that men might not presume to set up any such things of their own on pretence of need or usefulness Q. 3. What doth this great Sacrament contain A. 1. The Parties Covenanting and Acting 2. The Covenant as on both parts with the Benefits given of God and the Duty professed and promised by man 3. The outward signs of all Q. 4. Who are the Parties Covenanting and Acting A. God and Man that is 1. Principally God the Father Son and Holy Ghost and Ministerially under him the Baptizing Minister 2. The party baptized And if he be an Infant the Parent or Owner on his behalf Q. 5. In what Relations is God a Covenanter with man A. 1. As our Creator and Governour offended by sin and reconciled by Christ whom his Love gave to be our Saviour 2. As Christ is our Redeemer and Saviour 3. As the Holy Ghost is our Rgenerator and Comforter sent by the Father and the Son Q. 6. In what Relation stands the person to be baptized A. As a Sinner miserable by guilt and pravity and loss of his blessed Relation to God but Redeemed by Christ and called by him and coming to receive him and his saving Grace Q. 7. What is it that God doth as a Covenanter with the baptized A. You must well understand that two Covenanting acts of God are presupposed to Baptism as done before I. The first is Gods Covenant with Jesus Christ as our Redeemer by Consent In which God requireth of him the work of mans Redemption as on his part by perfect Holiness Righteousness Satisfactory Suffering and the rest And promiseth him as the reward to be Lord of All and the saving and Glorifying of the Church with his own perpetual Glory II. A Promise and Conditional Covenant or Law of Grace made to lost Mankind by the Father and the Son that whoever truly believeth that is becometh a true Christian shall be saved Now Baptism is the bringing of this Conditional Promise upon mans consent to be an actual mutual Covenant Q. 8. And what is it that God there doth as an actual Covenanter A. First he doth by his Minister stipulate that is demand of the party baptized whether he truly consent to his part And next on that supposition he delivereth him the Covenant-gifts which at present are to be bestowed Q. 9. What be those A. 1. The Relation of a pardoned reconciled sinner and adopted Child of God or that God will be his God in Love through Christ. 2. A Right and Relation to Christ as his actual Saviour Head Teacher Intercessor and King 3. A Right and Relation to the Holy Ghost to â—e to Him the Illuminating Sanctifying quickenâ—â—g Spirit of Light and Love and Holy Life and deliverance from the Devil the World and Flesh â—nd from the Wrath of God Q. 10. What is it that God requireth of Man and â—e professeth A. That he truly believeth in this God the Father Son and Holy Ghost and Presently and Resolâ—edly consenteth to be His in these Relations taking â—im as His God and Father his Saviour and his Sanâ—tifier repenting of his sins and renouncing the â—ontrary Government of the Devil World and â—lesh Q. 11. What are the Outward signs of all this A. 1. The Water 2. And the Actions of both â—arties I. The Action of the Minister on Gods â—â—rt is to wash the body of the baptized with the Water which in hot Countreys was by dipping â—â—em over head and taking them up To signifie â—… That they are washed from the guilt of Sin by â—â—e Blood of Christ. 2. And are as dead and buâ—â—ed to sin and the World and Flesh and risen to a â—ew and Holy Life and heavenly Hope 3. And â—â—at by this act we are solemnly bound by God to â—â—e Christians II. The Action of the baptized is To be a wilâ—â—â—g receiver of this Washing to signifie his believâ—â—g and thankful receiving these free Gifts of Christ and his solemn self-engagement to be henceforth a Christian. Q. 12. Are Infants Capable of doing all this A. No They are personally capable of receiving both the sign and the Grace even Right to Christ and Life but not themselves of actual believing and covenanting with Christ. Q. 13. Why then are they baptized who cannot Covenant A. That you may understand this rightly yoâ— must know 1. That as Children are made Sinneâ— and miserable by their Parents without any act oâ— their own so they are delivered out of it by thâ—â— free Grace of Christ upon a Condition performeâ— by their Parents Else they that are visibly born iâ— sin and misery should have no visible or certain waâ— of Remedy Nature maketh them as it were paâ—… of the Parents or so near as causeth their Sin aâ—â— Misery And this nearness supposed God by frâ—â— Grace hath put it in the power of Parents to acceâ—â— for them the blessings of the Covenant and to eâ—ter them into the Covenant of God the Pareâ—â— Will being instead