments yet in being and in use in the church ?
A. No, they are passed away, and the new come in their room. Baptism takes place of circumcision ; Col. ii. 11, 12. In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ ; buried with him in baptism, &c. And the Lord's supper of the pass- over ; 1 Cor. V. 7. Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened, for even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.
Q. 5. Of what parts doth every sacrament consist ?
A. Every sacrament consists of two parts, one external and earthly; another internal and heavenly, or spiritual. Bread, wine, and water, are the external, Christ's blood and Spirit the internal parts ; Rom. vi. 3. Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ, were baptized into his death ? 1 Cor. xi. 25. This cup is the New Testament in my blood, &c.
Q. 6. Wherein consists the sacramental union of those parts ?
A. It consists, by virtue of Christ's institution, in three things; (1.) In apt signification. (2.) Firm obsignation. And, (3.) Real exhibition of the blessings signified and sealed.
Q. 7. What are the blessings signified by water in baptism ?
A. It signifies our implantation into Christ, and communion with him in his death and resurrection ; Rom. vi. 4. Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death, that hke as Christ was raised up from the dead'by the glory of the Father ; even so we also should
AN EXPpSITION OF THE ASSEMBLY'S CATECHISM. 279
"walk in newness of life. And our solemn admission into the visible church ; Gal. iii. 26, 27, 28, 29. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female ; For ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Q. 8. What are the blessings signified by bread and wine ? J. They signify Christ's body and blood, broken and poured out for us, with all the blessings of remission, peace, and salvation pur- chased by his blood, 1 Cor. x. 16, 17. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ ? For we being many, are one bread, and one body ; for we are all partakers of that one bread.
Q. 9. Do the sacraments seal, as well as signify these things ?
A. Yes, they do; Rom. iv. 11. And he received the sign of cir- cumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith, &c. Their use is to confirm God's covenant with believers.
Q. 10. Who are the proper subjects of the sacraments.?
A. Believers and their seed are the subjects of baptism, but adult Christians only of the Lord's supper ; 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 shall 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 use and end of sacraments .?
A. It is to ratify and confirm God's covenant with believers ; Rom. iv. 11. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righ- teousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised, &c. 1 Cor. xi. 26. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
Q. 12. What is the first instruction from hence.?
A. That the abuse of such holy and solemn mysteries is a sin of dreadful aggravation, and such as God will punish ; 1 Cor. xi. 27. Wherefore, whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
Q. 13. What is the second instruction .?
A. Hence we learn the tender care and love of Christ over the church, in instituting such useful and comfortable ordinances for us. Of the Number of Sacraments.
Quest. 93. W^HICH are the sacraments of the New Testament.?
A. The sacraments of the New Testament are, baptism and the Lord's supper.
Q. 1. How many sacraments hath Christ appointed in the New Testament ?
280 AN EXPOSITION OF THE ASSEMBLY'S CATECHTS.\r.
J. Christ hath appointed two, and no more : these being sufficient for our initiation and confirmation.
Q. 2. How many have the Papists added to them ?
J. They have added five more ; viz. Confirmation, penance, or- dination, marriage, and extreme unction.
Q. i!>. What is their sacrament of confirmation ?
A. It is the anointing of the baptised with chrism in the forehead, with this form of words ; I sign thee with the sign of the cross, and confirm thee with the chrism of salvation, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Q. 4. What is their ground for this practice ?
A. The abuse of that Scripture, Heb. vi. 2. Of the doctrine of baptisms, and laving on of hands, &c. which, by a figurative speech, expresseth the whole standing ministry in the church, by laying on of hands.
Q. 5. What is their sacrament of penance ?
A. It is repentance manifested by outward signs, to which the word of absolution coming, makes it a sacrament misgrounded on John XX. 23. Whosoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them ; and whosoever sins ye retain, they are retained.
Q. 6. What is their sacrament of orders, or ordination ?
A. It is the laying on of hands in ordination of ministers, by which they conceive spiritual grace is given ; by mistake of 2 Tim. i. 6. Wherefore I put thee in remembrance, that thou stir up the gift of God which is in thee, by the putting on of my hands.
Q. 7. What is their fourth superadded sacrament ?
A. It is marriage, grounded upon those words of the apostle, Eph. V. 32. This is a great mystery ; but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Which only shews a similitude of our union with Christ, not an instituted sign to that end.