19. Means of Grace: The Sacraments (Qs 161-177)
161 How do the sacraments become effectual means of
.salvation? A. The sacraments become effectual means of salvation, not by any
power in themselves, or any virtue derived from the piety or intention of him by
whom they are administered, but only by the working of the Holy Ghost, and the
blessing of Christ, by whom they are instituted.(1)
(1)1 Pet.
162 What is a sacrament?
A. A sacrament is an holy ordinance instituted by Christ in his church,(1) to
signify, seal, and exhibit(2) unto those that are within the covenant of
grace,(3) the benefits of his mediation,(4) to strengthen and increase their
faith, and all other graces;(5) to oblige them to obedience;(6) to testify and
cherish their love and communion one with another;(7) and to distinguish them
from those that are without.(8)
(1)Gen.
17:7,10; Exod. 12; Matt. 28:19; Matt. 26:26-28
(2)Rom.
(3)Rom. 15:8;
Exod. 12:48
(4)Acts 2:38;
1 Cor. 10:16
(5)Rom.
(6)
(7)Eph.
4:2-5; 1 Cor. 12:13
(8)Eph. 2:11,12; Gen. 34:14
163 What are the parts of a sacrament? A. The parts
of a sacrament are two; the one an outward and sensible sign, used according to
Christ's own appointment; the other an inward and spiritual grace thereby
signified.(1)
(1)Matt. 3:11; 1 Pet. 3:21; Rom. 2:28,29
164 How many sacraments hath Christ
instituted in his church under the New Testament? A. Under the New Testament
Christ hath instituted in his church only two sacraments, baptism and the Lord's
supper.(1)
(1)Matt. 28:19; 1 Cor. 11:20,23; Matt. 26:26-28
165 What is Baptism? A. Baptism
is a sacrament of the New Testament, wherein Christ hath ordained the washing
with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,(1)
to be a sign and seal of ingrafting into himself,(2) of remission of sins by his
blood,(3) and regeneration by his Spirit;(4) of adoption,(5) and resurrection
unto everlasting life;(6) and whereby the parties baptized are solemnly admitted
into the visible church,(7) and enter into an open and professed engagement to
be wholly and only the Lord's.(8)
(1)Matt.
28:19
(2)Gal. 3:27
(3)Mark 1:4;
Rev. 1:5
(4)Tit. 3:5;
Eph. 5:26
(5)Gal.
3:26,27
(6)1 Cor.
(7)1 Cor.
(8)Rom. 6:4
166
Unto whom is baptism to be administered? A. Baptism is not to be administered to
any that are out of the visible church, and so strangers from the covenant of
promise, till they profess their faith in Christ, and obedience to him,(1) but
infants descended from parents, either both or but one of them professing faith
in Christ, and obedience to him, are, in that respect, within the covenant, and
to be baptized.(2)
(1)Acts
(2)Gen. 17:7,9 compared with Gal. 3:9,14 and Col. 2:11,12 and Acts 2:38,39 and Rom. 4:11,12; 1 Cor. 7:14; Matt. 28:19; Luke 18:15,16; Rom. 11:16
167 How is
our baptism to be improved by us? A. The needful but much neglected duty of
improving our baptism, is to be performed by us all our life long, especially in
the time of temptation, and when we are present at the administration of it to
others;(1) by serious and thankful consideration of the nature of it, and of the
ends for which Christ instituted it, the privileges and benefits conferred and
sealed thereby, and our solemn vow made therein;(2) by being humbled for our
sinful defilement, our falling short of, and walking contrary to, the grace of
baptism, and our engagements;(3) by growing up to assurance of pardon of sin,
and of all other blessings sealed to us in that sacrament;(4) by drawing
strength from the death and resurrection of Christ, into whom we are baptized,
for the mortifying of sin, and quickening of grace;(5) and by endeavouring to
live by faith,(6) to have our conversation in holiness and righteousness,(7) as
those that have therein given up their names to Christ;(8) and to walk in
brotherly love, as being baptized by the same Spirit into one body.(9)
(1)Col.
2:11,12;
(2)
(3)1 Cor.
(4)Rom.
(5)
(6)Gal.
3:26,27
(7)Rom.
(8)Acts
(9)1 Cor.