of their own who yet have noâ— to Choose for themselves 2. That Baptism is the only way which God haâ—â— appointed for the entering of any one into the Châ—â—stian Covenant and Church 3. That the same Sacrament hath not all the saâ—â— Ends and uses to all but varyeth in some things â—… their capacites differ Christ was baptized and yet nâ—â— for the remission of Sin And the use of Circuâ—cision partly differed to the Old and to the Inâ—ants 4. It is the Will of God that Infants be Members â—â— the Christian Church of which Baptism is the enâ—â—ance For 1. There is no proof that ever God â—ad a Church on Earth in any age of which Infants â—ere not members 2. The Covenant with Abraham the Father of the â—aithful was made also with his Infant Seed and â—ealed to them by Circumcision And the Females â—ho were not circumcised were yet in the Church â—â—d Covenant and when the Males were uncircumâ—â—â—ed forty years in the Wilderness they were yet â—embers of the Jewish Church And Deut. 19. the â—arents entered their little ones into the renewed Coâ—enant And Christ came not to cast all Infants out â—â— the Church who were in before 3. Christ himself saith that he would have gaâ—â—ered Ierusalem as a Hen gathereth her Chickens â—â—d they would not so that he would have taken â—â— the whole Nation Infants and all that were in beâ—â—re 4. And Rom. 11. it 's said that they were broken â—â—f by unbelief Therefore if their Parents had not â—een unbelievers the Children had not been broken â—â—f 5. And Christ himself was Head of the Church in â—…s Infancy and entered by the Sacrament then in â—…rce though as Man he was not capable of the â—…ork which he did at age Therefore Infants may â—… members 6. And he rebuked his Disciples that kept suâ— from him because of such is the Kingdom of God He would have them come as into his Kingdom 7. And plainly the Apostle saith to a
and exprest in these three gradations 1. The highest Notion of it is The Hallowing and Glorifying of his Name and resplendent perfections 2. The Second is that in which this is chiefliest notified to Man which is his Kingdom 3. The Third is the Effect of this Kingdom in the fulfilling of his will Q. 2. What will of God is it that is here meant A. His Governing and Beneficent will expressed in his Laws and Promises concerning Man's Duty and God's Rewards and Gifts Q. 3. Is not the will of his Absolute Dominion exprest in the Course of Natural Motion here inclided A. It may be included as the supposed matter of our approbation and praise And as Gods will is taken for the Effects and Signs of his will we may and must desire that he will continue the Course of Nature Sun and Moon and Stars Earth Winds and Water c. till the time of their dissolution and Mankind on Earth For these are supposed as the subject or accidents of Government But the thing specially meant is God's governing Will that is that his Laws may be obeyed and his Promises all performed Q. 4. But will not God's will be alwayes done whether we pray or not A. 1. All shall be done which God hath undertaken or decreed to do himself and not laid the Event on the will of Man His absolute will of Events is still fulfilled But Man doth not alwayes do God's will that is he doth not keep God's Laws or do the Duty which God commandeth him and therefore doth not obtain the Rewards or Gifts which were but conditionally promised 2. And even some things decreed absolutely by God must be prayed for by Man For he decreeth the Means as well as the End and Prayer is a means which his Commands and Promises oblige us to Q. 5. Why is it added as it is done in Heaven A. To mind us 1. Of the perfect Holy Obedience of the Glorified 2. And that we must make that our Pattern and the End of our Desires 3. And to keep up our Hopes and Desires of that Glorioâ—… Perfection And strive to do God's will understandingly sincerely fully readily delightfully without unwillingness unweariedly concordantly without division in perfect Love to God his work anâ—… one another For so his will is done in Heaven Anâ—… these Holy heavenly Desires are the Earnest of our Heavenly possession Q. 6. What is it that we pray against in this Petition A. Against all sin as a Transgression of his Law and against all distrust of his Promises and Discontentedness with his Disposals and so against every will that is contrary to the will of God Q. 7. What Will is it that is contrary to the Will of God A. 1. The Will of Satan who hateth God and Holiness and Man and willeth Sin Confusion and Calamity and who is obeyed by all the ungodly World 2. The Will of all blind Unbelieving wicked Men especially Tyrants who fill the World with Sin and