Western Church the Church of England the Church of Rome the Greek Church all that vast number of Christians that now inhabit in or near that Country where our Saviour was pleased to live when he was here on Earth all those of Russia and Moscovy who as themselves say received their Religion from St. Andrew all those of India who were converted to Christianity by the Preaching of St. Thomas all that sort of Christians called Jacobites who inhabit in Syria Mesopotamia Babylon and Palaestine and under other Titles are said to be spread abroad in Forty Kingdoms all the Cophti or Christians in Aegypt where Religion was planted in the Apostles Days all the Habustine Christians inhabiting the Midland of Africa all the Armenian Christians spread in Multitudes over the Turkish Empire the Maronites a Sort of Christians inhabiting Aleppo Damascus and Mount Libanus and elsewhere all consent for the baptizing their Infants To which I might add nearer Home all the Protestant Churches as appears by the Harmony of the Confessions of Helvetia Bohemia Belgia Auspurge Sweveland Wittemberg Saxony and the French Confession all unanimously declaring for Baptizing Infants Thus much for the Practice of the Church III. A word or Two from Reason Infants of Old in the Church of the Jews which was the true Church before Christ's coming were in Covenant with God which was a blessed Privilege and Favour And what have we lost any Privilege by Christ's coming any Favour by our Redeemer any Mercy by the coming of the Holy Jesus the great lover of Souls 'T is Blasphemy to say it when we have got so many They were by Circumcision in Covenant with God at Eight Days old and are we such losers by Christ's coming that our Infants shall not be received into Covenant with God Is it to be imagined that our Saviour took away this Privilege No surely Besides St. Paul's Answer in a Controversie once was this 1 Cor. xi 16. If any Man seem to be contentious we have no such custom neither the Churches of God So may we very fitly say in this Case If any that name the Name of Christ refuse to Baptize their Infants and seem to be contentious we have no such Custom neither the Churches of God Again it may very rationally be asked What have Infants of Christian Parents no Privileges at all above the Infants of Heathens Must our Infants be Strangers to the Covenant of Promise till they enter by choice and disputation as the Children of Heathens may No surely St. Paul says Else were your Children unclean but now are they holy And St. Peter says Acts ij The Promise is to you and your Children And therefore if they have a Right to the Covenant of Promise surely they must have a Right to the Seal of that Covenant which is Baptism Lastly we may reasonably ask What are there no Babes in Christ Are all strong Men Can the Blood of Christ do Infants no good Is there in them no Original Sin to be cleansed Or cannot the Blood of Christ cleanse it God forbid What no Lambs in Christ's Flock Are all old Sheep that make up the Fold of which he is Shepherd All this is unreasonable to suppose But thus much in few words touching infant Baptism from Scripture from the Practice of the Church and from Reason But to return Well then the first of the Two Sacraments ordained by Christ and by him made necessary for all Men in general to Salvation is the Sacrament of Baptism In this Sacrament there is an outward visible Sign and that is the washing the Person with Water In the Name of the Father c. The inward Grace and Favour is that the Guilt of Original Sin is washed away We have Grace that is Power and Strength given us to live the new Life of Righteousness in acceptable degrees and measures We are restored to God's Favour are received into the Covenant of Grace made Members of Christ Children of God and Heirs to Glory And all this upon condition that we do afterward sincerely and conscionably perform our part of that Covenant which is Faith Repentance and Obedience to the Will of God Now although this was promised in our Name by others when we were baptized because we could then promise nothing our selves yet being now come to knowledge we are thankfully to take these advantageous Terms upon our selves and perform these Conditions of Faith Repentance and a holy Love and Obedience Then according to God's Promise we shall not fail of the Benefit of Baptism But if we persevere in this Faith and Obedience to the end of our Life we shall through Christ find that we were truly made Heirs of his Kingdom in Baptism and from his Kingdom of Grace here pass to his Kingdom of Glory for all futurity And thus much of the Holy Sacrament of Baptism Of the Lord's Supper Question WHY was the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper ordained Answer For the continual remembrance of the sacrifice c. THE meaning is Our Blessed Saviour besides the Sacrament of Baptism was pleased to institute One Sacrament more which is necessary to Salvation for all Men in general where it can be had By the Sacrament of Baptism we are entred into Christ's Church and admitted to his Favour We are born again of Water and of the Holy Ghost By the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper we are