23. Lord's Day.

59. Queft. But when thou believest all these things, what Profit redoundeth thence unto thee?

Anf. That I am righteous in Chrift before God, and an Heir of eternal Life c.

60. Queft. How art thou righteous before God?

Anf. Only d by true Faith in Chrift Iefus. So that, although my Con. fcience accufe me, that I have grievoufly trespassed against all the Commands of God, and have not e kept one of them, and further, am as yet f prone to all evil: yet notwithstanding (if g I embrace thefe Benefits of Chrift with a true Confidence of Mind) the h perfect Satisfaction, Righteoufnefs and Holiness of Chrift, (without any i Merit of mine, from the mere k Mercy of God) is 1 imputed and m given unto me, and that fo, as if neither I had committed any Sin, neither any Corruption did inhere in me: yea as if I myfelf had perfectly n accomplished that Obedience, which Chrift accom plifhed for me.

61. Queft. Why affirmest thou, that thou art made righteous by FAITH only?

Anf. Not that I pleafe God through* the Worthinefs of my Faith: but becaufe only the Satisfaction, Righteouf nefs and Holinefs of Chrift is my Righteoufnefs before God: and 1 cannot embrace P or apply it unto myfelf any other Way than by Faith.

24. Lord's Day.

62. Queft. Why cannot our good

Works be Righteoufnefs, or fome Part of Righteoufnefs before God?

An. Because that Righteoufness which muft ftand before the Judgment of God, must be in all Points perfect, and agreeable to the Law of God. 9 Gal. 3. But our Works, even the best of them, are imperfect in this Life, and defiled with Sin.

63. Queft. How is it that our good Works merit nothing, fince God promifes that He will give a Reward for them, both in this Life, and in the Life to come?

10. Deut.

27. 26. r Ifa. 64. 6.

Rom the holy Ghost, who a kind. leth it in our Hearts by the Preach. ing of the Gospel, and b confirmeth it by the Ufe of the Sacraments.

Queft. What are the Sacraments? Anf They are holy vifible Signs and Seals ordained by God for this End, that He may more fully declare and feal by them the Promite of his Gospel unto us, to wit; that not only unto all Believers in general, but unto each of them in particular, He freely giveth Remiffion of Sins and Life eternal, upon the Account of that only Sacrifice of Chrift which He accomplished upon the Crofs. 67. Queft. Do then both the Word

t Matth. 7. 18. John.

15. 5.

arh. 23. and 6. 23. b

Phil. 1. 29.

Mar. 28.

19 Rom. 4. II.

c Gen. 17.

11. Rom. 411.

Deut. 30. 6. Levi 6.

25. Ifa. 6.

and 6.

a Mat. 28. 19. Acts

2 38.

b Mar. 16. 16. Mar. 3. 11. Rom.

6. 3.

c Marc. 1. 4. Luc. S.

24. 1 Per. 1.2. Apoc. 1. 5.

OF BAPTISM.

26. Lord's Day.

69. Queft. How art thou admonished and afured in baptism that thou art a Partaker of that only Sacrifice of Cbrift?

BE

Anfwer.

Ecaufe Chrift a commanded the outward Washing of Water; adjoyning this b Promife therunto, that I am no lefs affuredly washed by his Blood and Spirit from the Uncleannefs of my Soul, that is, from all my Sins, than I am c washed ontwardly with Water, whereby all the Filthinefs of the Body ufeth to be purged.

70. Queft. What is it to be washed with the Blood and Spirit of Cbrift?

Anf. It is to receive of God Forgiveness of Sins freely for the Blood d Heb. 12. of Chrift, which He d fhed for us in his Sacrifice on the Crofs. And also to be renewed by the Holy Ghost, and through his Sanctifying of us, to become Members of Chrift, that we may more and more die unto Sin, and e live holy and without Blame.

e Ioh. 1. 33. Rom. 6. 4 Col.

2. 12.

71. Queft. Where bath Chrift promifed that He will as certainly wash us with bis Blood and Spirit, as we bave been washed with the Water of Baptifm?

Anf. In the Inftitution of Baptifm; the Words where of are thefe.

f Go and teach all Nations, baptizing fMatt. 28. them in the Name of the FATHER, the 19. SON, and the HOLY GHOST. g He g Marc. that believeth and is baptized shall be 16. 16. faved: but be that believeth not, shall be damned. This Promife is repeated again, where the Scripture calleth Baptifm, The h washing of the new h Tit.3.5. Birth, and i Forgiveness of Sins.

