Q. 1. Who are to be baptized ?
A. Believers, and their infant-offspring; Acts ii. 39. For the pro- mise is to you, and your children, and to all that are afar off, even many as the Lord our God shall call.
Q. 2. How doth it appear, that the infant-seed of believers ought to be baptized ?
A. It appears by this, that they being Abraham's seed, were taken into covenant with God, and ordered to have the sign of the cove- nant applied to them ; and that grant was never reversed ; Gen. xvii. 7, 10. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee, and thy seed after thee, in their generations, for an everlasting covenant ; to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thcc. This is my cove- nant, which ye shall keep between me and you, and thy seed after thee ; even every man-child among you shall be circumcised.
Q. 3. But was not that the covenant of works ; and so will not hold, to infer their privilege under the covenant of grace ?
A. No, it was not ; for God never did, nor will become a God by way of special interest to any people ; by virtue of the covenant of works, since the breach of it by the fall.
Q. 4. But if it were the covenant of grace, how doth it appeat the right of believers infants is still the same it was before in Abra- ham's time ?
A. Itappears plainly from the apostle's own words and arguments ; Acts ii. 39. For the promise is to you, and to your children, &c.
Q. 5. But though infants then were members of God's visible church among the Jews, how doth it appear they are so now, when God hath cast them off.?
A. It appears, the membership and privileges are as free and complete to them now, that are the children of Gentile believers, as ever they were to the Jewish infants; Rom. xi. 17. And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou being a wild olive tree, were graffed in amongst them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive-tree.
Q. 6, How else doth it appear they are within the covenant.?
A. It appears by this, that they are pronounced holy ; 1 Cor. vlL 14. Else were your children unclean, but now are they holy. Which is a foederal holiness, and none out of covenant can be holy by cove- nant.
Q. 7 But may not that place mean only their legitimacy "^ A. No, it cannot ; for then the apostle must pronounce all the in- fants in the world bastards, that descend not at least from one believ- ing parent.
Q. 8. But infants are not capable to covenant with God, or to perform covenant-duties ; and therefore why should they be admit- ted to covenant-privileges .^
A. A child now of eight days old, is as capable of being admitted into covenant with God, as children of the same age were in Abra- ham's days : and then it is manifest they were admitted.
Q. 9. Though they were admitted by circumcision then, will it follow, they may be so by baptism now, seeing that ordinance is abolislied r
A. i'es, it will : For though circumcision cease, yet baptism is come in its place ; Col. ii. 10, 11, 12. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power. In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in put- ting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with him in baptism, &c.
Q. 10. But circumcision was a seal of the covenant of works; and th: aigiiment will not ho! ri, from a seal of the covenant of works, to a seal oi the covenant of gi'ace .?
A, Circumcision never was, nor was intended to be a seal of the covenant of works, but of the righteousness of faith ; Rom. iv. 11. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet, being uncircumcised, &c.
Q. 11. But have we no express command in the New Testament to baptize infants .^
A. There needed no new command ; their privilege had been set- tled many ages before upon them, and never reversed by Christ, or his apostles, but their former right declared to continue still to them ; Acts ii. 39. For the promise is to you and to your children, &c.
Q. 12. But if they have a right, we might expect to find some examples of their baptizing .^
^. It is manifest that believers households were baptized with them; Acts xvi. 15, 33. And when she was baptized, and her household, &:c. Ver. 33. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes, and was baptized, he and all his straightway. And if infants are not named, so neither are any of age, born of Christian parents.
Q. 13. But many trust to their infant-baptism, as to their regene- ration, and so much mischief is done .^
A. They do so ; yet the duty is not therefore to be neglected. Th&
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preaclilng of Christ is to some a stumbling-block ; yet Christ must be preaclied for all that.
Q. 14. But many baptized infants prove naught?
J. And so do many baptized at age too. Duties are not to be measured by events.
Of the Lord's Supper.
Quest. 96. W HAT is the Lord's supper ?
A. The Lord's supper is a sacrament, li^herein, hy giving and receiving bread and zvine, accord'mg to ChrisCs appointment, his death is shewed Jbrth ; and the worthy receivers are not after a cor- paral and carnal manner, but by faith made partakers of his body and blood, with all his benefits, to their spiritual nourishment, and growth in grace.
Q. 1. By whose authority is the Lord's supper instituted and ap- pointed ?
A. By the sovereign authority of Christ, the king of the church, and not by the pleasuie of man ; 1 Cor. xi. 23. 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.
Q. 2. Of what parts doth this sacrament consist ?
A. It consists of two parts ; one earthly and visible, to wit, bread and wine ; the other spiritual add invisible, the body and blood of Christ ; 1 Cor. x. 16. 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.'^
Q. 3. How doth these earthly and heavenly things become a sa- crament ?
A. Hy the word of institution, and blessing coming from Christ upon them ; 1 Cor. xi. 23, 24, 25. 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. After the same manner also be took the cup, when he had supped, saying. This cup is the New Testament in my blood ; This do ye, as often as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
Q. 4. When did Christ ordain and institute this sacrament ?