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covenant with God (z), and love to all the saints (a). Q. 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 (b); if they find quickening and comfort, to bless God for it (c), beg the continuance of it (d), watch against relapses (e), fulfil their vows (f), and encourage themselves to a frequent attendance on that or

(z) Jer. 50. 5. They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten. Psalms 50. 5. Gather my saints together unto me: those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.

(a) Acts 2. 42. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in pray

ers.

(b) Psal. 28. 7. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth, and with my song will I praise him. Psal. 85. 8. I will hear what God the Lord will speak for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly. 1 Cor. 11. 17. Now in this that I declare unto you, I praise you not, that you come together, not for the better, but for the worse. v. 30. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. v. 31. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

(c) Acts 2. 42-47. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And they continuing daily with one accord in the temple,

and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people.

(d) Psal. 36. 10. O continue thy loving kindness unto them that know thee; and thy righte ousness to the upright in heart. Cant. 3. 4. It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother's house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me. 1 Chron. 29. 18. O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee.

(e) 1 Cor. 10. 3-12. And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink; (for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them and that Rock was Christ.) But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall.

(f) Psal. 50. 14. Offer unto God thanksgiving, and pay thy vows unto the Most High.

dinance (g): but if they find no present benefit, more exactly to review their preparation to, and carriage at, the sacrament (h); 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 (i): but, if they see they have failed in either, they are to be humbled (k), and to attend upon it afterward with more care and diligence (1).

Q. 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 (m); the spi

(g) 1 Cor. 11. 25, 26. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the New Testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. Acts 2. 42. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. v. 46. And they continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart.

(h) Cant. 5. 1. I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice, I have eaten my honey-comb with my honey, I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O friends, drink, yea drink abundantly, O beloved.

(i) Psal. 123. 1, 2. Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until that he have mercy upon us. Psal. 42. 5. Why art thou cast

down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

(k) 2 Chron. 30. 18, 19. For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover, otherwise than it was written: but Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good Lord paydon every one, That prepareti. his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed accor ding to the purification of the sanctuary.

(2 Cor. 7. 11. For behold, this self-same thing, that ye sor rowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! in all things ye have approved yours selves to be clear in this matter.

(m) Mat. 28. 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. 11. 23. For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus, the

ritual part of both is Christ and his benefits (n), both are seals of the same covenant (o), are to be dispensed by ministers of the gospel, and by none other (p), and to be continued in the church of Christ until his second coming (q).

Q. 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 (r), and that even to in

same night in which he was petrayed took bread.

(n) Rom. 6. 3, 4. Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ, were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 1 Cor. 10. 16. The cup of blessing which we hless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

(o) Rom. 4. 11. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be uot circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also. Compared with Col. 2. 12. Buried with him in baptism, wherein also you are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. Mat. 26. 27. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it: v. 28. For this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

(P) John 1. 33. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. Mat. 28. 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. 11. 23. For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread. 1 Cor. 4. 1. Let a man so account of us as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Heb. 5. 4. And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.

(9) Mat. 28. 19. Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, bapti zing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; verse 20. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

(r) Mat. 3. 11. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall

fants (s); 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 (t), and to confirm our continuance and growth in him (v), and that only to such as are of years and ability to examine themselves (w).

Q. 178. What is prayer

?

1. Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God (x), in the name of Christ (y), by the help of his Spirit (z); with confession of our sins (a), and thankful acknowledgment of his mercies (b).

baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire. Tit. 3. 5. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. Gal. 3. 27. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ.

(8) Gen. 17. 7. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee, and thy seed after thee in their generations, for an everlasting covenant; to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. 1 Cor. 7. 14. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanetified by the husband; else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

(t) 1 Cor. 11. 23, 24. For I have received of the Lord, that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

(1 Cor. 10. 16. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of

the body of Christ?

(w) 1 Cor. 11. 28, 29. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

(x) Psal. 62. 8. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us.

(y) John 16. 23. And in that day ye shall ask me nothing: Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Fa ther in my name, he will give it. you.

(z) Rom. 8. 26. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities! for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which can not be uttered.

(a) Psal. 32. 5. I acknowledg ed my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid: I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.

(b) Phil. 6. Be careful for nothing: but in every thing by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.

Q. 179. Are we to pray unto God only?

A. God only being able to search the hearts (c), hear the requests (d), pardon the sins (e), and fulfil the desires of all (f); and only to be believed in (g), and worshipped with religious worship (h); prayer, which is a special part thereof (i), is to be made by all to him alone (k), and to none other (1).

Q. 180. What is it to pray in the name of Christ?

A. To pray in the name of Christ, is, in obedience to his command, and in confidence on his promises, to ask mercy for his sake (m); not by bare mentioning of his name (n); but by drawing our encouragement to pray, and our boldness, strength, and hope of acceptance in prayer, from Christ and his mediation (o).

Q. 181. Why are we to pray in the name of Christ?

A. The sinfulness of man, and his distance from God by reason thereof, being so great, as that we can have no

(c) 1 Kings 8. 39. Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling-place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest; for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men. (d) Psal. 65. 2. O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.

(e) Mic. 7. 18. Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.

(f) Psal. 145. 18, 19. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he will also hear their cry, and will save them.

(g) Rom. 10. 14. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?

(h) Mat. 4. 10. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou

shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

(i) 1 Cor. 1. 2. Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours.

(k) Psal. 50. 15. And call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

(1) Rom. 10. 14. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?

(m) John 14. 13. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

(n) Mat. 7. 21. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

(0) Heb. 4. 14. 16. Seeing, then, that we have a great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. Let

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