27. Lord's Day.

72. Queft. Is then the outward Baptifm of Water it felf, the washing away of fin?

Auf It is not. For the k Blood of Icfus Chrift alone; and the Holy Ghoft cleanfeth us from all Sin.

i A&t. 24 16.

k Matt & 11.1 Pet.

3. 21. I loh. I.

73. Queft. Why then doth the Holy 7.1 Cor. Gboft call Baptifm, The Walking of 6. 11. the new Birth, and Cleansing from Sin?

Anf. God fpeaketh fo not without great Caufe: to wit, not only to teach us, that as the Filthineffes of our Body are purged by Water, fo our Sins alfo are m expiated by the Blood m Rev. 1. and Spirit of Chrift. But much more 5.1 Cor. to affure us by this divine Token and Pledge, that we are no lefs truely washed from our Sins with the inward Wafhng, than we are a washed by the n Marc.16. outward and visible Water.

74. Queft. Are Infants to be bapti zed alfo?

6. 11.

16. Gal. 5. 27.

Anf. By all Means. For fince they belong as well unto the o Covenant and Church p of God, as they who are of full Age. And fince alfo unto them is promised a Remiffion of Sins, by the Blood of Chrift and the r Holy Ghost, the Worker of Faith; as well as unto thofe of full Growth. They are by Baptifm (as a Seal of the Co. venant) to be engrafted into the Church of God, and to be diftin. guished from the Children of Infidels, in like Manner as was done by t Circumcifion under the old Covenant, Gen. 17. in Place whereof Baptifm fucceeded under the new Covenant....

B

Matt. 19. Luc. 1. 14. 15. Pf. 22. 10. Act. 2. $9.

$ Act. 10.

47. 1 Cor,

12. 13. and 7. 14.

w Mat 26. 26. 27. 28. Marc. 14. 22 23 24

Luke 22. 19. 20.

1 Cor. 10.

16. 17. & 11.23.24. 25.

a loh. 6.

48.50.51. 53.54.

b Ioh.

55. 56.
e Act. 3.

21. and 1. 9. 10. 11. 1 Cor. 11.

Of the holy Supper of the Lord.

28. Lord's Day.

75. Queft. How art thou in the Lord's Supper admonished and affured, that thou art a Partaker of that only Sacrifice of Christ offered on the Cross, and of all bis Benefits?

Answer.

Ecaufe Chrift hath cominanded me and all the faithful, to eat of this Bread broken, and to drink of the Cup diftributed in Remembrance of Him, with thefe Promises w adjoi ned. First, that his Body was as certainly broken and offered for me on the Crofs and his Blood fhed for me, as I behold with my Eyes the Bread of the Lord broken unto me, and the Cup communicated to me. And further, that my Soul is no lesf affuredly fed to everlasting Life with his Body which was crucified for us, and his Blood which was fhed for us; than I' tafte by the Mouth of my Body the Bread and Wine, the Signs of the Body and Blood of our Lord, received from the Hand of the Minifter.

76. Queft. What is it to eat the Body of Christ crucified, and to drink bis Blood which was shed?

Anf. It is not only to embrace by 35.40.47. an affured Confidence of Mind, the whole Paffion and Death of Chrift and thereby to a obtain Forgiveness of Sins, and eternal Life; but also by the Holy Ghoft, who dwelleth both in Chrift and us, more and more to be b united to his facred Body: fo that though He be in Heaven, and we on Earth, yet nevertheless are we Flefh of his Flefh, and Bone of his d Bones. And as all the Members of the Body are quicknede and govern'd by one Soul fo are we alfo by one and the fame Spirir.

Eph. 5. 29. 30. 31. 32. 1 Cor. 19. 1 Ioh.

6. 15. 17.

3. 24.
e loh. 6.

56. 57. 58. Eph. 4. 15.

16.

77. Queft. Where bath Cbrift promifed

that He will as certainly give bis Body and Blood fo to be eat and drunk as we eat this Bread broken, and drink this Cup?

Anf. In the Inftitution of his Sapper, the Words whereof are thefe.

Matt. 14.

