THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST. 491
CHAP. XXIII.— Of Baptism.
Q. 1. Which are these sacraments?
A. Baptism and the Lord's supper.
Q. 2. What is baptism?
A. An * holy action, appointed^ ^ of Christ, whereby being sprinkled with water in the name of the whole Trinity, by a lawful minister of the church, ''we are admitted into the family of God, " and have the benefits of the blood of Christ confinned unto us. — * Matt, xxviii. 1 9 ; Mark xvi. 15, 16.— 'Acts ii. 41, viii. 37.— "Acts ii. 38, 39; John iii. 5; Rom. vi. 3-5; 1 Cor. xii. 13.
Q. 3. To whom, doth this sacrament belong?
A. Unto all to whom the promise of the covenant is made; tliat is, to believers, and to their seed. — Acts ii. 39; Gen. xvii. 11, 12; Acts xvi. 15; Rom. iv. 10, 11; 1 Cor. vii. 14.
Q. 4. How can baptism seal the jmrdon of all sins to us, all our personal sins following it?
A. Inasmuch as it is a seal of that promise which gives pardon of all to believers. — Acts ii. 39; Rom. iv. 11, 12.
CHAP. XXIV.— Of the Lord's Suppee.
Q. 1. What is the Lord's supper?
A. An "holy action instituted and^ appointed by Christ, ""to set forth his death, ' and communicate unto us spiritually his body and blood by faith, being ^ represented by bread and wine, ^ blessed by his word, and prayer, ^ broken,* poured out, and received of believers. — "Matt. xxvi. 26-28; Luke xxii. 14-20; 1 Cor. xi. 23-25.— " Luke xxil 19; 1 Cor. xi. 25, 26.— " Mark xiv. 22-24; 1 Cor. xi. 24, 25; John vi 63.— "1 Cor. xi. 23, 25.— * 1 Cor. xi. 24; Matt. xxvi. 26.— ' Matt. xxvL 26; Mark xiv. 22; Luke xxii. 19.
Q. 2. When did Christ appoint this sacrament?
A. On the night wherein he was betrayed to suffer. — 1 Cor. xi. 23.
Q. 3. Whence is the i^ight use of it to be learned?
^ Not the want, but tlie contempt of tliis sacrament, is damnable.
^ It is hard to say whether the error of tlie Papists, requiring baptism of abso- lute, indispensable necessity to the salvation of every infant, or that of the Ana- baptists, debarring them from it altogether, be the most uncharitable.
* Baptism is the sacrament of our new birth, this of our farther growth in Christ.
* No part of Christian religion was ever so vilely contaminated and abused by profane wretches, as this pure, holy, plain action and institution of our Saviour : witness the Popish liorrid monster of transubstantiation, and their idolatrous mass.
492 THE PRINCIPLES OF
A. From the word/ practice, and actions of our Saviour, at its institution.
Q. 4. What were the actions of our Saviour to be imitated by us ?
A. First, blessing the elements by prayer ; secondly, breaking the bread, and pouring oat the wine ; thirdly, distributing them to the receivers, sitting in a table-gesture.— Matt. xxvi. 26; Mark xiv. 22; Luke xxii. 19, 20; 1 Cor. xi. 23, 24.
Q. 5. What were the words of Christ ?
A. First, of command, — " Take, eat ;" secondly, of promise, — " This is my body ; " thirdly, of institution for perpetual use, — " This do," &c. —1 Cor. xi. 24-26.
Q. 6. Who are to be^^ receivers of this sacrament f
A. Those only have a true right to the signs who by faith have an holy interest in Christ, the thing signified. — 1 Cor. xi. 27-29; John vi. 63.
Q. 7. Do the elements remain bread and wine still, after the bless- ing of them ?
A. Yes ; all the spiritual change is wrought by the faith of the re- ceiver, not the words of the giver : to them that believe, they are the body and blood of Christ. — John vi. 63 ; 1 Cor. x. 4, xi. 29.
CHAP. XXV Of the Communion of Saints, — the Fifth Privilege op
Believers.
Q. 1. What is the communion of saints?
A. An holy conjunction'* between all God's people, wrought by their participation of the same Spirit, whereby we are all made mem- bers of that one body whereof Christ is the head. — Cant. vi. 9 ; Jer. xxxii. 39; John xvii. 22; 1 Cor. xii. 12; Eph. iv. 3-6, 13; 1 John i. 3, 6, 7.
Q. 2. Of ivhat sort is this union ?
A. First, * spiritual and internal, in the enjojmient of the same spirit and graces, — which is the union of the church catholic ; secondly, ** external and ecclesiastical, in the same outward ordinances, — which is the union of particular congregations. — "1 Cor. xii. 12, 13; Eph.
' Whatever is more than these, is of our own.
' Faith in God's promises, wliich it doth conrirm,— union with Christ, whereof it is a seal,— and obedience to the right use of the ordinance itself,— are required of all receivers.
' There is not any one action pertaininn; to the spiritual nature of this sacrament, not any end put upon it by Christ,— as, first, the partaking of his body and blood; secondly, setting forth his death for us; thirdly, declaring of our union with hiin and his, — but requires faith, grace, and holiness, in the receivers.