Blood and Misery that they may have their wills without controll or bounds 3. Especially our own sinful self-willedness and rebellious and disobedient dispositions Q. 8. What mean you by our self-willedness A. Man was made by the Creating Will of God to obey the Governing will of God and rest and rejoice in the disposing rewarding and beneficent will of God and his Essential Love and Goodness by sin he is fallen from God's will to himself and his own Will and would fain have all Events in the power and disposal of his own Will and fain be Ruled by his own Will and have no restraints and would rest in himself and the fulfilling of his Will Yea he would have all Persons and things in the World to depend on his Will fulfill and please it and ascribe unto it And so would be the Idol of himself and of the World And all the wickedness and stir and cruelty of the World is but that every selfish Man may have his will Q. 9. What then is the full meaning of this Petition A. That Earth which is grown so like to Hell by doing the will of Satan of Tyrants and of self-willed fleshly wicked Men may be made liker unto Heaven by a full compliance of the will of Man with the will of God depending submissively on his disposing will obeying his commanding will fearing his punishing will trusting rejoicing and resting in his rewarding and beneficent will and renouncing all that is against it Q. 10. But if it be God's will to punish pain and kill us how can we Will this when it is evil to us and we cannot Will evil A. As God himself doth Antecedently or Primarily will that which is good without any evil to his Subjects and but consequently will their punishment on supposition of their wilful sin and this but as the work of his Holiness and Justice for good so he would have us to will first and absolutely next his own Glory and Kingdom our own Holiness and Happiness and not our Misery but to submit to his just punishments with a will that Loveth not the hurt but the final good Effect and the Wisdom Holiness and Justice of our Chastiser Which well consisteth with begging Mercy Pardon and Deliverance Q. 11. But is not Heaven too high a Pattern for our desires A. No Though we have much duty on Earth which belongs not to them in Heaven and they have much which belongeth not to us yet we must desire to obey God fully in our duty as they do in theirs and desiring and seeking heavenly Perfection is our sincerity on Earth Q. 12. What Sin doth this Clause specially condemn A. 1. Unbelief of the Heavenly Perfection 2. Fleshly Lusts and Wills and a Worldly mind 3. The ungodliness of them that would not have God have all our Heart and Love and Service but think it is too much preciseness or more ado than needs and give him but the leavings of the Flesh. CHAP. XXVIII Give us this Day our daily Bread Qu. 1. WHY is this the Fourth Petition A. I told you that the Lords Prayer hath two parts The first is for our End according to the Order of Intention beginning at the top and descending The Second part is about the Means according to the Order of Execution beginning at the bottom and ascending to the top Now this is the first Petition of the Second part because Our Substance and Being is supposed to all accidents and if God continue not our humanity we cannot be capable of his Blessings Q. 2. What is meant by Bread A. All things necessary to sustain our Natures in a fitness for our duty and our Comforts Q. 3. It seems then that we pray that we may not want or be sick or die when God hath foretold us the contrary Events A. We justly shew that our Nature is against Death and sickness and wants as being Natural evils And God giveth us a discerning Judgment
teach them their duty to God and Man and see that they joyn in publick and Family Worship and live not in any wilful sin And as Fellow Christians if they are such to further their comfortable passage to Heaven Q. 36. But what if we have Slaves that are no Christians A. You must use them as Men that are Capable of Christianity and do your best with pity to cure their Ignorance and Unbelief and sin and to make them Christians preferring their Souls before your wordly commodity Q. 37. Is it lawful to buy and use men as Slaves A. It is a great mercy accidentally for those of Guiny Brasile and other Lands to be brought among Christians though it be as Slaves But it is a sin in those that Sell and buy them as Beasts meerly for Commodity and use them accordingly But to buy them in compassion to their Souls as well as for their Service and then to sell them only to such as will use them Charitably like men and to employ them as aforesaid preferring their Salvation is a lawful thing specially