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Christ, and revealed to us by the Holy Spirit.— Gal. v. 1.—John viii. 32, 34, 36; Rom. vi. 17, 18; Isa. lxi. 1; 1 John i. 7; 2 Cor. v. 21. —Rom. viii. 15; Heb. ii. 15; 1 Cor. xv. 55, 57.-Gal. iii. 13; Eph. ii. 15, 16; Gal. iv. 5; Rom. viii. 1.- Acts xv. 10, 11; Gal. iii., iv., v. 12 Cor. i. 24; 1 Cor. vii. 23; 1 Pet. ii. 16.-1 Cor. ii. 12.

Q. 6. Are we, then, wholly freed from the moral law?

a

A. Yes, as a covenant, or as it hath any thing in it bringing into bondage, as the curse, power, dominion, and rigid exaction of obedience; but not as it is a rule of life and holiness.-Jer. xxxi. 31-33; Rom. vii. 1–3, vi. 14; Gal. iii. 19, 24; Rom. viii. 2; Gal. v. 18.- Matt. v. 17; Rom. iii. 31, vii. 13, 22, 25.

Q. 7. Are we not freed by Christ from the magistrate's power and human authority?

A. No; being ordained of God, and commanding for him, we owe them all lawful obedience.-Rom. xiii. 1-4; 1 Tim. ii. 1, 2; 1 Pet. ii. 13-15.

CHAP. XXII.-OF THE SACRAMENTS OF THE NEW COVENANT IN PARTICULAR, -A HOLY RIGHT WHEREUNTO IS THE FOURTH PRIVILEGE OF BELIEVERS.

Q. 1. What are the seals of the New Testament?

A. Sacraments instituted of Christ to be visible seals and pledges, whereby God in him confirmeth the promises of the covenant to all believers, re-stipulating of them growth in faith and obedience.— Mark xvi. 16; John iii. 5; Acts ii. 38, xxii. 16; Rom. iv. 11; 1 Cor. x. 2−4, xi. 26−29.

Q. 2. How doth God by these sacraments bestow grace upon us? A. Not by any real essential conveying of spiritual grace by corporeal means, but by the way of promise, obsignation, and covenant, confirming the grace wrought in us by the Word and Spirit.—Heb. iv. 2; 1 Cor. x.; Rom. iv. 11, i. 17; Mark xvi. 16; Eph. v. 26. Q. 3. How do our sacraments differ from the sacraments of the Jews?

A. Accidentally only, in things concerning the outward matter and form, as their number, quality, clearness of signification, and the like, not essentially, in the things signified, or grace confirmed.1 Cor. x. 1, 2, 3, &c.; John vi. 35; 1 Cor. v. 7; Phil. iii. 3; Col. ii. 11.

1 Nothing makes men condemn the law as a rule, but hatred of that universal holiness which it doth require.

Rule and authority are as necessary for human society as fire and water for our lives.

3 This is one of the greatest mysteries of the Roman magic and juggling, that corporeal elements should have a power to forgive sins, and confer spiritual

grace.

CHAP. XXIII.-OF BAPTISM.

Q. 1. Which are these sacraments?
A. Baptism and the Lord's supper.

Q. 2. What is baptism?

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A. An holy action, appointed1 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 confirmed unto us.- Matt. xxviii. 19; 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

A. Unto all to whom the promise of the covenant is made; that 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 pardon 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 SUPPER.

Q. 1. What is the Lord's supper?

A. An holy action instituted and3 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.

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b

Matt. xxvi. 26-28; Luke xxii. 14-20; 1 Cor. xi. 23-25.- Luke xxii. 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. xxvi. 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 right use of it to be learned?

'Not the want, but the contempt of this sacrament, is damnable.

It is hard to say whether the error of the Papists, requiring baptism of absolute, indispensable necessity to the salvation of every infant, or that of the Anabaptists, debarring them from it altogether, be the most uncharitable.

3 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 horrid monster of transubstantiation, and their idolatrous

mass.

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 out 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.

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Q. 6. Who are to be3 3 receivers of this sacrament?

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 blessing of them?

A. Yes; all the spiritual change is wrought by the faith of the receiver, 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 of 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 members 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 what sort is this union?