22. Luc. 22. 19.

f The Lord Iefus in the fame Night f1 Cor.11. in which He was betrayed, took Bread: 23. Marc. and when He bad given Thanks, He 26. 26. brake it, and faid, Take, eat; this is my Body, which is broken for you: bis do in Remembrance of me. After the fame Manner alfo He took the Cup, when He had fupped, faying, g this Cup is the New Teftament in my Blood: h This do ye, as often as ye drink it, in Remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this Bread, and drink this Cup, ye do fhew the Lord's Death till He come.

20.

Exo. 24. 8. Heb. 9. hExo. 13. 9. 1 Cor.

11. 26.

This Promife is repeated by S. Paul, when he faith i, The Cup of Blessing i 1 Cor. which we blefs, is it not the Commu. 10 16. 17. nion of the Blood of Chrift? The Bread which we break, is it not the Communion of the Body of Chrift? For we being many, are one Bread and one Body; because we all are Partakers of that one Bread.

29. Lord's Day

78. Queft. Are then the Bread and Wine, become the very Body and Blood of Chrift?

Anf. Not at all. But as the Wa ter of Baptifm is not turned into the Blood of Chrift nor is it the Wathing away of Sin itfelf but is a Sign and Pledge of those things; So neither is the Bread of the Lord's Supper the very Body of Chrift, although according to the Manner of Sacraments and that m Form of fpeaking of them which is ufual unto the Holy Ghoft, the Bread is called the Body of Christ.

79. Quest. Why then doth Chrift call Bread bis Body, and the Cup bis Blood, or the new Covenant in his Blood? and Paul alfo calleth Bread and Wine, the Communion of the Body and Blood of Chrift.

Anf.

k 1 Cor. 10.1.2.3. 4. 1 Pet 3. 21. Joh. 6. 35.62.63.

11 Cor.10.

16. &c.

and 11.1

26. &c. m Gen.

17.10 18.

14. Exo. 12. 26. 27.

43. 48. Act. 7. 8. Matt. 26.

26. Marc. 14. 24.

Anf. Chrift fpeaketh fo not without great Reafon: to wit not only to teach us, that as the Bread and Wine fuftain the Life of the Body, fo alfo his crucified Body and fhed Blood are indeed the Meat and Drink of our a loh. 6. Souls, whereby they are a nourished 51.55.56% to eternal Life: but much more that by this vifible Sign and Pledge He may affure us, that we are as verily Partakers of his Body and Blood, through the Operation of the Holy Ghoft; as we do b receive by the Mouth of our Body these holy Signs in Remembrance of Him. And further alfo, that his Sufferings and Obedience are fo certainly ours, as though we ourselves had fuffered Punishment for our Sins, and had fatisfied God.

b1 Cor. 10. 16. 17.

and 11. 26 27. 28.

Eph. 5.32. cRom. 5.

9. 18. 19.

and 8. 4.

d Heb. 7. 27. & 9. 12. 26, Matt. 26. 28. Luk.

22. 19. 20. 2 Cor. 5. e1 Cor. 6.

21.

17. and 12. 13. f Heb. I.

3. & 8. 1.

&c.

Col. 3. 1.

Luc. 24.

30. Lord's Day.

80. Queft. What Difference is there between the Supper of the Lord, and the popish Mass?

Anf. The Supper of the Lord teftifieth to us, that we have perfect Forgiveness of all our Sins d for that only Sacrifice of Chrift, which He himself once finifhed on the Crofs. Then alfo, that we by the Holy Ghoft are ingrafted e into Chrift, who now according to his human Nature, is f gloh. 4. only in Heaven only in Heaven, at the right Hand 21.22.23. of his Father, and there will be g Phil. S. 20. worshipped by us. But in the Mafs it is denied, that the Quick and the Dead have Remiffion of Sins only for In ca- the Paffion of Chrift; except alfo one Mi Chrift be daily offred for them by the Sa: & de Sacrificers. Further alfo it is taught, confecra. diin. 2. that Chrift is bodily under the Form Concil. of Bread and Wine, and therefore is Trid. Sefs. to be h worshipped in them. And fo ilfa. 1. the very Foundation of the Mafs is nothing else than an utter i Denial of that only Sacrifice and Paffion of Christ Jefus, and an accurfed Idolatry.

52, 53. Act. 7.55.

13. 5.

11--14. Mart. 15. 9. Col 2. 22. 23.

ler. 2. 13.