such as Sell themselves or are sold as Malefactors Q. 38. What is the duty of Servants to their Masters A. To honour and obey them and faithfully serve them as part of their service of Christ expecting their chief reward from him To be trusty to them in Word and Deed not lying nor stealing or taking any thing of theirs without their consent nor wronging them by idleness negligence or fraud Learning of them thankfully and sincerely and obediently joyning with them in publick and Family Worship of God Q. 39. Doth God require Family Teaching and daily Worship A. Yes both by the Law of Nature and Scripture All Christian Societies must be sanctified to God Christian Families are Christian Societies They have as Families constant dependance on God constant need of his protection help and blessing and constant work to do for him and therefore constant use of prayer to him And as Nature and Necessity will teach us to eat and drink every day though Scripture tell us not how oft nor at what hour so will they tell us that we must daily ask it of God And stated times are a hedge to duty to avoid omissions and interruptions And Scripture Commandeth Parents to teach and perswade their Children constantly lying down and rising up c. Deut. 6. 11. And to bring them up in the Nurture and admonition of the Lord Cornelius Crispus and others Converted brought in their housholds with them to Christ. Daniel prayed openly daily in his House The fourth Commandment requireth of Masters that all in their House do Sanctifie the Sabbath Reason and Experience tells us that it is the keeping up Religion and Virtue in Families by the constant instruction care and Worship of God by the Governours that is the chief means of the hopes and welfare of the world and the omission of it the great cause of all publick corruption and confusion Q. 40. What must Children Wives Servants and Subjects do that have bad Parents Husbands Masters and Magistrates A. Nature bindeth Children in minority so to their Parents and Wives to their Husbands except in case of lawful divorce that they must live in patient bearing with what they cannot amend And so must such Servants and Subjects as by Law or Contract may not remove nor have legal remedy But those that are free may remove under better Masters and Princes when they can Q. 41. But whole Nations cannot remove from Enemies and destroyers A. It is God and not I that must answer such cases Only I say 1. That there is no Power but of God 2. That Governing Power is nothing but Right and Obligation to Rule the People in order to the Common good 3. That destroying the Common good is not Ruling nor any act of Power given by God 4. That all mans Power is limited by God and subordinate to his universal Government and Laws and he hath given none Authority against himself or his Laws 5. That so far as Gods Laws have not determined of the species and Degrees of Power they must be known by the humane Contracts or Consent which found them 6. Nations have by Nature a right to self-preservation against destroying Enemies and Murderers 7. And when they only seek to save themselves against such they resist not Governing Authority 8. But particular persons must patiently bear even wrongful destruction by Governours And whole Nations tolerable injuries rather than by Rebellions and Wars to seek their own preservation or right to the hurt of the Common-wealth 9. They are the great enemies of Government who are for Perjury by which mutual Trust is overthrown CHAP. XXXIX Of the Sixth Commandement Qu. 1. WHat are the Words of the sixth Commandement A. Thou shalt do no Murder Q. 2. What is Murder A. Killing unjustly a reasonable Creature And that culpably tends to it bringeth an answeraâ—â—e degree of guilt Q. 3. Why is this command the first that forbiddeth â—â—ivate wrongs A. Because a mans Life is more precious than the â—â—cidents of his Life Death depriveth him of all â—… time of Repentance and earthly Mercies and â—â—priveth all others of the benefit which they might â—â—ceive by him They rob God and the King of Subject Therefore God who is the giver of Life a dreadful avenger of the sin of Murder Cain â—â—as cast out with terrour for this sin for it was the â—evils first Service who was a Murderer from the â—â—ginning Therefore God made of old the Law â—gainst eating Blood lest men should be hardened â—… cruelty and to teach them his hatred of bloodâ—â—iltiness And it was the Murder of the Proâ—â—ets and of Christ himself and his Apostles that â—â—ought that dreadful destruction on the Iews when â—rath came upon them to the uttermost Q. 4. If God hate murder why did he Command â—… Israelites to kill all the Canaanites