nourished up in our Christian Faith we commemorate the Death and Sufferings of our Saviour we receive his Body and Blood to all intents and purposes whatever to which he did speak them so to be and to which he meant them and designed them to us In the Sacrament of Baptism we were first admitted into the Covenant of Grace with God before we knew it In the Sacrament now of the Lord's Supper we our selves in our own Persons ratifie and confirm this gracious Covenant being come to knowledge And as since our Baptism we have too often broken our part of that Covenant so we come humbly here to renew it with our God and Saviour The Sacrament therefore of Baptism is to be administred as we said but once this being our New-birth and we are born but once But then the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper is administred often because we have need of constant Nourishment though we are born but once We are admitted into the Covenant of Grace but once solemnly and that is in our Baptism but then as we break it often too often so we have need to renew it often and that is done if we come aright in the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper Well them Two things this other Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was ordained for 1. For a continual remembrance of the Sacrifice of Christ's Death That as our Saviour offered up himself upon the Cross a Sacrifice for the Sins of the World so in this Sacrament we shew forth this his death till he come we have a lively representation of that Sacrifice and he
28.19 Go ye therefore and teach all Nations baptizing them Prove it to be necessary to Salvation where it can be had Mark 16.16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved Joh. 3.5 Except a Man be born of Water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God Prove the Institution of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper 1 Cor. 11.23 24 25. 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 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 as oft as ye drink it in remembrance of me Prove the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper necessary to Salvation up from the Dead by the glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newness of Life Tit. 3.5 According to his mercy he saved us by the washing of Regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost Prove that we were by Nature born in sin Psalm 51.5 Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me Prove that we are by nature Children of Wrath. Eph. 2.3 And were by nature Children of wrath even as others Prove that by Baptism we are made the Children of Grace Gal. 3.26 27. For ye are all the Children of God by Faith in Christ Jesus For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ Question What is required of Persons to be baptized Answer Repentance whereby they forsake sin and Faith whereby they stedfastly believe the Promises of God made to them in that Sacrament Prove that Repentance is required of persons to be baptized Acts 2.38 Then Peter said unto them Repent and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost Prove that Faith whereby they believe the Promises of God is required of Persons to be baptized Acts 8.36 37. And the Eunuch said See here is Water what doth hinder me to be baptized And Philip said if thou believest with all thy heart thou mayest Acts 18.8 And many of the Corinthians hearing believed and were baptized Question Why then are Infants baptized when by reason of their tender age they cannot perform them Answer Because they promise them both by by their Sureties which promise when they come to age themselves are bound to perform Prove that children of believing Parents are to be baptized Acts 2.38 39. And Peter said Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ For the promise is unto you and to your Children Mark 10.14 Suffer little Children to come unto me and forbid them not for of such is the Kingdom of God Matth. 28.19 Go teach all Nations baptizing them Acts 16.15 And she was baptized and her Houshold 1 Cor. 1.16 I baptized the Houshold of Stephanus not only them but their Houshold in which 't is very probable were Children 1 Cor. 7.14 For the unbelieving Husband is sanctified by the Wife and the unbelieving Wife is sanctified by the Husband else were your Children unclean but now are they holy Prove that though our Sureties promised Faith and Repentance in our name yet we our selves are to perform them when we come to age Heb. 10.23 Let us hold fast the profession of our Faith without wavering Mark 16.16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned 2 Tim. 2.19 Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity Question Why was the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper ordained Answer For the continual remembrance of the sacrifice of the death of Christ and of the Benefits which we receive thereby Prove that the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was for a continual remembrance of the Sacrifice of the death of Christ 1 Cor. 11.24 This do in remembrance of me Verse 26. As often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup ye do shew the Lord's death till he come Question What is the outward part or sign of the Lord's Supper Answer Bread and Wine which the Lord hath commanded to be received Prove that the outward part of the Lord's Supper is to be Bread and Wine Matth. 