3. 6. Luc.

81. Qucft. Who are to be permitted a Matt. 5. to come unto the Table of the Lord? Anf. They only who are truely and 15. 18. forrowful, that they have offended

7. 37. 38.

19.

God by their Sins: but who truft that thofe Sins are pardoned them for Chrift's Sake: and what other Infir mites b they have, that thofe are covered by his Paffion and Death. Who alfo c defire more and more to go forward in Faith and Integrity of Life. But Hypocrites, and they who do not truly repent, do eat and d drink Damnation to themselves. 82. Quelt. Are they alfo to be admitted to this Supper, who in Confeffion and Life declare themfelves to be Infi dels and ungodly?

Anf. Not at all. For by that Means the Covenant of God is profaned, and the Wrath of God is eftirred up against the whole Affembly. Wherefore the Church by the Command of Chrift f and his Apoftles, ufing the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, ought to hinder their approaching this Supper, till they fhall have repented and changed their Manners.

31. Lord's Day.

83. Queft. What are the g Keys of g Mat. 18. the Kingdom of Heaven?

Anf. Preaching of the Gofpel, and ecclefiaftical Difciplinei: by which Heaven is opened to Believers, and is fhut against Unbelievers.

84. Queft. How is the Kirgdom of Heaven opened and fout by the Preaching of the Gospel?

19.

23.

h Ioh. 2o. i Mat. 18. 15-18.

19.

Marc. 16.

Anf. When by the Command of k k Mat. 28. Chrift it is publickly declared to all and every one of the Faithful, that all their Sins are pardoned to them by God, for the Merits of Chrift, fo often as they embrace the Pro- 1 Joh. 3. mife of the Gospel by a lively Faith. 18, 36. But on the contrary is denounced 16. against all Infidels and Hypocrites, that the Wrath of God and eternal m m 2 Thef. Condemnation doth lie on them fo 1. 7. 8. 9. long, as they n go on in their Wicked. n Ioh. 20. nefs. According to which Teftimony 21.22.23. of the Gospel, God will judge them as well in this Life, as in the Life 2, 2. 17. B 2 85. Queft.

to come:

19. Rom.

}

Mat. 18.

15.

32.

9 Mat. 18.

15. 18.

r

Rom. 12.

85. Queft. How is the Kingdom of Heaven opened and fhut by ecclefiaftical Difcipline?

Anf. When according to the Command of Chrift, they who in Name are Chriftians, but in their Doctrine p1 Cor. 5. and Life, fhew themfelves p Strangers to Chrift, after they have been for fometime admonished in a brotherly way, will not depart from their Er rors and Crimes, are made known unto the 9 Church, or unto them r that are appointed for that Matter, by the Church. And then, if they are not obedient to their Admonition, they are by the fame Men to be forbid. den the Ufe of the Sacraments, whereby they are excluded from the Congregation; and by God Himself, from the Kingdom of Heaven. And again, if they profefs, and in Deed difcover Amendment of Life, they are t to he received as Members of Chrift and his Church.

7. 8. 9. 1 Cor. 12. 28.1 Tim. 5. 17. $ 2 Thef.

3.14.Mat.

18. 17. 2.

Ioh. 10.11.

1 Cor. 5. 3. 4. 5.

12 Cor. 2. 6. 7. 8. 10. 11. Luk. 15. 13.

a 1 Cor. 6. 19. 20. Rom. 6.

13. & 12.

1.2.1 Pet. 2. 5.9.10.

b Matt. 5. 16. 1 Pet.

2. 12. C2 Pet. 1.

THE THIRD PART.

Of Thankfulness.

32. Lord's Day.

86. Queft. Since we are delivered from all our Sins and Miferies, without any Merit of ours, by the Mercy of God, through Chrift for what Caufe are we to do good Works?

Answer.

BEcaufe, after that Chrift hath re

deemed us with his Blood, He reneweth us alfo by his Spirit after his own Image. That we being deeply affected with fuch great Benefits fhould teftify our Gratitude to God all our Life-time; and b that He should be 10. Gal. 5. magnified by us. And also that every one of us might be c affured of his 1.2. Matt. Own Faith by its Fruits. And lastly, 5. 16 that by our honeft and good ConverRom. 14. fation we may win d others unto

6. 24. di Pet. 3.

19.

Christ.