Men Women â—â—d Children A. Justice done by God or his Authority on Caâ—â—tal Malefactors is not murder You may as well â—… why God will damn so many in Hell which worse than Death The Curse was fallen on Chams â—osterity They were Nations of Idolaters and Murderers of their own Children offering them to Idoâ— and so drown'd in all wickedness that God justly maâ— the Israelites his Executioners to take away thâ— forfeited Lands and Lives Q. 5. When is killing Murder or unlawful A. When it is done without Authority from Goâ— who is the Lord of Life Q. 6. To whom doth God give such authority to â—â— men A. To the Supream Rulers of Common-wealtâ— and their Magistrates to whom they communicâ—… it Q. 7. May they kill whom they will A. No None but those whose crimes are so gâ—… as to deserve death by the Law of God in Natâ—… and the just Laws of the Land even such whâ— crimes make their death the due interest of the 〈◊〉 publick and needful
forsake it not and mystically all that sincerely do consent to it And 7. So it tells us how to exercise Church Discipline that we cast not out those as none of Christs members for their Infirmities who are not proved by sufficient witness to have done that which cannot stand with the sincere keeping of that Covenant And thus Baptism not as a meer Outward washing but as including the Grace which it signifieth and the Covenant and Vow which it sealeth is the very Kernel of the Christian Religion and the Symbol or Livery of the Church and Members of Christ. Q. 35. Are all damned that die unbaptized A. Baptism is the solemn devoting men in Covenant to Christ. All that hear the Gospel are condemned that consent not to this Covenant But the Heart-consent for our selves and Children is our Title-condition before God who damns not men for want of an outward Ceremony which by Ignorance or necessity is omitted Believers Children are Holy because they and theirs are devoted to God before Baptism Baptism is to Christianity what publick Matrimony is to Marriage Ordination to the Ministry listing to a Souldier and Crowning to a King CHAP. XLVI Of the Sacrament of Christs sacrificed Body and Blood Qu. 1. WHat is the Sacrament called the Lords Supper or Eucharist A. It is a sacred Action in which by Bread and Wine Consecrated broken and poured out given and taken and eaten and drunk the Sacrifice of Christs Body and Blood for our Redemption is Commemorated and the Covenant of Christianity mutually and solemnly renewed and sealed in which Christ with the benefits of his Covenant is given to the Faithful and they give up themselves to Christ as members of his Church with which they profess Communion Q. 2. Here are so many things contained that we must desire you to open them severally And first what Actions are here performed A. 1. Consecration 2. Commemoration 3. Covenanting and communication Q. 3. What is the Consecration A. It is the seperating and Sanctifiing the Bread and Wine to this holy use by which it ceaseth to be meer common Bread and Wine and is made Sacramentally that is by signification and representation the Sacrificed Body and Blood of Christ. Q. 4. How is this done and what Action consecrateth them A. As other holy things are consecrated as Ministers Utensils Church-maintenance Oblations the Water in Baptism c. which is by an authorized devoting it to it 's proper holy use Q. 5. But some say it is done only by saying these words This is my Body or by Blessing it A. It is done by all that goeth to a Dedication or Seperation to it's holy use and that is 1. By declaring that God commandeth and accepteth it which is best done by reading his Institution and that we then accordingly devote it 2. By Praying for his Acceptance and Blessing 3. By pronouncing Ministerially that it is now Sacramentally Christs Body and Blood Q. 6. Is the Bread and Wine the true Body and Blood of Christ A. Yes Relatively Significantly Representatively Sacramentally that is it is consecrated Bread and Wine on these accounts so called Q. 7. But why do you call it that which it is not really when Christ saith This is my Body â—â—d not this signifieth it A. The Name is fitly taken from the Form And â— Sacramental form is a Relative form If you see â— Shilling of the Kings Coin and the question be Whether this be a Shilling or the Kings Coin or Silver You will answer It is all three The matter of it is Silver The General Relation is Money or Coin The Special Relative form is It 's a Shilling And this is the fittest name when the value is demanded So the question is Whether this be Bread and Wine or a Sacrament or Christs Srcrificed Body and Blood It is all these and the Answer must be according to the meaning of the question It is usual to say of Pictures This is the King and This is such a one and This is my Father c. Certainly the two parts of the Sacrament must be understood alike And of one Christ saith This Cup is the New Testament in my Blood which is shed for you Luk. 22. 