26.26 27 28 29. Jesus took Bread and blessed it and brake it and gave it to the Disciples and said Take eat this is my Body And he took the Cup and gave thanks and gave it to them saying Drink ye all of it For this is my Blood of the New Testament But I say unto you I will not henceforth drink of this fruit of the Vine until the day when I drink it new with you c. Question What is the inward part or thing signified Answer The Body and Blood of Christ which are verily and indeed taken and received by the faithful in the Lord's Supper Prove that the inward part or thing signified is the Body and Blood of Christ 1 Cor. 10.16 The Cup of blessing which we bless is it not the Communion or Communication of the blood of Christ The Bread which we break is it not the Communion or Communication of the body of Christ Question What are the Benefits whereof we are made partakers thereby Answer The strengthening and refreshing of our Souls by the Body and Blood of Christ as our Bodies are by the Bread and Wine Prove that our Souls are strengthened and refreshed by the Body and Blood of Christ John 6.54 55 56. Whoso eateth my Flesh and drinketh my Blood hath eternal life and I will raise him up at the last day For my Flesh is meat indeed and my Blood is drink indeed He that eateth my Flesh and drinketh my Blood dwelleth in me and I in him Question What is required of them who come to the Lord's Supper Answer To examine themselves whether they repent them truly of their former sins stedfastly purposing to lead a new life have a lively Faith in God's mercy through Christ with a thankful remembrance of his death and be in Charity with all Men. Prove that they who come to the Lord's Supper are to examine themselves whether they truly repent 1 Cor. 11.28 Let a man examine himself and so let him eat of that Bread and drink of that Cup. Verse 31. For if we would judge our selves we should not be judged Prove that they who come to this Sacrament must stedfastly purpose to lead a new Life 1 Cor. 5.7 8. Purge out therefore the old leaven that ye may be a new lump as ye are unleavened For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us Therefore let us keep the Feast not with the old leaven neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth Prove that we are to come to this Sacrament
declare and own our selves to be so The First of these the Sacrament by which we begin our journey for Heaven and Immortality the Second of them the Sacrament by which we continue it onward to the end of our days To conclude seeing the first Sacrament that of Baptism was administred to us in our Infancy before we knew it and we are now come to the knowledge of it far be it from us to withdraw our selves from the other Sacrament of our Lord's Supper lest we be found in any degrees to have renounced or dispised our Baptism or to have renounced or neglected the Communion of Saints But as we happily begun for Heaven and Immortality by the Waters of Regeneration so let us by our constant preparation to receive the blood of the Covenant and to attend on these holy Mysteries keep pace with our Lord to the end of this our Pilgrimage here till we come to meet him in his Kingdom And seeing in our Baptism when we were admitted into Covenant with God we promised on our part Faith Repentance and a sincere Obedience to him but by reason of our Infirmities in this imperfect State we have too frequently broken our Conditions of it Oh let us ever take all advantages and opportunities of renewing it with our God again in the Sacrament of our Lord's Supper still labouring to grow from Grace to Grace till all shall end in Glory And may we be so constant in our devout Attendances on this Ordinance so pant and sigh and languish after the divine Grace and Favour by our frequenting it that as the Sacrament of Baptism was one of the First Blessings we received in this World so the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper may be one of the Last Amen THE Church-Catechism Resolved into Scripture-Proofs PART III. Question WHat is your Name Answer N. or M. Question Who gave you this Name Answer My Godfathers and Godmothers in my Baptism wherein I was made a Member of Christ the Child of God and an Inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven Prove that you were made a Member of Christ in your Baptism 1 Cor. 12.12 13. For as the Body is one and hath many Members and all the Members of that one Body being many are one Body So also is Christ For by one Spirit are we all baptized in to one Body Eph. 5.30 For we are Members of his Body Prove that every one that nameth the Name of Christ is to depart from Iniquity 2 Tim. 2.19 Let every one that nameth the Name of Christ depart from Iniquity Prove that we are not to introduce into the Church the custom of having no Godfathers and Godmothers or to be contentious about it 1 Cor. 11.16 If any Man seem to be contentious we have no such custom neither the Churches of God Prove