168 What is the Lord's supper? A. The Lord's supper is a
sacrament of the New Testament,(1) wherein, by giving and receiving bread and
wine according to the appointment of Jesus Christ, his death is showed forth and
they that worthily communicate feed upon his body and blood, to their spiritual
nourishment and growth in grace,(2) have their union and communion with him
confirmed;(3) testify and renew their thankfulness,(4) and engagement to God,(5)
and their mutual love and fellowship each with other, as members of the same
mystical body.(6)
(1)Luke 22:20
(2)Matt.
26:26-28; 1 Cor. 11:23-26
(3)1 Cor.
(4)1 Cor.
(5)1 Cor.
(6)1 Cor. 10:17
169 How hath Christ appointed bread and wine to be given and
received in the sacrament of the Lord's supper? A. Christ hath appointed the
ministers of his word, in the administration of this sacrament of the Lord's
supper, to set apart the bread and wine from common use, by the word of
institution, thanksgiving, and prayer; to take and break the bread, and to give
both the bread and the wine to the communicants: who are, by the same
appointment, to take and eat the bread, and to drink the wine, in thankful
remembrance that the body of Christ was broken and given, and his blood shed,
for them.(1)
(1)1 Cor. 11:23,24; Matt. 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19,20
170 How do they
that worthily communicate in the Lord's supper feed upon the body and blood of
Christ therein? A. As the body and blood of Christ are not corporally or
carnally present in, with, or under the bread and wine in the Lord's supper,(1)
and yet are spiritually present to the faith of the receiver, no less truly and
really than the elements themselves are to their outward senses;(2) so they that
worthily communicate in the sacrament of the Lord's supper, do therein feed upon
the body and blood of Christ, not after a corporal and carnal, but in a
spiritual manner, yet truly and really,(3) while by faith they receive and apply
unto themselves Christ crucified, and all the benefits of his death.(4)
(1)Acts
(2)Matt.
26:26,28
(3)1 Cor.
(4)1 Cor. 10:16
171 How are they that receive the sacrament of the Lord's supper
to prepare themselves before they come unto it? A. They that receive the
sacrament of the Lord's supper are, before they come, to prepare themselves
thereunto, by examining themselves(1) of their being in Christ,(2) of their sins
and wants;(3) of the truth and measure of their knowledge,(4) faith,(5)
repentance;(6) love to God and the brethren,(7) charity to all men,(8) forgiving
those that have done them wrong;(9) of their desires after Christ,(10) and of
their new obedience,(11) and by renewing the exercise of these graces,(12) by
serious meditation,(13) and fervent prayer.(14)
(1)1 Cor.
(2)2 Cor.
13:5
(3)1 Cor. 5:7
compared with Exod. 12:15
(4)1 Cor.
(5)1 Cor.
13:5; Matt. 26:28
(6)Zech.
12:10; 1 Cor. 11:31
(7)1 Cor.
(8)1 Cor.
5:8; 1 Cor.
(9)Matt.
5:23,24
(10)Isa.
55:1; John 7:37
(11)1 Cor.
5:7,8
(12)1 Cor.
(13)1 Cor.
(14)2 Chron. 30:18,19; Matt. 26:26
172 May one who doubteth of his being in Christ,
or of his due preparation, come to the Lord's supper? A. One who doubteth of his
being in Christ, or of his due preparation to the sacrament of the Lord's
supper, may have true interest in Christ, though he be not yet assured
thereof;(1) and in God's account hath it, if he be duly affected with the
apprehension of the want of it,(2) and unfeignedly desires to be found in
Christ,(3) and to depart from iniquity:(4) in which case (because promises are
made, and this sacrament is appointed, for the relief even of weak and doubting
Christians(5)) he is to bewail his unbelief,(6) and labour to have his doubts
resolved;(7) and, so doing, he may and ought to come to the Lord's supper, that
he may be further strengthened.(8)
(1)Isa.
50:10; 1 John 5:13; Ps. 88 throughout; Ps. 77:1-12; Jonah 2:4,7
(2)Isa.
54:7-10; Matt. 5:3,4; Ps. 31:22; Ps. 73:13,22,23
(3)Phil.
3:8,9; Ps.
(4)2 Tim.
(5)Isa. 40:11,29,31; Matt. 11:28; Matt. 12:20; Matt. 26:28
(6)Mark 9:24
(7)Acts
(8)Rom.
173 May any who profess his faith, and desire to come
to the Lord's supper, be kept from it? A. Such as are found to be ignorant or
scandalous, notwithstanding their profession of the faith, and desire to come to
the Lord's supper, may and ought to be kept from that sacrament, by the power
which Christ hath left in his church,(1) until they receive instruction and
manifest their reformation.(2)
(1)1 Cor.