20. 1 Cor. 11. 25. Where none can deny that by Cup is meant the Wine and by Is the New Testament is meant Is the Exhibition and Sealing of the New Testament and not the very Testament it self And it s known that Christs common Teaching was by Parables and Similitudes where he saith Mat. 21. 28. A Certain man had two Sons c. v. 33. A Certain Housholder planted a Vineyard c. And so frequently Mat. 13. 21 22 23 37 38 39. He that soweth is the Son of Man The Field iâ— the World The good Seed are the Children of the Kingdom The tares are the Children of the Wicked one The Enemy is the Devil The Reapers are the Angels that is They are signified This is ordinary in the Gospel Ioh. 15. 1. I am the Vine and my Father is the Husbandman Joh. 10. 7 9 14. I am the Door I am the good Shepheard as David Psal. 22. 6. I am a Worm and no man Mat. 15. 13 14. Ye are the salt of the Earth the Lights of the World that is Ye are like these things Yea the Old Testament useth is for Signifieth most frequently and hath no other word so fit to express it by Q. 8. Why then do the Papists lay so much stress on the Word is Yea why do they say That there is no Bread and Wine after the Consecration but only Christs Body and Blood under the shew of them A. The Sacrament is exceeding Venerable being the very Eating and Drinking Christs own Sacrificed Body and Blood in similitude or representation And it was meet that all Christians should discern the Lords Body and Blood in similitude from common Bread and Wine And in time the use of the Name when the Church was drowned in Ignorance was taken about one thousand years after Christ for the thing signified without the sign As if they had said This is the King Therefore it is not a picture nor is it Cloth or Colours And it being proper to the Priests to consecrate it they found how it exalted them to be judged able to make their Maker and to Give or Deny Christ to men by their Authority and so they set up Transubstantiation and by a General Council made it Heresie to hold that there is any Bread or Wine left after Consecration Q. 9. Wherein lyeth the evil of that Opinion A. The Evils are more and greater than I must here stay to recite In short 1. They feign that to be Christs Body and Blood which was in his Hand or on the Table when he spake the words as if he had then two Bodyes 2. They feign his Body to be broken and his Blood shed before he was crucifyed 3. They feign him to have Flesh and Blood in Heaven
Worship which seemeth to me flat Idolatry VII They reserve it as their God long after the Sacrament to adore and to work pretended Miracles by VIII They solemnly celebrate a Sacrament before the Congregation where none communicate but the Priests and the People look on IX They say these Masses by number to deliver Souls out of the Flames of Purgatory X. They have many Prayers for the Dead as in Purgatory for their ease and deliverance XI They Pray to the Dead Saints to intercede for them and help them and to the Virgin Mary for that which is proper to Christ. XII They worship God by Images and adore the Images as the representations of Saints and Angels Yea and of God and some profess that the Cross and the Images of the Father Son and Holy Ghost are to be worshipped with honour participatively Divine These with abundance more and many false Doctrines on which they depend are brought into Gods publick Worship and called The Mass and are added by degrees to that sounder Worship which was called the Mass at first Q. 12. You have spoken much about the Consecration in the Sacrament What is it which you call the Commemoration A. It containeth the signal representation of the Sacrificing of Christ as the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the World Where the Signs are 1. The Materials the Bread and Wine 2. The Ministers Breaking the Bread and Pouring out the Wine 3. The Presenting them to God as the Commemoration of that Sacrifice in which we trust and declaring to the people that this is done to this Commemoration The things signified are 1. Christs Flesh and Blood when he was on Earth 2. The Crucifying of Christ the piercing of his Flesh and shedding his Blood 3. Christs Offering this to God as a Sacrifice for mans Sin And this Commemoration is a great part of the Sacrament Q. 13 What think you of the name Sacrifice Altar and Priest here A. The Ancient Churches used them all without exception from any Christian that ever I read of I. As the Bread is justly called Christs Body as Signifying it so the Action described was of old called a Sacrifice as representing and commemorating it And it 's no more improper than calling our Bodies and our Alms and our Prayers Sacrifices Rom. 12. 