receive the truth with faith i, love k, meeknefs 1, and readiness of mind m, as the word of God n; meditate o, and confer of it p; hide it in their hearts q, and bring forth the fruit of it in their lives r.

2.161. How do the facraments become effectual means of Salvation?

A. The facraments become effectual means of falvation, not by any power in themfelves, or any virtue derived from the piety or intention of him by whom they are adminiftred; but only by the working of the Holy Ghost, and the bleffing of Chrift, by whom they are inftituted f.

i Heb. iv. 2. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. k 2 Theff. ii. 10. And with all deceivableness of unrighteoufnefs, in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be faved.

/ James i. 21. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and fuperfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meeknefs the ingrafted word, which is able to fave your fouls.

m Acts xvii. 11. Thefe were more noble than thofe in Theffalonica, in that they received the word with all readinefs of mind, and fearched the fcriptures daily, whether those things were fo.

n 1 Theff. ii. 13. For this caufe alfo thank we God without ceafing, because when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but (as it is in truth) the word of God, which effectually worketh alfo

in you

that believe.

• Luke ix. 44. Let these fayings fink down into your ears: for the Son of man fhall be delivered into the hands of men. *Heb. ii. I. Therefore we ought to give the more

2.162. earnest heed to the things which we have heard, left at any time we fhould let them flip.

p Luke xxiv. 14. And they talk. ed together of all these things which had happened. Deut. vi. 6. And these words which I command thee this day, fhall be in thine heart. v. 7. And thou shalt teach them diligent ly unto thy children, and fhalt talk of them when thou fitteft in thine house, and when thou walkeft by the way, and when thou lieft down, and when thou risest up.

9 Prov. ii. 1. My fon, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee. Pfal. cxix. 11. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not fin against thee.

r Luke viii. 15. But that on the good ground, are they, which in an honeft and good heart, having heard the word keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. James i. 25. But whofo looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man fhall be bleffed in his deed.

161 f1 Pet. iii. 21. The like figure whereunto, even baptifm, doth alfo now fave us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the

anfwer

Q. 162. What is a facrament? A. A Sacrament is an holy ordinance inftituted by Christ in his church t, to fignify, feal, and exhibit v unto those that are within the covenant of grace w, the benefits of his mediation x; to strengthen and increase their

faith, and all other graces y; to oblige them to obedience z ; to testify and cherish their love and communion one with a nother a; and to distinguish them from those that are without b.

Q. 163. What are the parts of a facrament?

A. The parts of a facrament are two; the one an outward and fenfible fign, used according to Chrift's own appointment; the other an inward and fpiritual grace thereby fignified c.

Q. 164 How many facraments hath Chrift inftituted in his church under the New Teftament?

A. Under the New Teftament Chrift hath inftituted

Chrift? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Chrift?

y Rom. iv. 11. (See in v above). Gal. iii. 27. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Chrift

fo

z. Rom. vi. 3. Know ye not, that many of us as were baptized into Jefus Chrift, were baptized into his death? v. 4, Therefore we are buried with him by baptifm into death: that like as Chrift was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even fo we alfo fhould walk in newness of life. 1 Cor. x. 21. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.

a Eph. iv. 2. With all lowlinefs and meeknefs, with long-fuffering, forbearing one another in love; v. 3. Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, v. 4. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling v. 5. One Lord, one faith, one baptifm. 1 Cor. xii. 13. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free and have been all made to drink into one Spirit,

:

in

6 Eph. ii. 11. Wherefore remember that ye being in time paffed Gentiles in the fiefh, who are called uncircumcifion by that which is called the circumcifion in the flesh made by hands; v, 12. That at that time ye were without Chrift, being aliens from the commonwealth of Ifrael and strangers from the cove nants of promife, having no hope, and without God in the world. Gen, xxxiv. 14. And they said unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give our fifter to one that is uncircumcifed: for that were a reproach unte

us.

163. Matth. iii. II. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but he that cometh after me, is mightier than I, whofe fhoes I am not worthy to bear he fhall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire. 1 Pet. iii. 21. The like figure whereunto, even baptifm, doth also now fave us, (not the putting away the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good confcience towards God) by the refurrection of Jefus Chrift. Rom. ii. 28. For he is not a Jew, which is one. outwardly; neither is that circumcifion, which is outward in the flesh : V. 29. But he is a Jew, who is one inwardly; and circum

eifion

in his church only two facraments, Baptifm and the Lord's fupper d.

Q. 165. What is Baptifm?

A. Baptifin is a facrament of the New Testament, wherein Chrift hath ordained the washing with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoft e, to be a fign and feal of ingrafting into himselff, of remiffion of fins by his blood g, and regeneration by his Spirit h; of adoption i, and refurrection unto everlafting life k; and whereby the parties baptized are so. lemnly admitted into the vifible church 7, and enter into an open and profeffed engagement to be wholly and only the Lord's m.

Q. 166. Unto whom is baptifm to be administered?

A. Baptifm is not to be administered to any that are out of the vifible church, and fo ftrangers from the covenant

eifion is that of the heart, in the fpirit, and not in the letter, whofe praife is not of men, but of God.

164. d Matth. xxviii. 19. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. 1 Cor. xi. 20. When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's fupper. v. 23. For I have received of the Lord, that which alfo I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jefus, the fame night in which he was betrayed, took bread. Matth. xxvi. 26, 27, 28. (See above in t). 165. e Matth. xxviii. 19. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoft.

f Gal. iii. 27. For as many of you as have been baptized into Chrift, have put on Christ. g Mark i. 4. John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptifm of repentance, for the remiffion of fins. Rev. i. 5.-Unto him that loyed us, and washed us from our fins in his own blood,

of

h Tit. iii. 5. Not by works of righteoufnefs, which we have done, but according to his mercy he faved us by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghoft. Eph. v. 26. That he might fanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.

i Gal. iii. 26. For ye are all the children of God, by faith in Chrift Jefus. v. 27. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

k 1 Cor. xv. 29. Elfe what fhall they do, which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rife not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead? Rom. vi. 5. For if we have been planted together in the likenefs of his death: we shall be alf● in the likeness of his refurrection.

/ 1 Cor. xii. 13. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink inte one Spirit.

m Rom. vi. 4. Therefore we are buried with him by baptifm into

death

of promife, till they profefs their faith in Chrift, and obedience to him n; but infants, defcending from parents, either both or but one of them, profeffing faith in Chrift and obedience to him, are, in that refpect, within the covenant, and to be baptized o.

Q. 167. How is our baptifm to be improved by us?

A. The needful but much neglected duty of improving our baptifm, is to be performed by us all our life long, especially