The Art of catechising, or, The compleat catechist in four parts ...

SECT. V.

Of the Sacraments.

Question.

HOW many Sacraments hath Christ ordained, &c.

Answer.

Two only, as generally necessary to Salvation, &c.

Question.

What meanest thou by this Word Sacrament?

Answer.

I mean an outward and visible sign of an inward, &c.

Question.

How many Parts are there in a Sa∣crament?

Answer.

Two: the outward visible sign, and the inward spiritual Grace.

HATH not God (besides Prayer) ap∣pointed the Word and Sacraments, as the ordinary means of Salvation? Yes.

Are there any more than Two, which are necessary for all Men to whom Christianity is revealed? No.

But are not these Two necessary for all men in general? Yes.

Are not these the Two Sacraments; Baptism, and the Lord's Supper? Yes.

Will not the willful neglect of either of these Sacraments, highly offend God? Yes.

Can any wilfully neglect them, without endangering their Salvation? No.

Are not the Sacraments Signs or Tokens of God's Favour to us? Yes.

And that we shall partake of all the Bene∣fits of Christ's Death, if we are not wanting to our selves? Yes.

Are they not means to convey Grace to the Soul? Yes.

Can there be a more dangerous folly, than to refuse the Pledges of our Master's Love, and the Conveyances of his Grace? No.

Is there not in every Sacrament an outward part to be seen by the Eye? Yes.

And is there not in every Sacrament an in∣ward part to be received by Faith? Yes.

Of Baptism.

Question.

WHat is the outward visible sign or form in Baptism?

Answer.

Water: wherein the Person is bapti∣zed, In the Name of, &c.

Question.

What is the inward and spiritual Grace?

Answer.

A Death unto Sin, and a new Birth unto, &c.

Question.

What is required of Persons to be baptized?

Answer.

Repentance, whereby they forsake sin: and Faith, &c.

Question.

Why then are Infants baptized, &c.

Answer.

Because they promise them both by their Sureties, &c.

IS not Baptism a Sacrament, or sacred Rite? Yes.

Are we not admitted into the Covenant of Grace, by the Sacrament of Baptism? Yes.

Was not this the Covenant which your God∣fathers and Godmothers promised you should stand to? Yes.

Should we cease to be thankful to God, for calling us to this Grace and Favour? No.

Well then, in this Covenant of Grace, did not God promise Pardon▪ of Sin, Grace and Glory to us? Yes.

But must we expect these, unless we per∣form something on our part? No.

Is it not our part to believe in Jesus Christ, to repent of our Sins, and to obey him? Yes.

Was not this the happy Covenant we were received into at our Baptism? Yes.

You said but now, that in every Sacrament there was an outward part to be seen by the Eye; and an inward part to be discerned by Faith, did you not? Yes.

Is not Water the outward part of the Sacra∣ment of Baptism? Yes.

And is not this the inward and spiritual part, that our Sins are pardoned, and we made God's Children? Yes.

Is not this washing by Water in Baptism, to be In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost? Yes.

Are we not by this Sacrament of Baptism admitted to God's Favour? Yes.

And received into his Church? Yes.

And made his Children by Adoption, as we were before by Creation? Yes.

Should this Mercy and Favour ever be for∣gotten by us? No.

Suppose any Person be not Baptized till he come to be a Man [or Woman] must he not declare his belief in Christ, and his Re∣pentance, before he be baptized? Yes.

Can Infants declare their Faith and Repen∣tance themselves? No.

Seeing they cannot, is it not fit that others should promise them, for them? Yes.

But must not they themselves stand to this Covenant of Faith, Repentance and Obe∣dience, when they grow up, if they hope to be saved? Yes.

If they will not stand to these things in sincerity, do they not forfeit the Benefits of their Baptism? Yes.

Well then, do you your self firmly believe the Christian Religion, as was promised for you? Yes.

Do you repent of, and renounce all Sin, as was promised for you? Yes.

Will you sincerely Love and Obey your God and Saviour, as was promised for you? Yes.

Should we ever forget these our Promises in Baptism? No.

Should we be ever faithful to our baptismal Vow? Yes.

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.

Question.

What is the outward part or sign of the Lord's Supper?

Answer.

Bread and Wine which the Lord hath commanded, &c.

Question.

What is the inward part or thing sig∣nified?

Answer.

The Body and Blood of Christ, which are verily, &c.

Question.

What are the Benefits whereof we are made partakers thereby?

Answer.

The strengthening and refreshing of our Souls, by, &c.

Question.

What is required of them who come to the Lord's Supper?

Answer.

To examine themselves, whether they repent, &c.

IS not the Lord's Supper the other Sacra∣ment? Yes.

Was not this ordained for a remembrance of Christ's dying for us? Yes.