1. Eph. 5. 2. Phil. 2. 17. 4. 18. Heb. 13. 15 16. 1 Pet. 2. 5. II. And the naming of the Table an Altar as related to this representative Sacrifice is no more improper than that other Heb. 13. 10. We have an Altar whereof they have no right to eat seems plainly to mean the Sacramental Communion And the Rev. 6. 9. 8. 3. 5. 16. 7. and oft useth that word III. And the word Priest being used of all Christians that offer praise to God 1 Pet. 2. 5. 9. Rev. 1. 6. 5. 10. 20. 6. It may sure as well be used of those whose Office is to be Subintercessors between the People and God and their mouth to God in Subordination to Christs Priesthood Causless scruples harden the Papists We are not offended that the Lords day is called the Sabbath though the Scripture doth never so call it and a Sabbath in Scripture sence was a day of Ceremonial rest and the ancient Church called it the Christian Sabbath but by such allusion as it more commonly used the word Sacrifice and Altar Q. 14. But we shall too much countenance the Papists Sacrifice by using the same Names A. We can sufficiently disclaim their turning a Commemoration of Christs Sacrifice into the feigned real Sacrificing of his Flesh and Blood without renouncing the names Else we must for mens abuse renounce the name of a Sabbath too and a Temple c. if not also of a Church and Bishop Q. 15. You have spoken of the Sacramental Consecration and Commemoration What is it which you call the Covenanting part and Communication A. It containeth the Signs and the things signified as Communicated The Signs are 1. The Actual delivering of the consecrated Bread and Wine first Broken and poured out to the Communicants with the Naming what it is that is given them 2. Bidding them Take Eat and Drink 3. Telling them the Benefits and Blessings given thereby And all this by a Minister of Christ authorized thus to act in his Name as Covenanting promising and giving what is offered And on the Receivers part the Signs are 1. Freely taking what is offered the Bread and Wine 2. Eating and Drinking 3. Vocal Praise and Thanksgiving to God and Professed Consent to the Covenant Q. 16. What are the things signified and given A. I. 1. On Gods part the renewed giving of a Sacrificed Saviour to the penitent Believer 2. The Will and Command of Christ that as Sacrificers feasted on the Sacrifice so the Soul by Faith should thankfully and joyfully feast on Christ by hearty Acceptance of the free Gift 3. The actual Applicatory Gift of the Benefits of Christs Sacrifice which are 1. Our confirmed Relation to Christ as our Head and Saviour and to God as our Father reconciled by him and to the Holy Ghost as our Sanctifier and to the Church as his Kingdom or Body 2. The Pardon of our Sins by his Blood 3. Our right confirmed to Everlasting Life 4. The strengthening of our Faith Hope Love Joy Patience and all Grace 4. Christs Promise and Covenant for all this Sealed to us II. On the Receivers part is signified 1. That in the sence of his own Sin Misery and Need he humbly and thankfully receiveth his part in Christ as Sacrificed 2. That he endeavoureth by Faith to feast on him 3. And that he thankfully receiveth the Blessings purchased to wit his Relation to Christ as his Head to God as his Father and to the Holy Ghost as his Sanctifier and Comforter with the Pardon of Sin the Sealed Promise and Right to Heaven and all the helps of his Faith and other Graces 4. That he resolvedly reneweth the Dedication of himself to God the Father Son and holy Ghost as thus related to these ends Covenanting Fidelity in these relations and renouncing the contraries 5. Doing all this as in Communion with all the Church of Christ as being united to them in the same Head the same Faith and Hope and Love 6. Thankfully praising God and our Redeemer for this Grace Q. 17. Should not one prepare for the Lords Supper by Fasting and Humiliation before or how should we prepare A. We must alwayes live in habitual Preparation and special Fasts are not ordinarily necessary thereto the Primitive Church did communicate not only every Lords day but on other dayes when they met to worship God and therefore used not every Week to spend a day in Fasting for Preparation But as Christians must use Fasting on just occasions so must they do before this Sacrament in case that any hainous Sin or heavy Judgment or danger call for it and preparing