11:27-31 compared with Matt. 7:6 and 1 Cor. 5 and Jude 23 and 1 Tim. 5:22
(2)2 Cor. 2:7
174
What is required of them that receive the sacrament of the Lord's supper in the
time of the administration of it? A. It is required of them that receive the
sacrament of the Lord's supper, that, during the time of the administration of
it, with all holy reverence and attention they wait upon God in that
ordinance,(1) diligently observe the sacramental elements and actions,(2)
heedfully discern the Lord's body,(3) and affectionately meditate on his death
and sufferings,(4) and thereby stir up themselves to a vigorous exercise of
their graces;(5) in judging themselves,(6) and sorrowing for sin;(7) in earnest
hungering and thirsting after Christ,(8) feeding on him by faith,(9) receiving
of his fulness,(10) trusting in his merits,(11) rejoicing in his love,(12)
giving thanks for his grace;(13) in renewing of their covenant with God,(14) and
love to all the saints.(15)
(1)Lev. 10:3;
Heb. 12:28; Ps. 5:7; 1 Cor. 11:17,26,27
(2)Exod. 24:8
compared with Matt. 26:28
(3)1 Cor.
(4)Luke 22:19
(5)1 Cor.
(6)1 Cor.
(7)Zech.
12:10
(8)Rev. 22:17
(9)John 6:35
(10)John 1:16
(11)Phil.
1:16
(12)Ps.
63:4,5; 2 Chron. 30:21
(13)Ps. 22:26
(14)Jer. 1:5;
Ps. 1:5
(15)Acts 2:42
175
What is the duty of Christians, after they have received the sacrament of the
Lord's supper? A. The duty of Christians, after they have received the sacrament
of the Lord's supper, is seriously to consider how they have behaved themselves
therein, and with what success;(1) if they find quickening and comfort, to bless
God for it,(2) beg the continuance of it,(3) watch against relapses,(4) fulfill
their vows,(5) and encourage themselves to a frequent attendance on that
ordinance:(6) but if they find no present benefit, more exactly to review their
preparation to, and carriage at, the sacrament;(7) in both which, if they can
approve themselves to God and their own consciences, they are to wait for the
fruit of it in due time:(8) but, if they see they have failed in either, they
are to be humbled,(9) and to attend upon it afterward with more care and
diligence.(10)
(1)Ps. 28:7;
Ps. 85:8; 1 Cor. 11:17,30,31
(2)2 Chron.
30:21,22,23,25,26; Acts
(3)Ps. 36:10;
Cant. 3:4; 1 Chron. 29:18
(4)1 Cor.
10:3,4,5,12
(5)Ps. 50:14
(6)1 Cor.
(7)Cant.
5:1-6; Eccles. 5:1-6
(8)Ps.
123:1,2; Ps. 42:5,8; Ps. 43:3-5
(9)2 Chron.
30:18,19; Isa.
(10)2 Cor.
176 Wherein do the sacraments of
baptism and the Lord's supper agree? A. The sacraments of baptism and the Lord's
supper agree, in that the author of both is God;(1) the spiritual part of both
is Christ and his benefits,(2) both are seals of the same covenant,(3) are to be
dispensed by ministers of the gospel, and by none other,(4) and to be continued
in the church of Christ until his second coming.(5)
(1)Matt.
28:19; 1 Cor. 11:23
(2)
(3)Rom.
(4)John 1:38;
Matt. 28:19; 1 Cor. 11:23; 1 Cor. 4:1; Heb. 5:4
(5)Matt. 28:19,20; 1 Cor. 11:26
177 Wherein do the sacraments of baptism and the
Lord's supper differ? A. The sacraments of baptism and the Lord's supper differ,
in that baptism is to be administered but once, with water, to be a sign and
seal of our regeneration and ingrafting into Christ,(1) and that even to
infants;(2) whereas the Lord's supper is to be administered often, in the
elements of bread and wine, to represent and exhibit Christ as spiritual
nourishment to the soul,(3) and to confirm our continuance and growth in him,(4)
and that only to such as are of years and ability to examine themselves.(5)
(1)Matt.
3:11; Tit. 3:5; Gal. 3:27
(2)Gen.
17:7,9; Acts 2:38,39; 1 Cor. 7:14
(3)1 Cor.
(4)1 Cor.
(5)1 Cor. 11:28,29