that you were made a Child of God when you were baptized Gal. 3.26 27. For ye are all the Children of God by Faith in Christ Jesus For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ Prove that you were made an Inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven when you were baptized Rom. 8.17 And if Children then Heirs Heirs of God and joint Heirs with Christ Mark 10.14 Suffer the little Children to come unto me and forbid them not For of such is the Kingdom of God Question What did your Godfathers and Godmomothers then for you Answer They did promise and vow three things in my Name First that I should renounce the Devil and all his Works the Pomps and Vanity of this Wicked World and all the sinful Lusts of the Flesh Secondly that I should believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith And thirdly that I should keep God's Holy Will and Commandments and walk in the same all the days of my Life Prove that you are bound to renounce the Devil as they promised Jam. 4.7 Resist the Devil Eph. 4.27 Neither give place to the Devil Prove that you are to renounce the works of the Devil 1 Joh. 3.8 For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the Devil Eph. 5.11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of Darkness Shew me what are the works of the Devil And first prove Lying to be a Work of the Devil John 8.44 He is a Lyar and the Father of it Prove slandering or false accusing to be a Work of the Devil Rev. 12.10 The accuser of our Brethren is cast down which accused them before our God day and night Prove Envying a Work of the Devil Jam. 3.14 15. But if ye have bitter Envying and Strife in your Hearts glory not and lye not against the Truth This Wisdom descendeth not from above but is Earthly Sensual Devilish Prove Pride to be a Work of the Devil Isa 14.12 13 14. How art thou fallen from Heaven O Lucifer Son of the Morning For thou hast said in thy Heart I will ascend into Heaven I will exalt my Throne above the Stars of God I will be like the most High Ver. 15. Yet thou shalt be brought down to Hell Prove tempting others to Sin to be a Work of the Devil Matth. 4 1-3 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit in the Wilderness to be tempted of the Devil Ver. 3. And when the Tempter came to him Prove Murther to be a Work of the Devil John 8.44 He was a Murtherer from the beginning Prove going to a Witch or Conjurer to be a Work of the Devil 1 Chron. 10.13 14. So Saul died for his Transgression And also for asking Counsel of one that had a familiar Spirit to enquire of it and enquired not of the Lord therefore he slew him Lev. 20.6 And the Soul that turneth after such as have familiar Spirits and after Wizards to go a Whoring after them I will even set my Face against that Soul Prove the committing any wilful known Sin to be a Work of the Devil 1 Joh. 3.8 He that committeth Sin is of the Devil Prove the word Pomps to be in Scripture Isa 5.14 Therefore Hell hath enlarged herself and opened her Mouth without measure And their Glory and their Multitude and their Pomp and he that rejoiceth shall descend into it Isa 14.11 Thy Pomp is brought down to the Grave Acts 25.23 Bernice came with great Pomp. Prove that you renounc'd the Pomps of the World that is all the Temptations of it all the vain and sinful customs of it Or all Pride Vain-glory and excess in Food and Raiment and in all things else of it Rom. 12.2 And be not conformed to this World 1 Joh. 2.15 Love not the World neither the things that are in the Word i. e. Set not your Heart upon it so as to get or keep any part of it by any unlawful means Prove that you are to renounce the sinful Lusts of the Flesh Gal. 5.24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the Flesh with the Affections and Lusts Prove or shew what these
himself is effectually and really but spiritually given and exhibited to all worthy Communicants And 2. It was appointed for a Seal or Confirmation and renewing of that Covenant of Grace which God made with us in and by Christ Jesus which is the great Benefit we receive by his Death 'T is true we were as I said admitted into this Covenant by Baptism and 't is as true that we have since that time by Disobedience broken our part of it But here we are graciously admitted to confirm it we renew it here Here we come to own that though we are Sinners yet we are no Apostates have not fallen from the Christian Faith Here we come solemnly to own our Crucified Master and to declare that as we were admitted into a gracious Covenant with God in Baptism so we now desire to confirm it desire to renew it humbly desire to receive the benefit of it to all Ages So that by coming to this last Sacrament of the Lord's Supper for the constant remembrance of his Death for us for the real and effectual receiving him and for a renewing of the Covenant of Grace with God we solemnly own whose we are to whom we belong what Religion we are Professors of We here most solemnly distinguish our selves from Jews Infidels and Mahometans We come to own and evidence solemnly to God and the World whose Name we profess and own and upon whose account 't is we hope Salvation We come to own for whose Death and Sufferings-sake 