And do we not in this Sacrament, renew the Covenant of our Baptism? Yes.

Well then, are not these two things the meaning and end of this Sacrament; that is, a remembrance of Christ's Death, and a re∣newing of the Covenant of Baptism? Yes.

And have we not need to renew it often? Yes.

Does it shew our Love of Christ, to come to the Sacrament but seldom? No.

Do we in this Sacrament profess our selves solemnly to be Christians, or Christ's Disciples? Yes.

If it be in remembrance of Christ's Death, and be a renewing of the Covenant of Baptism, can we do it too often, if we come prepared? No.

Can we too frequently commemorate the Sufferings, and the Love of the Lord that bought us? No.

Is not Bread and Wine the outward part of the Lord's Supper? Yes.

And is not the inward and spiritual part this: The giving of Christ to us, his very Body and Blood, and all the Benefits and Merits of his Death and Sufferings? Yes.

Doth not the breaking of the Bread shew

forth to us, that the Body of Christ was broken upon the Cross for us? Yes.

And doth not the Wine poured out, shew forth Christ's Blood shed for us? Yes.

Doth not this Sacrament nourish and streng∣then our Souls? Yes.

Doth it not nourish and strengthen them in Faith? Yes.

Doth it not nourish and strengthen them in Hope? Yes.

Doth it not nourish and strengthen them in Love to Christ. Yes.

Doth it not nourish and strengthen them in Charity to one another? Yes.

Doth it not encourage every good Christian in a holy Life, when he receives these Tokens of his Saviour's Love? Yes.

But may we receive this Sacrament un∣worthily? No.

If we would come worthily, must we not examine our selves? Yes.

That is to say, must we not examine our Faith, whether we believe in Christ, and be∣lieve his Gospel? Yes.

If we would come worthily, must we not examine our selves, whether we repent of our Sin? Yes.

If we would come worthily, must we not examine our selves, whether we resolve sin∣cerely to obey Christ's Laws? Yes.

If we would come worthily, must we not examine our selves, whether we be in Love and Charity with our Neighbours? Yes.

If we would come worthily, must we not come and thankfully remember Christ's dying for us? Yes.

If we would come worthily, should we not earnestly beg God in Prayer, to make us worthy? Yes.

If we come after this manner, will God refuse to accept of us? No.

If we come after this manner, shall we not find it a very comfortable Duty? Yes.

If we come after this manner, will God cease to love us, or refuse to pardon us? No.

And if we persevere, and hold out, will he take us to himself when we die? Yes.

Should notorious customary Sinners pre∣sume to come to this Sacrament without Re∣pentance? No.

In Repentance, must we not bewail our Sins to God? Yes.

Must we not sorrow because we have of∣fended him we love? Yes.

In Repentance, must we not Confess our Sins to God? Yes.

In Repentance, must we not stedfastly purpose amendment of Life? Yes.

Does our Repentance signifie any thing, without intentions of Reformation? No.

If we thus repent of our Sins, and leave them heartily, is not God willing, for Christ's sake, to be Friends with us? Yes.

Did not Christ die for the Sins of all true Penitents? Yes.

Will not Christ Seal a Pardon to us in the Sacrament, if we come faithful Penitents? Yes.

And is it not a strange thing that Men will not come to the Sacrament, with Faith, Repentance and Charity, that so they may have their Pardon sealed? Yes.

Should we not in the Sacrament, remember and think upon the wonderful Love of Christ, in dying for us? Yes.

Should malicious, and uncharitable, and revengeful Persons (so continuing) come to the Sacrament? No.

Must we not therefore take care to come in Charity? Yes.

Suppose we have done any Man any consi∣derable Injury, should we not be ready to make him Satisfaction, and reconcile him to us, before we come to the Sacrament? Yes.

Suppose a Man have done us an Injury, should we forgive him, and be willing to be reconciled to him? Yes.

May not a Man lawfully seek Satisfaction for greater Injuries? Yes.

But if we do seek for Satisfaction by Law, for a great Injury, should it not be without Spite, Malice, and purposes of Re∣venge? Yes.

Should we not at the Sacrament, offer up something to God for the Use of the Poor? Yes.

Should a Christian, that hopes to see God, wilfully neglect the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper? No.

Can he do it without endangering his Sal∣vation? No.

Should you not therefore take all fit Op∣portunities to come to this Sacrament, after you come to years of Discretion? Yes.

Is it not a good sign of devout Affections, and divine Love, to come to it frequently? Yes.

Shall not those that conscionably do these things, be happy in their change of Worlds? Yes.

Is not eternal Happiness well worth a Christian Life, for a few Years? Yes.

Is he wise, who will chuse to live wickedly for a little while, and live in Hell for ever? No.

Is it not infinitely better to live and die in Peace? Yes.