A. First, spiritual and internal, in the enjoyment 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.

b

'Whatever is more than these, is of our own.

2 Faith in God's promises, which it doth confirm,-union with Christ, whereof it is a seal,-and obedience to the right use of the ordinance itself,-are required of all receivers.

3 There is not any one action pertaining 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 him and his, but requires faith, grace, and holiness, in the receivers.

By virtue of this, we partake in all the good and evil of the people of God throughout the world.

ii. 16, 19-22; 1 Cor. x. 17; John xvii. 11, 21, 22; John x. 16; Heb. ii. 11.-1 Cor. i. 10, 11; Rom. xii. 5; 1 Cor. xii. 27, 28; Eph. iv. 11-13; Phil. ii. 2; Col. iii. 15; 1 Pet. iii. 8.

CHAP. XXVI.-OF PARTICULAR CHURCHES.

Q. 1. What are particular churches?

с

A. Peculiar assemblies1 of professors in one place, 'under officers of Christ's institution, enjoying the ordinances of God, and leading lives beseeming their holy calling." Acts xi. 26; 1 Cor. iv. 17, xi. 22; 2 Cor. i. 1.- Acts xx. 17, 28, xiv. 23; 2 Cor. viii. 23; Heb. xiii. 17.-1 Cor. iii. 5; Rev. ii. 1-3.-2 Thess. iii. 5, 6, 11; Gal. vi. 16; Phil. iii. 17; 1 Thess. ii. 12.

Q. 2. What are the ordinary officers of such churches?

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A. First, pastors or doctors, to teach and exhort; secondly, 'elders, to assist in rule and government; thirdly, deacons, to provide for the poor. Rom. xii. 7, 8; Eph. iv. 11; 1 Cor. xii. 28.- Rom. xii. 8; 1 Tim. v. 17.- Acts vi. 2, 3.

Q. 3. What is required of these officers, especially the chiefest, or ministers?

b

A. That they be faithful in the ministry committed unto them; sedulous in dispensing the Word; watching for the good of the souls committed to them; going before them in an example of all godliness and holiness of life.-1 Cor. iv. 2; Acts xx. 18-20.— 2 Tim. ii. 15, iv. 1-5.—Tit. i. 13; 1 Tim. iv. 15, 16.—aTit. ii. 7; 1 Tim. iv. 12; Matt. v. 16; Acts xxiv. 16.

Q. 4. What is required in the people unto them?

c

a

A. Obedience to their message and ministry; 'honour and love to their persons; maintenance to them and their families.- 2 Cor. v. 20; Rom. vi. 17; Heb. xiii. 17; 2 Thess. iii. 14; Rom. xvi. 19; 2 Cor. x. 4-6.-1 Cor. iv. 1; Gal. iv. 14; 1 Tim. v. 17, 18.- Luke x. 7; James v. 4; 1 Tim. v. 17, 18; 1 Cor. ix. 9-13.

CHAP. XXVII.-OF THE LAST PRIVILEGE of Believers,-BEING THE DOOR OF ENTRANCE INTO GLORY.

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Q. 1. What is the resurrection of the flesh?

A. An act of the mighty power of God's Holy Spirit, applying

Every corruption doth not presently unchurch a people.

? Unholiness of fellow-worshippers defileth not God's ordinances.

3 Ministers are the bishops of the Lord; lord-bishops came from Rome.

The resurrection of the flesh hereafter is a powerful motive to live after the Spirit here.

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THE PRINCIPLES OF THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST.

unto us the virtue of Christ's resurrection, whereby, at the last day, he will raise our whole bodies from the dust, to be united again unto our souls in everlasting happiness.-Job xix. 25-27; Ps. xvi. 9–11; Isa. xxvi. 19; Ezek. xxxvii. 2, 3; Dan. xii. 2; 1 Cor. xv. 16, &c.; Rev. xx. 12, 13.

Q. 2. What is the end of this whole dispensation?

A. The glory of God in our eternal salvation.

To Him be all glory and honour for evermore! Amen.

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EDINBURGH PRINTED BY JOHNSTONE AND HUNTER, 104 HIGH STREET.

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