't is that we do humbly expect and hope to be blessed for ever happy for ever secure for ever so sit down in peace and glory for ever We shew by frequenting it upon whose account 't is we humbly hope to be safe then when the whole World shall be in Flames and the Earth with the Works thereof shall be burnt up Here we come solemnly to own upon whose account 't is we hope to have all our Prayers heard and to have our Obedience though imperfect accepted and all our religious Actions and Instance of Duty to be united to his Merits and his Intercession Question What is the outward part or sign of the Lord's Supper Answer Bread and Wine which the Lord hath commanded c. THE meaning is As the outward part or sign in the One Sacrament is Water wherein the Person is Baptized In the name c. So the outward part or sign of the Other Sacrament is Bread and Wine Here now an ill Person may say 'T is strange there should be so much in pouring a little Water on an Infant and in eating and drinking a little consecrated Bread and Wine To this I answer This is a great instance of our Lord's Love and Tenderness and Mercy to us that he would enjoin us no such painful troublesom and chargeable ways of Service of him as were in the Jewish Church when That was the true Church Their Circumcision was a painful way of admitting them into Covenant with God Their Bullocks Sheep Goats and Lambs were offered up in Sacrifice to him But our Blessed Jesus requires of us no such expensive and painful Rites and Sacrifices in his Service and his Worship No he will please to admit us into Covenant with him into his Church and his Favour by being Baptized with Water In the name c. if we afterward sincerely stand to our Conditions of Faith Repentance and Obedience these easie and reasonable terms Then again in the other Sacrament of the Lord's Supper he permits and invites us to renew this Covenant and injoins us to remember the Death and Sufferings of him our Master not by any painful troublesom chargeable ways of Sacrifice or the like but by coming with Faith and Repentance Charity and Devotion to his holy Table there to Feast together on his Body and Blood represented and exhibited to us by Bread and Wine Question What is the inward part or thing signified Answer The Body and Blood of Christ which are verily c. THE meaning is As Bread and Wine are the outward parts or signs of the Lord's Supper to be seen by the Eye so the thing signified or inward part is this All faithful receivers do after a spiritual manner feed on the Body and Blood of Christ as truly and really as they do on the Bread and Wine They are by this heavenly Duty united more closely to him They behold in the broken Bread his Body broken on the Cross for us They behold and see represented in the Wine poured out his Blood shed for us Having beheld this they then truly spiritually and effectually receive the Body and Blood of Jesus in this Supper that is their crucified Saviour is really exhibited and given to the Souls of all faithful Communicants all the benefits of his Death and Sufferings conveyed to them Question What are the Benefits whereof we are made partakers thereby Answer The strengthening and refreshing of our Souls by c. THE meaning is That all penitent faithful sincerely worthy Communicants are by the receiving of the body and blood of our Saviour strengthened and refreshed both They are strengthened by the Grace of God hereby conveyed to them and they are refreshed by the comfortable hope of Pardon and of being admitted to his Favour Thus By this heavenly Duty their Faith is strengthened by beholding the lively representation of their crucified Saviour's Body broken and Blood shed before their Eyes By this Duty their Hope is strengthened when they see before them what great Things Christ has done and suffered for their Salvation how willing he is to be reconciled and that now there is nothing wanting to their Pardon and Salvation but a sincere Repentance Reformation and a persevering new Obedience By this Duty their Love to God is strengthened by considering and beholding his Love to them in sending his Son to die for their Sins and by beholding the Love of Jesus in laying down his Life for their Redemption By this Holy Duty their Love and Charity towards each other is strengthened when we consider how freely Christ laid down his Life for us all and that we are all Members of his Body how must this needs unite us with Peace and Love as we are Travelling on together to Jesus and Jerusalem By this Duty our Repentance would be strengthened and made more serious deep and persevering when we behold what bitter sufferings our Iniquities brought our Jesus to and in these sufferings behold the great hatred of God to Sin By this Duty our resolutions of Obedience would be strengthened For as the Representation of the sufferings of our dearest Lord for our Interest would encrease our Love so would that Love fix and endear our Obedience By the frequent and devout performance of this Duty our Souls would through the Grace of God then conveyed to them in it be strengthened in a lively and active Faith in a Seraphick Love in Divine Obedience and in a Primitive Piety As in this Duty